Qureos Mentor

Animal Legal Defense Fund

<div>Description:

Who We Are: The Animal Legal Defense Fund&rsquo;s mission is to protect the lives and advance the interests of animals through the legal system. The Animal Legal Defense Fund accomplishes this mission by filing high-impact lawsuits to protect animals from harm, providing free legal assistance and training to prosecutors to assure that animal abusers are held accountable for their crimes, supporting tough animal protection legislation and fighting legislation harmful to animals, advocating for strong enforcement of regulations that protect animals and appropriate regulation of industries that impact them, and providing resources and opportunities to law students and professionals to advance the emerging field of animal law.
Position Term: 35 hours/week for 10 weeks in summer 2026, with a start date at the end of May or beginning of June.
Reports to: Senior Staff Attorneys; Managing Attorneys
Role Description: The Animal Legal Defense Fund summer clerkship program gives law students who demonstrate an interest in animal law the opportunity to work with and be trained by top experts in the field. Clerks are integral members of a program team and work on projects that further the current work of the program and advance the mission and goals of the Animal Legal Defense Fund. Clerks also participate in activities that will allow them to network across the organization with Animal Legal Defense Fund staff and other clerks, and engage them in the mission and goals of the organization.
How You Will Make a Difference:
This position is housed within the Animal Legal Defense Fund&rsquo;s Criminal Justice Program, which:<ul><li>
Provides investigatory and trial-level assistance to criminal justice professionals striving to secure justice for animals victimized by crime;</li><li>
Produces amicus curiae briefs in cases implicating the position of animals within criminal law;</li><li>
Supports legislative efforts to improve animal cruelty laws;</li><li>
Educates criminal justice practitioners about the juxtaposition between criminal law and animal law; and</li><li>
Crafts legal arguments calling for changes in how criminal jurisprudence relates to animals.</li></ul>
Criminal Justice Program clerks will complete legal and factual research, prepare a variety of written work products, and assist Animal Legal Defense Fund attorneys in both responding to a range of crimes against animals, and broadening the ability of animal law to secure just outcomes for animal victims. This position will involve a variety of projects. Some assignments&mdash;such as motions and legal memos&mdash;will be responsive to the needs of immediate cases. Others&mdash;such as resource guides, position statements, and model laws&mdash;will be longer-term efforts to create systemic improvement in how the criminal justice system anticipates, prevents, and responds to instances of unlawful animal cruelty. In addition to the general qualifications listed above, the Criminal Justice Program prefers applicants who have a sincere interest in the criminal justice system and related law.
Compensation:<ul><li>
$20/ hour</li><li>
Paid holidays</li></ul>
How to Apply: On our confidential recruiting portal, Paylocity, you will be asked to upload a resume and cover letter. The following additional documents are also required: a list of 2-3 professional references, law school transcript (unofficial okay), and original writing sample. The application deadline is December 31, 2025. Questions may be addressed to Senior Student Programs Attorney Kelly Levenda at klevenda@aldf.org.
Students may apply for more than one clerkship at a time (clerkships may be available with the Litigation Program, Criminal Justice Program, Legislative Affairs Program, Pro Bono Program, and/or Animal Law Program).
Although applications for paid summer clerkships will receive priority, we will accept applications from students who would like to structure the position as an unpaid externship or student volunteer position instead of a paid clerkship. (Note: Externships are uncompensated. Students may receive academic credit from their law schools for completing externships, but award of externship credits is determined solely by the school. Applicants who would like to structure summer positions as externships should check their law school&rsquo;s externship requirements before they apply to ensure Animal Legal Defense Fund externships meet their school&rsquo;s requirements and the Animal Legal Defense Fund is an approved externship placement. Student volunteer positions include students who can receive pro bono credits for their law schools, and students whose schools provide a public interest stipend.)
Additional Information:
This is a U.S. based position. Clerks will be required to provide a personal United States address and to work primarily from that address.
Equal Opportunity Employer: The Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF) is committed to providing an employment environment which is welcoming of persons from diverse backgrounds and free from unlawful discrimination and harassment, and in which all legal rights of our employees are recognized and protected. ALDF conducts all internal and external operations, programs, and employment-related decision making (including hiring decisions) without regard to actual or perceived race, ancestry, color, religion, national origin, citizenship, immigration status, sex or gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions), gender identity or expression, political affiliation, disability or medical condition (including physical, intellectual, or psychiatric), sexual orientation, marital status, military or veteran status, genetic information, age, or other protected category, and in compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local anti-discrimination and anti-harassment laws.
Consistent with the organization&rsquo;s mission, Animal Legal Defense Fund offices and events are free of animal products and byproducts.
Requirements:

