summer law program
Summer Law Clerk
Summer Law Clerk Program
This program is open to law students who have completed at least one year of law school and have a demonstrated interest in public defense as a career. Participating students are paired with a public defender in a Gideon’s Promise partner office for a summer, where they gain valuable exposure to all aspects of effective public defense. Applicants who display a strong public interest background and exhibit involvement in law clinics and volunteer groups are ideal candidates for this program. Our partner public defender offices will serve as internship sites.
Previous Events
2024 Summer Law Clerk Sessions
We are so thrilled to announce the return of our Virtual Summer Law Clerk Summit! Virtual programming with talented presenters and speakers is scheduled to launch Wednesday, June 5th at 12:30 PM (EST). There is no cost for participants to attend. Our Virtual Summer Law Clerk Summit has been designed to supplement live or remote clerkships/internships within our partner offices and will be beneficial to any law school student interested in client-centered representation. Register now or find more details below!
Check out the 2024 Summer Law Clerk Flyer!
Wednesday, June 5th
- Session 1: “Public Defenders as Change Agents” with keynote Jonathan Rapping, Co-Founder, Gideon’s Promise, AJMLS Law Professor, Author
- Session 2: “Communicating with Clients and Families” with Devin Franklin, Movement Policy Counsel, Southern Center for Human Rights
Friday, June 7th
- Session 3: “Who We Are: A Chronicle of Racism in America (Public Defense: Then, Now, & In the Future)” with keynote Jeffery Robinson, Executive Director of the Who We Are Project
- Session 4: “Law School Partnership Fellows Panel” LSPP Fellows & Alumni
Registration is now open and closes June 4th. Registration is required to attend any of the sessions. Please register here for all sessions you would like to attend.
If you have any questions about the registration process for 2024 Virtual Summer Law Clerk Summit, please email [email protected].
2024 Summer Law Clerk Speakers
Summer Law Clerk Program Story
“Gideon’s Promise’s unique model has provided innovative, intuitive and inventive ways to train and empower my students who want to become public defenders and make a positive contribution to the Criminal Justice system.”
Dehlia Umunna
Clinical Professor of Law and Deputy Director Criminal Justice Institute, Harvard Law School; Cambridge, MA
About Us
A Change is Coming
We defend our most vulnerable communities from the effects of mass incarceration -- keeping families together with dignity. Our Mission To transform the criminal justice system by building a movement of public defenders who provide equal justice for marginalized communities. Our Vision We envision a nation where every person has access to zealous, outstanding representation necessary to ensure “equal justice for all" in the criminal justice arena.
Protecting This Promise
You don't have to be a public defender to protect the promise of zealous counsel for all. Your monthly contribution--no matter the amount--will directly impact the fate of a client accused of a crime, who didn't know they needed you.