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Overview

FIRE’s Semester Legal Clerkship provides law students with an opportunity to contribute to the nation’s leading defender of free expression. This 15-week, part-time clerkship (for academic credit) offers hands-on experience in litigation, policy, and advocacy while accommodating academic schedules. Clerks work closely with FIRE attorneys on projects ranging from developing litigation strategies for active cases to shaping policy.

In past semesters, legal clerks have:

+ Conducted research and drafted memoranda for First Amendment litigation.

+ Reviewed university policies and legislative proposals to assess compliance with constitutional standards. Investigated violations of expressive rights on college campuses.

+ Drafted policy analyses and advocacy letters aimed at securing meaningful reforms.

+ Assisted in public-facing commentary on emerging free speech controversies.

Practice Areas

Our Legal Clerks will be assigned to work with the following teams:

Litigation

Litigation law clerks will assist our litigators working up new cases and litigating existing lawsuits defending the freedom of speech, primarily through legal research, writing, and strategy discussions. Law clerks will gain practical knowledge of federal litigation, learn more about public-interest litigation specifically, and deepen their understanding of substantive First Amendment law.

Campus Rights Advocacy:

The Campus Rights Advocacy Legal Clerk will assist the department’s non-litigation advocacy efforts in defending free speech and due process on college and university campuses. Responsibilities will include investigating potential violations of expressive rights and due process, conducting legal research, reviewing advocacy letters, and drafting public-facing commentary on topical free speech issues. Legal clerks should expect to have some administrative responsibilities as well. Legal clerks will also have the opportunity to deepen their understanding of substantive First Amendment law by attending voluntary learning sessions.

Public Advocacy:

The Public Advocacy Legal Clerk will support the department’s non-litigation advocacy defending free speech off campus. Responsibilities will include investigating potential violations of expressive rights, conducting legal research, reviewing advocacy letters, and drafting public-facing commentary on topical free speech issues.

Policy Reform:

The Policy Reform Clerk will aid the Policy Reform team in its work to improve the written regulations on student and faculty expression at our nation’s colleges. Their duties will include drafting and editing policy analysis and recommendations for college administrators, researching emerging issues affecting regulations on expression, and providing input on best practices for building a better foundation for campus speech through a college’s policies and programs.

Legislative & Policy:

The Legislative & Policy department lobbies lawmakers to advance FIRE’s positions on policy issues related to free speech. Their duties will include legal research on public policy issues affecting expressive rights, drafting internal bill analyses and public commentary, and monitoring legislative developments.

Clerks may work in FIRE’s Philadelphia or Washington, D.C. offices, or remotely. Applicants will be received and awarded clerkships on a rolling basis.

Qualifications and Responsibilities

To qualify for FIRE’s Legal Clerkship, candidates must:

+ Be rising 2Ls and 3Ls with excellent academic credentials

+ Have a passion for civil liberties and public interest litigation.

FIRE accepts applications from candidates across the United States. FIRE’s Semester Legal Clerkship is highly competitive and applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. Questions may be directed to [email protected].

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