Animal Legal Defense Fund Pro Bono Program Summer 2025 Clerkship

Who We Are: The Animal Legal Defense Fund’s mission is to protect the lives and advance the interests of animals through the legal system. The Animal Legal Defense Fund accomplishes this mission by filing high-impact lawsuits to protect animals from harm, providing free legal assistance and training to prosecutors to assure that animal abusers are held accountable for their crimes, supporting tough animal protection legislation and fighting legislation harmful to animals, and providing resources and opportunities to law students and professionals to advance the emerging field of animal law. 

Position Term: 35 hours/week for 10 weeks in summer 2025, with a start date at the end of May or beginning of June 

Reports to: Managing Attorney 

Location: Remote position  

Role Description: The Animal Legal Defense Fund summer clerkship program gives law students who demonstrate an interest in animal law the opportunity to work with and be trained by top experts in the field. Clerks are integral members of a program team and work on projects that further the current work of the program and advance the mission and goals of the Animal Legal Defense Fund. Clerks also participate in activities that will allow them to network across the organization with Animal Legal Defense Fund staff and other clerks, and engage them in the mission and goals of the organization. 

How You Will Make a Difference: The Pro Bono Program works to expand the practice and understanding of animal law in the legal community. Students will complete research on law firms, bar associations, CLEs, and various opportunities and issues in animal law, such as:   

• Landlord, tenant, and other housing related issues   
• Animal custody disputes  
• Dangerous dog designations and breed-specific restrictions   
• Tort law matters and issues of negligence  
• Issues related to animals being considered property under the law 

Specific responsibilities vary by program and will be further discussed during interviews. All clerks and externs will participate in scheduled networking and engagement activities. Externs may have additional requirements depending on their school’s externship program.  

Compensation:

• $20/ hour 
• Paid holidays  

How to Apply: On our confidential recruiting portal, Paylocity, you will be asked to upload a resume and cover letter. The following additional documents are also required: 2-3 professional references, law school transcript (unofficial okay), and original writing sample. The application deadline is November 18, 2024. Questions may be addressed to Senior Student Programs Attorney Kelly Levenda at klevenda@aldf.org. 

Students may apply for more than one clerkship at a time (clerkships may be available with the Litigation Program, Criminal Justice Program, Legislative Affairs Program, Pro Bono Program, and/or Animal Law Program).   

Although applications for paid summer clerkships will receive priority, we will accept applications from students who would like to structure the position as an unpaid externship or student volunteer position instead of a paid clerkship. (Note: Externships are uncompensated. Students may receive academic credit from their law schools for completing externships, but award of externship credits is determined solely by the school. Applicants who would like to structure summer positions as externships should check their law school’s externship requirements before they apply to ensure Animal Legal Defense Fund externships meet their school’s requirements and the Animal Legal Defense Fund is an approved externship placement. Student volunteer positions include students who can receive pro bono credits for their law schools, and students whose schools provide a public interest stipend.) 

Additional information: 

This is a U.S. based position. Clerks will be required to provide a personal United States address and to work primarily from that address. 

Equal Opportunity Employer: The Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF) is committed to providing an employment environment which is welcoming of persons from diverse backgrounds and free from unlawful discrimination and harassment, and in which all legal rights of our employees are recognized and protected. ALDF conducts all internal and external operations, programs, and employment-related decision making (including hiring decisions) without regard to actual or perceived race, ancestry, color, religion, national origin, citizenship, immigration status, sex or gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions), gender identity or expression, political affiliation, disability or medical condition (including physical, intellectual, or psychiatric), sexual orientation, marital status, military or veteran status, genetic information, age, or other protected category, and in compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local anti-discrimination and anti-harassment laws. 

Consistent with the organization’s mission, Animal Legal Defense Fund offices and events are free of animal products and byproducts. 

 We are Looking for Candidates with: 

• Experience as a rising 3L (or part-time program equivalent) or LLM student at an ABA accredited law school. 
• Eligibility to work in the United States. 
• A sincere interest in animal protection. 
• Superior legal research and writing skills, including the ability to tailor voice and style to various audiences. 
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills. 
• A positive attitude and ability to work cooperatively with others and function well in a mission-driven, team-oriented work environment. 
• A willingness to accept a variety of assignments within the expanding field of animal law. 
• Excellent organizational, prioritization, and time management skills. 
• An ability to work independently and remotely. 
• An ability to use discretion, keeping in mind the confidential and emotional aspects of our work. 
• Access to a computer with internet and Microsoft Suite.  
• Familiarity with animal law is preferred. 

We strongly encourage persons from diverse backgrounds to apply.