Graduate Law Clerk Program

The San Diego County District Attorney’s Office offers a Graduate Law Clerk Program to recent law school graduates who are awaiting California Bar Examination results. Graduate Law Clerks are assigned to all divisions of the office within San Diego County. Under the supervision of Deputy District Attorneys, they will conduct legal research, write motions and litigate those motions in court, conduct preliminary hearings, handle a vast array of court hearings, and assist with jury trials. A Graduate Law Clerk will focus on every aspect of case preparation and litigation in order to build the skills necessary to become a smart, ethical advocate for the People.

The Graduate Law Clerk Program offers full-time paid positions, and Graduate Law Clerks will be expected to work 40 hours a week. The position begins in August (with occasional March positions for mid-year graduates), soon after taking the California Bar Examination. Graduate Law Clerks are employed on a temporary basis for a period of no longer than one year.

Our hiring process is competitive. We seek to hire dedicated and passionate law school students who aspire to pursue a career in criminal prosecution. Employment as a Graduate Law Clerk is NOT a guarantee or promise of employment as a Deputy District Attorney in the future. However, we hope our Graduate Law Clerks will eventually apply for a position as a Deputy District Attorney during open recruitment for that position.

Applicants must graduate from an accredited law school within twelve (12) months of the start of employment AND must have applied for and be eligible to take the next California State Bar Examination.

To apply for the Graduate Law Clerk position, please submit a (1) Cover Letter, (2) Resume, (3) Writing Sample (not to exceed five typed pages), (4) Two Letters of Recommendation, (5) Official or Unofficial Transcript, and (6) only if you have previously worked for the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office, the names of any supervisors to whom you have been previously assigned or other DDAs from our Office who can speak to your work. Please submit the materials as a SINGLE PDF through email to recruiting@sdcda.org . The applications are due on Friday October 13, 2023 by 5:00 PM (PST).

Cover letters addressed to:
Robert Eacret, Jessica Coto & Vanessa Gerard, Hiring Deputies – Graduate Law Clerk Program
San Diego County District Attorney's Office
330 W. Broadway, Suite 940
San Diego, CA 92101