The National Housing Law Project (NHLP) is currently accepting applications from law students for summer 2025 clerkship positions. The clerkship is a full-time position that will last approximately 10 weeks. Clerks have the option of working remotely from anywhere; those local to the San Francisco Bay Area can choose to come to the San Francisco office on select days over the course of the summer.

Over fifty years ago, the Fair Housing Act and the Housing and Urban Development Act were signed into law to expand housing opportunities for marginalized communities and to redress racially motivated, discriminatory laws and policies. Unfortunately, far too many of our neighbors continue to face discriminatory policies that are oppressive and create extraordinary hurdles to accessing affordable, clean, decent, and sanitary housing.

ABOUT NHLP

The National Housing Law Project’s mission is to advance housing justice for poor people and communities. We achieve this by strengthening and enforcing the rights of tenants, increasing housing opportunities for underserved communities, and preserving and expanding the nation’s supply of safe and affordable homes. NHLP works at the crossroads of housing and community development advocacy, legal services for the poor, and civil rights. We believe that access to safe, decent, and affordable housing is a fundamental human right that should be enjoyed by everyone. Our work is grounded in the realities that shape poor people’s housing choices. Housing security is an essential component of racial and civil equality and a critical foundation for education, health, employment, social engagement, and opportunity. We provide communities and their advocates with the tools they need to advance those rights. NHLP has offices in San Francisco and Washington, D.C.

The National Housing Law Project is committed to an environment of inclusion and equitable opportunity for members of the Housing Justice Network, our partner organizations, clients, staff, and board. We seek to hire individuals from diverse backgrounds, especially people with lived experiences impacted by housing insecurity and discrimination, or who have experienced the intersection of multiple systems of discrimination. We actively promote mutual respect, acceptance, appreciation and teamwork across all lines of difference.

NHLP’s Summer Law Clerk Program

NHLP is committed to training law students who are making a commitment to careers in public interest. NHLP values the contributions of its law clerks and aims to ensure that each clerk has a meaningful and rewarding experience. Working at NHLP provides a great opportunity for law students to become engaged in local, state and national housing rights issues that are central to broader social justice efforts. NHLP provides a unique perspective on housing issues by supporting direct legal services attorneys and others who are advocating for solutions to broader, systemic housing issues. NHLP does not provide direct services to clients, so clerks at NHLP do not work with individual clients. Due to the structure of the summer program, NHLP does not permit split summers.

Our attorneys provide supervision, training, and unique work opportunities in the multi-faceted area of housing law and policy. Clerks are supervised by 1 to 2 staff attorneys, and often contribute to organization-wide projects as well. NHLP’s work is intersectional, meaning that clerks can gain experience in housing policy through the lens of our focus areas, including:

• Preserving affordable housing;
• Promoting housing rights for survivors of domestic and sexual violence and trafficking;
• Advocating for the rights of persons who have had contact with the criminal legal system;
• Preventing foreclosure;
• Advancing fair and equal access to housing free from discrimination; and
• Ensuring immigrant individuals and families can access and maintain affordable housing.

Our recent clerks have assisted with important work such as providing testimony before a state fair housing council regarding proposed regulations; drafting comments and advocacy letters to federal agencies; and writing legal memos on cutting-edge issues impacting federally assisted housing.

Clerks will have opportunities to be a part of affirmative impact litigation, amicus brief writing and/or other legal writing, and strengthen their policy advocacy skills. Additionally, NHLP invites clerks to attend coalition meetings and advocacy calls; provides training opportunities; and hosts a summer law clerk brownbag series where staff attorneys discuss a range of topics, such as substantive work areas and career planning. Several NHLP summer law clerks have returned to our organization as post-graduate fellows.

NHLP is happy to work with students who will be receiving credit, work study, or a stipend from their schools for their clerkship. Additionally, NHLP will offer supplemental funding to clerks so that each clerk will receive a total of $6,000 for the summer, regardless of their ability to secure outside funding.

Commitment to Equal Opportunity

The National Housing Law Project is committed to an environment of inclusion and equitable opportunity for members of the Housing Justice Network, our partner organizations, clients, staff, and board. We seek to hire individuals from diverse backgrounds, especially people with lived experiences impacted by housing insecurity and discrimination, or who have experienced the intersection of multiple systems of discrimination. We actively promote mutual respect, acceptance, appreciation and teamwork across all lines of difference.

NHLP is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. Candidates who would contribute to our diversity are strongly encouraged to apply. Reasonable accommodation is available for qualified individuals with disabilities, upon request.

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