We are Looking for Candidates with:<ul><li>
Experience as a current 2L (or part-time program equivalent) or LLM student at an ABA accredited law school.</li><li>
Eligibility to work in the United States.</li><li>
A sincere interest in animal protection.</li><li>
Superior legal research and writing skills, including the ability to tailor voice and style to various audiences.</li><li>
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.</li><li>
A positive attitude and ability to work cooperatively with others and function well in a mission-driven, team-oriented work environment.</li><li>
A willingness to accept a variety of assignments within the expanding field of animal law.</li><li>
Excellent organizational, prioritization, and time management skills.</li><li>
An ability to work independently and remotely.</li><li>
An ability to use discretion, keeping in mind the confidential and emotional aspects of our work.</li><li>
Access to a computer with internet and Microsoft Suite.</li><li>
Familiarity with animal law, criminal law, or both is preferred.</li></ul>
We strongly encourage persons from diverse backgrounds to apply.</div>

Animal Legal Defense Fund Criminal Justice Program Summer 2026 Clerkships

<div>Description:

Who We Are: The Animal Legal Defense Fund&rsquo;s mission is to protect the lives and advance the interests of animals through the legal system. The Animal Legal Defense Fund accomplishes this mission by filing high-impact lawsuits to protect animals from harm, providing free legal assistance and training to prosecutors to assure that animal abusers are held accountable for their crimes, supporting tough animal protection legislation and fighting legislation harmful to animals, advocating for strong enforcement of regulations that protect animals and appropriate regulation of industries that impact them, and providing resources and opportunities to law students and professionals to advance the emerging field of animal law.
Position Term: 35 hours/week for 10 weeks in summer 2026, with a start date at the end of May or beginning of June
Reports to: Senior Staff Attorneys
Location: Remote position
Role Description: The Animal Legal Defense Fund summer clerkship program gives law students who demonstrate an interest in animal law the opportunity to work with and be trained by top experts in the field. Clerks are integral members of a program team and work on projects that further the current work of the program and advance the mission and goals of the Animal Legal Defense Fund. Clerks also participate in activities that will allow them to network across the organization with Animal Legal Defense Fund staff and other clerks, and engage them in the mission and goals of the organization.
How You Will Make a Difference: The summer clerkship provides an immersive experience in the Animal Legal Defense Fund&rsquo;s cutting-edge Litigation Program to protect animals and advance their legal interests. Clerks will complete legal and factual research, prepare a variety of written work products, and work with Animal Legal Defense Fund attorneys in developing new civil cases. Clerks will participate in Litigation Program meetings alongside our attorneys and are encouraged to attend hearings, oral arguments, and other events throughout the summer.
Summer clerks in the Litigation Program conduct legal and factual research and draft legal and other documents in furtherance of ALDF&rsquo;s ongoing and developing civil legal matters. Accordingly, Litigation Program summer clerks' workload consists of multiple assignments spanning a variety of animal law issues and areas of law. All clerks and externs will participate in scheduled networking and engagement activities. Externs may have additional requirements depending on their school&rsquo;s externship program.
Compensation:<ul><li>
$20/ hour</li><li>
Paid holidays</li></ul>
How to Apply: On our confidential recruiting portal, Paylocity, you will be asked to upload a resume and cover letter. The following additional documents are also required: 2-3 professional references, law school transcript (unofficial okay), and original writing sample. The application deadline is October 27, 2025. Questions may be addressed to Senior Student Programs Attorney Kelly Levenda at klevenda@aldf.org.
Students may apply for more than one clerkship at a time (clerkships may be available with the Litigation Program, Criminal Justice Program, Legislative Affairs Program, Pro Bono Program, and/or Animal Law Program). The Litigation Program clerkship is highly competitive and there will be a preference for candidates that are focused on litigation work and exclusively apply to the Litigation Program clerkship.
Although applications for paid summer clerkships will receive priority, we will accept applications from students who would like to structure the position as an unpaid externship or student volunteer position instead of a paid clerkship. (Note: Externships are uncompensated. Students may receive academic credit from their law schools for completing externships, but award of externship credits is determined solely by the school. Applicants who would like to structure summer positions as externships should check their law school&rsquo;s externship requirements before they apply to ensure Animal Legal Defense Fund externships meet their school&rsquo;s requirements and the Animal Legal Defense Fund is an approved externship placement. Student volunteer positions include students who can receive pro bono credits for their law schools, and students whose schools provide a public interest stipend.)
Additional information:
This is a U.S. based position. Clerks will be required to provide a personal United States address and to work primarily from that address.
Equal Opportunity Employer: The Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF) is committed to providing an employment environment which is welcoming of persons from diverse backgrounds and free from unlawful discrimination and harassment, and in which all legal rights of our employees are recognized and protected. ALDF conducts all internal and external operations, programs, and employment-related decision making (including hiring decisions) without regard to actual or perceived race, ancestry, color, religion, national origin, citizenship, immigration status, sex or gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions), gender identity or expression, political affiliation, disability or medical condition (including physical, intellectual, or psychiatric), sexual orientation, marital status, military or veteran status, genetic information, age, or other protected category, and in compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local anti-discrimination and anti-harassment laws.
Consistent with the organization&rsquo;s mission, Animal Legal Defense Fund offices and events are free of animal products and byproducts.
Requirements:

