Our law clerks are current 2nd year and 3rd year law students who assist both felony and misdemeanor attorneys at the Washington County District Attorney's Office. The DA's Office provides a formal, comprehensive law clerk program with intensive up-front training. This extensive program offers a great opportunity for those interested in prosecution and trial advocacy. Throughout the program, our law clerks will learn and expand upon the following skills:
- Trial preparation and presentation
- Interviewing of witnesses and victims
- Legal research and writing
- Evidence review
- Court appearances (actual court appearances require Oregon Supreme Court certification)
As part of the hands-on experience, law clerks are also given the opportunity to attend community meetings and training classes, observe trials and other courtroom proceedings, tour the County jail facilities and complete a Ride-Along with a county police agency.
Washington County District Attorney's Office hires law clerks for year-long positions. Partnering with the three Oregon law schools, the interviewing process begins in January for positions that begin in June. To be eligible, you must currently be enrolled in law school. Only law students who will be starting their 2nd or 3rd year of school in the coming fall will be hired as law clerks. 2nd year law clerks are encouraged to reapply for a 3rd year law clerk position if they have performed well in their 2nd year clerkship and express an ongoing interest in criminal law and trial advocacy; however, working as a 2nd year law clerk with our office is not a prerequisite for our 3rd year law clerk positions.
2nd Year Law Students
Requirements
All 2nd year law clerks must have completed one year of law school and be currently enrolled for their 2nd year. These positions require a year-long commitment, beginning in June and ending in May of the following year. Our 2nd year law clerks work full-time with pay over the summer, and then become eligible for part-time, paid status at the start of the academic year in the fall. Clerks commit to working 40 hours per week Monday-Friday during the summer, and 10-20 hours per week during the school year.
Duties
2nd year law clerks work on felony and misdemeanor cases at the direction of our Deputy District Attorneys (DDAs). Duties include:
- Review police reports and brief DDAs to assist them in filing appropriate charges
- Complete research and writing projects that pertain directly to the prosecution of particular criminal cases and many issues of search and seizure
- Obtain documents from around the country pertaining to pending criminal cases
- Assist felony DDAs with organizing large and complicated cases for prosecution
- Assist attorneys with creating visual aids, maps and PowerPoint presentations for trial
3rd Year Law Students
Requirements
All 3rd year law clerks must have completed two years of law school, be currently enrolled for their third year, and be certified by the Supreme Court of Oregon's Law Student Appearance Program pursuant to Supreme Court Rule 13.05 et. seq. The 3rd year clerk positions are year-long positions. The positions require full-time summer commitment (40 hours per week). During the school year, the positions require a 16-20 hour commitment per week. Clerks must be eligible for work study.
Duties
3rd year law clerks work as functioning misdemeanor Deputy District Attorneys (DDAs). The primary responsibility of the 3rd year clerk is to be in court. This includes handling misdemeanor trials and making all types of courtroom appearances in misdemeanor cases. 3rd year clerks attend arraignments, pre-trial conferences, motions, pre-trial evidentiary hearings, change of pleas, sentencing hearings, restitution hearings and probation violation hearings.
These positions provide exposure to felony cases through conducting probation violation hearings. In addition to intensive courtroom work, 3rd year clerks work closely with misdemeanor attorneys to assist in all aspects of a typical caseload. This includes trial preparation, intake, charging and extension of plea offers.
3rd year clerks leave the program at the Washington County District Attorney's Office with a thorough and practical understanding of all aspects of criminal prosecution.
Application Process
[Program director ]
Oregon Law Students
Contact your Career Services department with your school. You can also contact program director Heather Perkins via email at [email protected].
If you attend Lewis and Clark or Willamette University, please arrange with your Career Services department to attend our on-campus interviews.
Out-of-State Law Students
Contact program director Heather Perkins via email at [email protected] for information.
Elizabeth Schmitt
3L Law Clerk, 2017. Now working as a Deputy District Attorney in Arizona.
I clerked in the DA’s office during my 2nd and 3rd years of law school. Throughout both years I had the opportunity to watch countless trials, from low-level misdemeanors to high-profile Measure 11 felonies. During my 2L year I drafted motions and researched complex legal issues for felony attorneys; during 3L year as a Certified Law Student, I had the opportunity to try misdemeanor jury trials, as well as juvenile delinquency and dependency cases. My experience at the DA’s Office has been incredible and my courtroom exposure and experiences are invaluable as I prepare to graduate and enter the legal workforce. While many of my classmates have had externships and legal jobs during law school, nothing compares to the extensive trial experience I received and connections I made at the Washington County District Attorney’s Office.
Greg Jones
3L Law Clerk, 2017. Now working as a Deputy District Attorney in Yamhill County, Oregon.
I clerked for the DA’s office during my 2nd and 3rd years of law school. During this time I had the opportunity to watch a variety of misdemeanor, felony, and juvenile trials. I have been involved in the preparation of many more trials, and have tried 3 cases myself so far. My experience has been great! I’ve found that the opportunities I’ve had here differ from my fellow classmates in that I am in the courtroom everyday where I receive essential practical experience.