Summer Clerkships - General Clerkship

Human Resources at Legal Aid Services of Oregon

Legal Aid Services of Oregon (LASO) seeks clerks and/or externs for Summer 2026.

Locations:
Albany, Bend, Newport, Pendleton, and Salem

Laso is a non‑profit organization that represents low‑income clients in civil cases. LASO’s eight regional offices serve the general low‑income population throughout the state and three specialized statewide programs provide services to farm workers, low‑income taxpayers and representation on Native American issues. LASO is an effective, high‑quality legal services program that is committed to advocacy strategies having the broadest possible impact on client community problems.

LASO is actively working to build an inclusive organizational culture that centers on racial equity. LASO is committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a welcoming and culturally responsive environment for our staff and clients.

LASO is seeking law clerks for summer 2026. General clerkship positions are available in our regional offices in Albany, Bend, Newport, Pendleton, and Salem. LASO also offers the following additional clerkship opportunities:

• Native American Program clerkships are available in Portland.
• Farm worker Program clerkships are available in Salem and Hillsboro.
• Statewide Tax Clinic clerkships are available in Portland.

For the full Statewide program clerkship descriptions, please visit LASO’s employment page: (Use the "Apply for this Job" box below)..

The typical work schedule is based on a 35‑hour work week, Monday through Friday 9:00‑5:00 with a one‑hour lunch break. Work location can be in‑office or partially remote. Extended remote and flexible work schedules may be considered on a case‑by‑case basis.

Clerkships in the regional offices (including Albany, Bend, Newport, Pendleton, and Salem) will have an emphasis on domestic violence, family law, housing, and/or public benefits, depending on office need and the interests of the clerk, all within a framework of providing trauma‑informed care. Under the supervision of staff attorneys, law clerks will work on many aspects of client services, which could include:

• Conducting trauma‑informed client intake and interviews, including staffing various subject‑specific intake shifts and hotlines;
• Providing information and brief advice to potential clients;
• Legal research and writing;
• As eligible:
  Represent clients as certified law students in protective order hearings and administrative hearings.

Class standing of 1L or above at time of application. Proven interest in and commitment to advocacy for the legal rights of low‑income and other vulnerable populations. Enthusiasm, creativity, good judgment, initiative, and willingness to work collaboratively. Demonstrated understanding and commitment to anti‑bias principles, cultural competency and addressing systemic racism and other forms of oppression. LASO has a hiring preference for bilingual candidates who speak English and Spanish or another language.

LASO is committed to pay equity, which includes funding law clerk positions. We understand the valuable role clerks play in providing free legal services to low‑income Oregonians and know access to funding should not be a barrier to performing meaningful work and acquiring experience in public interest law. Due to funding insecurity at the Federal level, LASO’s general clerkship positions are not currently funded at our historical rates of $7000 for 10 weeks of work, with an additional $50 per week for bilingual ability in language(s) that serve our client communities.

We welcome clerks to apply with the expectation that any offer of hire is contingent upon you securing Public Interest Law Program/Foundation funding from your law school or other outside funding. Our funding situation is fluid, and we hope to have more clarity in the spring of 2026. We will keep applicants informed if we are awarded funding to internally pay clerks should they not be awarded outside funding.

We will post notice of any funding updates in the job postings on our website. /

Positions open until…