Intern - Legal & Law Fellowships

This is a Part Time Unpaid Internship

LEGAL INTERNSHIPS & LAW FELLOWSHIPS: California Lawyers for the Arts

California Lawyers for the Arts seeks Interns and Law Fellows to assist with the administration of CLA's Creative Arts & Innovation Lawyer Referral & Information Service [LRIS]. CLA's LRIS is a statewide lawyer referral service licensed by the State Bar of California and has been operating for 40+ years. CLA's LRIS annually refers over 1,200+ California creative artists and arts organizations to attorneys who assist them with a wide range of entertainment and arts legal matters. CLA is also the statewide Administrator of the California Inventors Assistance Program, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office's regional patent pro bono program under Section 32 of the America Invents Act. This program helps independent inventors and small businesses with patent-related matters.

Positions are available NOW and applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

Law school stipends may be available for work-study, clinic credit, and public interest work for those in law school seeking internships -- and also for law school graduates and LLM's seeking Law Fellowships.

TIME COMMITMENT:
Part-time 20+ hours; and 3 days per week is preferred.

DESCRIPTION:
CLA's LRIS is a service that refers clients to members of an attorney panel for consultation on a wide variety of arts-related matters such as copyright and trademark protection, contract review and negotiation, business partnerships and non-profit incorporation, etc. Also, CLA plans on introducing a new Clinic Pilot Program in Berkeley, where clients will receive direct legal services in a clinic setting for brief 30-45 minute consultations.

DUTIES:
Interns and law fellows will interview clients (primarily over the phone) and will perform case intakes. Interns and law fellows will prepare concise fact-statements for attorneys, presenting the legal issues and relevant facts of each case. Interns and law fellows will then locate and select appropriate attorneys for each case. Interns and law fellows will also participate in the planned clinic program working directly with clients.

SUPERVISION:
LRIS interns and law fellows will be supervised directly by Bob Pimm, Chief Learning Officer and Director of Legal Services. As interns become more comfortable with the CLA's LRIS service, they will be able to run the LRIS desk on their own.

BENEFITS:
Interns and law fellows will spend most of their time on the phone speaking directly with clients. Interns and law fellows will learn to spot issues with real clients, interview clients and communicate legal issues clearly and succinctly with panel attorneys. Participation in the LRIS program teaches interns and law fellows the practical day-to-day legal issues facing a wide range of creative artists, the ''jargon'' of the arts and entertainment law practice, and also about who the professionals are performing services for artists throughout the State of California. Interns and law fellows will gain practical knowledge about how legal disputes and issues are handled in a ''real world'' setting. This is also an invaluable networking opportunity in a profession that is extremely relationship-driven. Interns and law fellows will also have the opportunity to contribute publishable content to CLA's new online e-learning center.

California Lawyers for the Arts is a relaxed, fun place to work and it gives interns and law fellows a chance to use their talents to help an under-served, under-funded and often legally unsophisticated population. Recent years in California have been tough on the creative arts and entertainment communities. More than ever, artists and arts organizations need the help of bright, motivated advocates.

Thank you for your interest in California Lawyers for the Arts!