Public Counsel Law Center


"There no greater justice than equal justice"


Adoptions Project - Legal Intern/Extern: The Adoptions Project represents people adopting children out of the Los Angeles County foster care system. In addition to finalizing the adoption, Public Counsel assists families who are adopting children with special needs in accessing needed services and benefits, including special education, mental health services, healthcare, Regional Center services, and the correct level of funding. Volunteers are trained to conduct client interviews, identify gaps in services and/or benefits, and analyze legal issues pertaining to foster children in dependency and adoption proceedings. Volunteers will prepare legal documents and memoranda for volunteer attorneys and may also help draft advocacy materials for general distribution. Volunteers may also have the opportunity to work on an adoption case from start to finish under the supervision of an attorney.
Minimum Qualifications: The position is open to law students. Volunteers should have excellent writing and communication skills. The ability to speak Spanish is a plus but not required.
Expected Time Commitment: This position requires a minimum time commitment of 10 hours per week for one semester during regular business hours.

Volunteer Administrative Clerk/Paralegal - Homelessness Prevention Law Project (HPLP): The Homelessness Prevention Law Project Clinical Programs is looking for several committed administrative volunteers or paralegals to assist with administrative duties for the Project as a whole. In particular, volunteers are sought to work on filing, clerical, and case management assistance for the Shriver Housing Project/Eviction Defense work; administrative support assistance for the team's CalFresh Coordinator; and/or general administrative, database and filing work with HPLP's directing attorney.
Minimum Qualifications: College level education required. Current or graduated paralegal students are welcome. Knowledge of Spanish very much preferred but not required.
Expected Time Commitment: A minimum of 2 days per week, 4-8 hours each day, through the end of the semester

Foreign Language Translators Needed For A Variety Of Cases And Matters: Many of the cases Public Counsel works on involve the representation of clients who are unable to read or write in English. Consequently, Public Counsel relies heavily on the generous support of foreign language translators who are willing to donate their time to facilitate interviews and interactions with clients and to translate and interpret documents. Given the scope of Public Counsel's work, including its immigration assistance, we have a need for translators conversant in a variety of different languages, including Spanish, French, Arabic, Russian, Chinese, and Korean.
Minimum Qualifications: Fluency, both written and oral, in English and any one of a number of languages where there is a need, including, Spanish, French, Arabic, Russian, Chinese and Korean. Note: in most cases you do not need to be a certified translator or have any particular background or degree in the foreign language.