Who We Are

The Louisiana Center for Children’s Rights (LCCR) is a non-profit law office that fights to keep children out of the justice system so they can thrive in their homes and communities. We both represent individual children in their court cases and address the systemic issues that trap mainly poor, Black youth in the justice system.

What We Do

Youth Defense: As the youth public defender in New Orleans, our Children’s Defense Team represents over 90% of children in the city who come into contact with the juvenile justice system. We provide each child with a holistic team – a lawyer, social worker, investigator, and youth advocate – to address both the causes and consequences of an arrest.

State and Local Advocacy: We advocate for policies that reduce the number of children in the justice system and provide better alternatives to arrest and incarceration. For the kids who do enter the system, we support policies that keep them safe, protect their rights, and get them home as soon as possible.

Job Description

Join us! Law clerks will work closely under the supervision of staff attorneys in all aspects of representing LCCR clients, including legal research, fact investigation, drafting memoranda and motions, developing holistic service plans, and preparing for adjudication hearings (trial) and dispositions (sentencing). Law clerks may also assist in systemic reform projects through research, education, investigation, and the preparation of briefs and position papers. Law clerks are required to abide by LCCR’s confidentiality policy, and to act at all times according to the expressed interests of our clients. LCCR’s summer clerkship program is ten weeks long and commences on Tuesday, May 25, 2026. The summer clerkship takes place in-person in New Orleans, LA.

How To Apply

Submit a resume, cover letter, and writing sample to jobs@lakidsrights.org and include “Law Clerk Application” in the subject line. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis until positions are filled. Law clerk positions are unpaid, and students are encouraged to secure funding through their schools. Where needed, we will help clerks with obtaining funding from schools or outside sources. We will also assist students with obtaining academic credit for their work, if possible.

LCCR values diversity and is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. People of color, women, LGBT persons, people with disabilities, and those directly impacted by the justice system are encouraged to apply for all positions.