Volunteer
Help the law belong to all of us
We strive to create enriching volunteer experiences for people with a wide variety of skills and abilities, and we specialize in providing opportunities for people looking to do skills-based volunteering.
Rin Le
Open Door Legal also gave me an avenue to learn practical legal processes, develop legal researching skills, and practice client interactions. Most importantly, I learned what it meant for the law to belong to us.
Serena Suson
Open Door Legal is something entirely new, and it gave me tremendous comfort to contribute to the mission when I did.
Brandon Leahy
Partnering with Open Door Legal was a no-brainer.
I strongly believe in the organization's mission of providing civil justice to individuals who otherwise can't afford legal services, and that the ability to pay should not be what decides whether the law can work for you or not.
Jocelyn Pantoja
I was given so many opportunities to participate in client intakes, hearings, follow-ups and more. I felt challenged when I was assigned research assignments and I am more confident in my abilities now. I enjoyed engaging with ODL clients, seeing their expressions change from somewhat fearful or stressed to hopeful was such a treat.
Alison Edwards
My supervisor worked hard to cultivate a fulfilling and rewarding internship experience for me based on my interests, and I was invited to intern-only trainings once a week to learn more about a variety of legal and client-based topics.
Opportunities
Law Clerks (Currently Law Students)
- We host law students or recent law graduates as law clerks in all areas of law.
- For Fall and Spring semesters, we require a minimum of 12 hours/week for at least 3 months.
- For Summer, we require 40 hours/week for 10 weeks.
Fellows
- We host fellows that are supported by outside organizations (i.e. Skadden, EJW, LFA, LSFN, BOLD, through your school, etc.).
- We also support fellows as need arises, and any openings are posted on our Join Our Team page. Applications for these specific positions should be submitted there.
- Depending on the program, fellows are typically working with us from a minimum of 3 months to 2 years.
- If you are interested in applying for a fellowship with an outside organization, please apply to the fellow volunteer job description.
Pro Bono
- We have two opportunities for attorneys to volunteer with Open Door Legal:
- The first opportunity is to take on full-scope cases in any of the following areas: Civil, Family, Housing, Immigration, Employment, and Elder. Must be barred in CA for any area other than Immigration. Time commitment varies case-to-case.
- The second opportunity is clinics. We host virtual Housing Advice Intake Clinics, and are always looking for more attorneys to support the clinics program. Housing experience is preferred, but please let us know if you’re interested.
Intern (Recent or Current Undergraduate Students)
- We host undergraduate/recent graduates as interns in all areas of law, and also in non-legal roles including finance, talent and culture, public affairs, technology, and development.
- For Fall and Spring semesters, we require a minimum of 12 hours/week for a minimum of 3 months.
- For Summer, we require 40 hours/week for at least 8 weeks.
General Volunteers with Specific Skill Sets
- We utilize volunteers in various capacities with specific skills sets. Some areas where we often need help are with language interpretation (currently Spanish, Cantonese, Arabic and Vietnamese are high needs), if you are a notary, an architect, landscaper, software developer, a community ambassador, etc. – these are all examples of skill sets we leverage with volunteers!
Not sure where you fit? Apply here and let us know what skills you’d like to contribute!
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the minimum age requirements for volunteering at ODL?
You must be at least 18 years old.
What is the time commitment?
It varies by role. In the Summer term, we ask for 40 hours/week for 8 weeks from interns and 10 weeks from law clerks. During Fall and Spring terms, we ask for a minimum of 12 hours/week for 3 months.
Are the internships or law clerkships paid?
No, they are not paid.
Are the fellows paid?
Yes, fellows are paid a stipend either by ODL (for positions posted on Breezy) or by a partner organization that is sponsoring the fellowship.
Where do volunteers work?
As of Summer 2022, the volunteer opportunities are typically hybrid, with some exceptions for fully remote. Volunteers are assigned to our offices in Bayview, Excelsior and Western Addition for days they are in the office.
Can I get academic credit for volunteering?
Yes! We are happy to coordinate with your institution to authorize academic credit for your work, as they permit.
Can I volunteer if I’m still in school?
Yes! As long as you can commit to a minimum of 12 hours/week, you can volunteer while in school.
Can I still join the internship program if I need to start later or end earlier than the dates indicated?
We are able to make reasonable accommodations as long as you are able to commit to a minimum time requirement: 12 hours/week for 3 months in Fall and Spring, or 40 hours/week for 8 for interns or 10 weeks for law clerks in Summer.
Will I be eligible for any awards?
Yes! If you complete a minimum of 50 hours of volunteer work, you will be eligible to receive the Wiley W. Manuel certificate from the California Lawyers Association. The award was created in 1989 to recognize the contributions of the many lawyers, law students, paralegals and secretaries in California who volunteer their time and expertise on behalf of low-income clients. JUSTICE WILEY W. MANUEL (1927-1981) became the first African-American Justice of the California Supreme Court when Governor Edmund G. Brown, Jr. appointed him in 1977. Efforts to provide legal services to California’s poor honor the memory of Justice Manuel and are yet another example of our profession’s commitment to pro bono legal services (source)
What schools are represented by former law clerks, interns, and fellows?
Including, but not limited to: Boston University, Cornell Law School of Law, Golden Gate University School of Law, Pepperdine School of Law, San Francisco State University, Santa Clara University Law, Stanford School of Law, University of California Berkeley, University of California Berkeley School of Law, University of California Hastings College of Law, University of California Los Angeles School of Law, University of Chicago, University of San Francisco, University of San Francisco School of Law, University of Vermont, University of Virginia School of Law, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Westmont College.