INTERNSHIPS
At Contra Costa Public Defenders (CCPD), we provide vigorous, client-centered advocacy to indigent persons accused of crimes in Contra Costa County. We believe that justice can only be served when the most vulnerable among us are treated with the same attention, dignity and respect as the most powerful.
Our county is in the San Francisco Bay Area and encompasses a range of urban, suburban and rural communities, making it a unique and dynamic place to practice. We confront the dramatic racial disparities that exist in our local criminal justice process by zealously and successfully pursuing trials over pleas. CCPD brings a far higher percentage of cases to trial than other California counties. We take a holistic approach to representing clients and have a social work team, an immigration specialist, and an in-house forensics specialist, among other things.
We also have a Racial Justice and Diversity Committee that works to ensure that the office aggressively advocates for racial justice and confronts racial bias and discrimination. We use a vertical representation model and have a fast-paced and litigation-heavy practice.
Our Law Clerk Program offers rich opportunities to be exposed to the practice of indigent criminal defense. Clerks work with attorneys on their cases by interviewing clients, researching and writing pretrial motions, and performing a wide range of other research and case preparation duties. Interested clerks may be assigned to work closely with attorneys engaged in jury trials and juvenile contests. Clerks certified by the State Bar will have the opportunity to argue motions in court under the supervision of an attorney. Our attorneys strive to serve as mentors and role models for clerks who may later enter the practice of criminal law or other careers related to social justice.
Summer Internships
Every summer, our office welcomes a class of 10 to 15 full-time volunteer interns for 1Ls and 2Ls. Summer interns are imbedded into one of our four offices for a ten-week program that provides an in-depth experience of the day-to-day life of a public defender. Interns work closely with attorneys on their cases, which may include interviewing clients and visiting them at the jail; researching and writing pretrial motions; second chairing jury trials; litigating motions in court; and working on a variety of cases including misdemeanors, felonies and juvenile.
Interns receive a comprehensive orientation at the beginning of their clerkship, which covers the substantive areas of law most frequently encountered in a public defender office. Each intern is paired with an attorney mentor who ensures the intern’s individual goals are met and provides guidance and advice to further the intern’s professional development. Many of CCPD's attorneys have previously interned for the office.
How To Apply:
The office generally accepts applications on a rolling basis beginning in the fall, with a deadline of January 31. 2Ls should apply early. The office completes hiring by early in the spring semester. Applications should include a resume and cover letter and should be sent to Ms. Jermel Thomas at CCPDInternship@pd.cccounty.us.
Externships (year-round)
Similar to the summer internship program, each semester, our office hosts law students from around the country for course credit. In addition to our general criminal justice externships, we offer specialized programs in racial justice, reentry and juvenile practice.
How To Apply:
The office generally accepts applications on a rolling basis. Applications should include a resume and cover letter and should be sent to Ms. Jermel Thomas at CCPDInternship@pd.cccounty.us.
Post-Bar Graduate Law Clerkships
CCPD offers several compensated post-bar clerkship positions for law school graduates. The post-bar clerkship is a one-year contract position beginning each August. Clerks may leave the position earlier if they are hired as attorneys at CCPD or other offices. While there is no guarantee of an attorney position, many of CCPD’s attorneys first served as graduate law clerks.
How To Apply
Applications for graduate law clerk positions should include a resume and cover letter directed to Ellen McDonnell, Public Defender, at CCPDPostBar@pd.cccounty.us.
Deadline to Apply: Applications are due the third Monday in September each year. Interviews take place in October, and hiring is completed by November.
For more information, please visit our website: www.cocopublicdefenders.org
Social Worker Internships
Social Work Internships: CCPD Social Work staff regularly serve as internship field instructors to first and second year MSW graduate students or fourth year BASW students from local Bay Area universities interested in Forensic Social Work field placements. Interns work under direct supervision of the social work staff and will gain experience with interviewing clients, referring clients for services, producing social history reports for the court, advocating for treatment and learning more about the criminal justice system and its impact on individuals and communities.
How To Apply
Please send your resume and cover letter to Angelene.Musawwir@pd.cccounty.us. Applications are accepted during the months of February through April.
Investigator Internships
Each summer, two investigator interns are hired to collect and organize data to enhance the office’s investigation efforts. Interns may also be tasked with serving subpoenas for records, scouring and copying social media content, and assisting or accompanying investigators on other investigation assignments. The intern positions involve part-time work from June to September.
How To Apply
Please email Chief Investigator, Paige Devereaux at Paige.Devereaux@pd.cccounty.us with details about your education and interest in criminal defense investigation.
For more information, please visit our website: www.cocopublicdefenders.org.
Equal Opportunity Employer Statement
CCPD is an equal opportunity employer; we actively seek diversity among our staff. CCPD does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, gender, age, medical condition, physical or sensorial disability, marital status, national origin, sexual orientation or veteran's status. CCPD seeks to hire, develop and advance, on the basis of professional ability, attorneys of varying backgrounds in sufficient numbers to ensure that the composition of the firm at all levels reflects the diversity of the communities we serve.