Legal Service for Children has designed an internship track that will lead to a Certificate in Child Advocacy upon graduation from law school.
Ultimately, the program is intended to increase the number of qualified and committed child advocates serving Bay Area organizations — first as interns and later as staff attorneys.
These future child advocates will receive:
- Educational guidance and resources to help map out a plan for law school
- A credential to support them as they enter a competitive job market
- A stipend of $1,000 to offset the burden of out-of-pocket bar preparation courses and bar exam fees (stipends will not be disbursed to students whose fees will be covered by other sources, such as scholarships or law firm employers.)
Congratulations to Tussanee Reedboon, William Bauer, and Nalini Rae Viavant, our 2024 Certificate in Child Advocacy Award recipients.
LSC gratefully recognizes the
Bernard E. & Alba Witkin Charitable Foundation
for their support of our Certificate Program
To be eligible for the certificate, students must complete:
1. An internship with LSC
2. Two additional internships with legal clinics, current organizational partners, juvenile public defenders, or other qualifying child advocacy organizations
3. Appropriate juvenile and family law course work through their law schools
Current organizational partners include:
Berkeley School of Law Youth and Education Law Society
Juvenile Public Defender’s Office
Legal Advocates for Children and Youth
National Center for Youth Law
The Pacific Juvenile Defender Center
Disability Rights California
USF Criminal Juvenile Defense Clinic and Child Advocacy Clinic
Youth and Education Law Project, Stanford Legal Clinic
Youth Law Center
You may apply for LSC’s Certificate in Child Advocacy in your final semester of law school and after completing an internship with LSC. You will need to complete an application, including:
- List all relevant internship, clinic, and coursework experiences
- Attach letters verifying successful completion of internships
- Include proof of payment of bar preparation and/or exam fees, to receive the stipend
- Complete a W-9 form and attach to online application
Applications are now closed.
Apply here for the Certificate in Child Advocacy.
If you have questions about the Certificate, please contact Stephany Arzaga, Associate Legal Director.
