The State Bar's internship program is an excellent opportunity for undergraduates, graduates, and recent graduates to acquire practical experience and develop their skills. The program offers personalized coaching, mentoring, workshops, and training tailored to meet the needs of students and young professionals. It is a unique opportunity for those seeking to learn and gain hands-on experience in the areas of law, public administration and policy, and support functions such as data collection and analysis, research, finance, information technology, and human resources, and community outreach.
“ As a first-generation student, I had no personal connections with any attorneys to include in my network. Working as an intern at the State Bar of California not only introduced me to a group of attorneys, but also allowed me to meet a variety of people with distinct and important jobs. I came away with a greater understanding of the different careers available and a diverse group of people in my network.”
– 2022 Summer Intern
Our mission to protect the public presents both challenging and meaningful work. At the same time, our organizational culture celebrates diversity, supports innovation, and regards our employees as our most valuable asset. This is reflected in the State Bar's core values of: clarity, investing in our people, excellence, respect, and growth mindset.
The State Bar is a proud recipient of the Gold DEI Leadership Seal.
Learn more about the program on the DEI Leadership Seal webpage.
Some examples of past intern projects and assignments include:
In the Programs Office
In the Office of Communications
In the Office of Human Resources
In the Office of Chief Trial Counsel
We are looking for undergraduate students, graduate students, and recent graduates who are driven by a commitment to public service.
Ideal candidates should possess strong written and oral communication skills, demonstrate analytical abilities and resourcefulness, and have the ability to drive assignments and projects from inception to completion.
Internships are paid at $24.00 per hour.
Our internships may require a full-time commitment of up to 40 hours per week, from Monday through Friday, within the operating hours of 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. The majority of internships offer a hybrid schedule, with the specifics included in each posting. Additionally, the duration of each internship may be adjusted to the individual applicant, depending on each office’s needs.
Per State Bar policy, interns may receive a monthly transit reimbursement. Please note that the State Bar does not provide housing or relocation assistance.
The State Bar invests in the professional development of all its staff, including interns. Interns in the program can expect to receive:
“I am grateful that I had the opportunity to intern with the State Bar of California’s Programs Division. Not only was I able to solidify my understanding of California’s legal system, but I was also able to contribute to important work that would set standards for protecting the rights of the people and making the legal system more inclusive and accessible.”
The State Bar will post available internship opportunities in January and February.
To view open internships, visit our Careers page. Each job posting will list the requirements of your application.
“The State Bar of California provided me with a great team of mentors who helped me further develop my skills in Human Resources as well as gain further knowledge that has benefited me in my day-to-day work today.”