Law Clerks - Oakland Office

Law internships

Paid, work-study, volunteer and
clinical positions

Protection & Advocacy, Inc. (PAI) is a nonprofit public interest law firm, established in 1978 under federal mandates to protect the legal, civil and service rights of persons with disabilities. PAI offices in Oakland, Sacramento, Los Angeles and San Diego serve Californians with developmental disabilities (such as mental retardation, autism and other severe disabilities) as well as persons with psychiatric disabilities, regarding their rights within the mental health system, and persons with mobility and communication disabilities. Over the years, PAI has been involved in important class actions and individual litigation regarding deinstitutionalization, forced drugging, fair housing and discrimination issues under the Rehabilitation Act, Americans with Disabilities Act and Individuals With Disabilities Education Act. In addition, PAI is actively involved with education and outreach to underepresented communities with disabilities. Students will find working at PAI a challenging and rewarding experience.

Law interns at PAI gain experience with:

  • Interviewing clients and consumers.
  • Providing information on self-advocacy.
  • Legal research and writing.
  • Representation at mediation and administrative hearings at school districts, universities, regional centers, Social Security and others.
  • Providing assistance to people with psychiatric disabilities who are incarcerated in psychiatric institutions to ensure the enforcement of their federal, state, constitutional and statutory rights.
  • Assisting clients file charges of discrimination with U.S. Office of Civil Rights for the Department of Education, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
  • Assisting in the investigation of serious, systemic and potentially life-threatening abuse and neglect in state and private facilities serving people with psychiatric and developmental disabilities.
  • Conducting trainings on the law and multicultural outreach.
  • Interviewing clients and consumers.
  • Providing information on self-advocacy.
  • Legal research and writing.
  • Representation at mediation and administrative hearings at school districts, universities, regional centers, Social Security and others.
  • Providing assistance to people with psychiatric disabilities who are incarcerated in psychiatric institutions to ensure the enforcement of their federal, state, constitutional and statutory rights.
  • Assisting clients file charges of discrimination with U.S. Office of Civil Rights for the Department of Education, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
  • Assisting in the investigation of serious, systemic and potentially life-threatening abuse and neglect in state and private facilities serving people with psychiatric and developmental disabilities.
  • Conducting trainings on the law and multicultural outreach.

Although a limited number of paid positions ($12-15/hr. + transportation expenses) are available, preference is given to work-study, volunteer and clinical students. In addition, attorneys at PAI are willing to assist students in developing grant proposals. This position is open to students who have completed their 1st, 2nd or 3rd year of law school.

Interested applicants should send resume, brief writing sample and reverences (with telephone numbers) to:

Stephen Rosenbaum
Law Intern Supervising Attorney
Protection & Advocacy, Inc.
1330 Broadway, Suite 500
Oakland, CA 94612-2509

Inquiries may be made by phone 510.267.1200
or e-mail stephen.rosenbaum@pai-ca.org