Law Student Externship
Complaint Review Unit, Office of General Counsel
Application Deadline: October 17th, at 5 pm
Term: Spring 2026
Location: Los Angeles or San Francisco, CA (hybrid remote options available)
Compensation: School Credit
About the State Bar and the Complaint Review Unit
The State Bar of California protects the public through licensing, regulation and discipline of attorneys, and supporting greater access to the legal system. The Office of General Counsel is in-house counsel to the State Bar of California, providing a full range of legal services, including representing the State Bar in all state and federal courts and before administrative agencies; advocacy of State Bar discipline and admission cases in the California Supreme Court; and providing legal advice to the State Bar Board of Trustees, committees, commissions, and staff in labor relations, intellectual property, real estate, regulatory work, and general corporate matters. Externs will work in the Office of General Counsel’s Complaint Review Unit. The purpose of the review unit is to ensure that disciplinary complaints against attorneys were closed properly and, if not, to recommend that complaints be reopened for further investigation.
Position Overview
The State Bar’s Office of General Counsel is seeking a motivated 2L or 3L law student for a semester-long externship within its Complaint Review Unit (CRU). This externship provides a unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience in the attorney discipline system by reviewing attorney discipline complaints that were closed without the imposition of discipline. Externs will work alongside experienced State Bar attorneys to review complaints, identify potential ethical violations, and assess whether the complaints were appropriately closed. In consultation with, and subject to review by experienced State Bar Attorneys, externs will also draft recommendations for appropriate next steps in the disciplinary process. This externship will benefit students interested in professional responsibility and legal ethics and will foster development of a comprehensive understanding of the California Rules of Professional Conduct and Business and Professions Code provisions governing attorney conduct. The extern will learn to identify potential ethics violations from complaint materials and supporting documentation and will gain experience in applying legal standards. Additionally, the extern will have opportunities to build their skills in legal and factual research, writing, professional judgment and analytical abilities. The extern will experience aspects of the initial phase of the disciplinary process while gaining exposure to later stages and will gain an understanding of the intersection of various practice areas with professional responsibility rules.
The specific tasks may vary depending upon CRU’s current caseload. Specifically, the extern will review the record for closed complaint files and accompanying requests for review, research legal and ethical issues arising from complaint allegations, draft correspondence or memoranda for recommended dispositions, and participate in educational opportunities about later stages of the discipline system.
This externship will take place in the Spring Semester of 2026. The externship will be for academic credit only, consistent with an extern’s law school requirements. The externship concludes at the end of the Spring 2026 semester. It is preferred that students be available to come into the State Bar office (either Los Angeles or San Francisco) at least one day per week.
Qualifications
- Current 2L or 3L student in good academic standing
- Completion of or concurrent enrollment in Professional Responsibility/Legal Ethics and Legal Research and Writing courses
- Must be able to dedicate 10-15 hours per week to the externship.
- Must be available to participate during business hours (8 am – 6 pm PST).
Application Process
To be considered applications must include the following:
- Resume with two references
- Cover letter explaining your interest in the externship position and/or the attorney discipline system
- Legal writing sample (5-10 pages)
About the State Bar
The State Bar of California’s mission is to protect the public and includes the primary functions of licensing, regulation, and discipline of attorneys; the advancement of the ethical and competent practice of law; and support of efforts for greater access to, and inclusion in, the legal system.
Our Values
Clarity | Investing in Our People | Excellence | Respect | Growth Mindset
Learn more about our values.
DEI Statement
We are a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace where all of our employees and prospective employees experience fairness, dignity, and respect.
Learn more about our commitment to DEI.
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