Chief Counsel’s Office Law Clerkship Program

Chief Counsel’s Office Law Clerkship and Externship Program

The Chief Counsel's Office is the California Energy Commission's full-service legal office. Its attorneys advise the Commission as it implements laws advancing the state’s 100% renewable and clean energy future. We provide the Commission with the highest quality legal work in the field, and we regularly seek dedicated law students to join our office as law clerks or externs.  The Chief Counsel’s Office offers a 100% teleworking environment with excellent mentoring opportunities. Law clerks must be located within California during employment.

Under the direction of an Assistant Chief Counsel and attorneys leading the clerk and extern program, externs and clerks typically conduct legal research on cutting-edge environmental and energy law issues; apply this research by drafting legal memoranda, Commission meeting materials, and rulemaking documents, and directly participating in development of legal advice; and attend public workshops and meetings on innovative energy programs where stakeholders provide feedback on Commission proceedings.

Credit, Pay, or Both 

We are flexible when it comes to credit and payment.  Applicants can choose (with law school approval when required) to be paid only, work for school credit, get paid and work for school credit, or split the academic year into being paid for part of it and getting credit for the other part.  We can work with whatever is best for you.

How to Apply

To apply please submit a cover letter indicating the position you are interested in, your résumé, unofficial law school transcript, and one legal writing sample of no more than 10 pages in length to:

Christina Adkins
lawclerkship@energy.ca.gov

Alternatively, you may mail your application to:

California Energy Commission
Attn: Christina Adkins
715 P Street – MS 14
Sacramento, CA 95814