We are Looking for Candidates with:<ul><li>
Experience as a current 2L (or part-time program equivalent) or LLM student at an ABA accredited law school.</li><li>
Eligibility to work in the United States.</li><li>
A sincere interest in animal protection.</li><li>
Superior legal research and writing skills, including the ability to tailor voice and style to various audiences.</li><li>
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.</li><li>
A positive attitude and ability to work cooperatively with others and function well in a mission-driven, team-oriented work environment.</li><li>
A willingness to accept a variety of assignments within the expanding field of animal law.</li><li>
Excellent organizational, prioritization, and time management skills.</li><li>
An ability to work independently and remotely.</li><li>
An ability to use discretion, keeping in mind the confidential and emotional aspects of our work.</li><li>
Access to a computer with internet and Microsoft Suite.</li><li>
Familiarity with animal law is preferred.</li></ul>
We strongly encourage persons from diverse backgrounds to apply.</div>

Animal Legal Defense Fund Litigation Program Summer 2026 Clerkships

<div>Description:

Who We Are: The Animal Legal Defense Fund&rsquo;s mission is to protect the lives and advance the interests of animals through the legal system. The Animal Legal Defense Fund accomplishes this mission by filing high-impact lawsuits to protect animals from harm, providing free legal assistance and training to prosecutors to assure that animal abusers are held accountable for their crimes, supporting tough animal protection legislation and fighting legislation harmful to animals, advocating for strong enforcement of regulations that protect animals and appropriate regulation of industries that impact them, and providing resources and opportunities to law students and professionals to advance the emerging field of animal law.
Position Term: 35 hours/week for 10 weeks in summer 2026, with a start date at the end of May or beginning of June
Reports to: Managing Attorney
Location: Remote position
Role Description: The Animal Legal Defense Fund summer clerkship program gives law students who demonstrate an interest in animal law the opportunity to work with and be trained by top experts in the field. Clerks are integral members of a program team and work on projects that further the current work of the program and advance the mission and goals of the Animal Legal Defense Fund. Clerks also participate in activities that will allow them to network across the organization with Animal Legal Defense Fund staff and other clerks, and engage them in the mission and goals of the organization.
How You Will Make a Difference: The Pro Bono Program works to expand the practice and understanding of animal law in the legal community. Students will complete research on law firms, bar associations, CLEs, and various opportunities and issues in animal law, such as:<ul><li>
Landlord, tenant, and other housing related issues</li><li>
Animal custody disputes</li><li>
Dangerous dog designations and breed-specific restrictions</li><li>
Tort law matters and issues of negligence</li><li>
Issues related to animals being considered property under the law</li></ul>
Specific responsibilities vary by program and will be further discussed during interviews. All clerks and externs will participate in scheduled networking and engagement activities. Externs may have additional requirements depending on their school&rsquo;s externship program.
Compensation:<ul><li>
$20/ hour</li><li>
Paid holidays</li></ul>
How to Apply: On our confidential recruiting portal, Paylocity, you will be asked to upload a resume and cover letter. The following additional documents are also required: a list of 2-3 professional references, law school transcript (unofficial okay), and original writing sample. The application deadline is December 31, 2025. Questions may be addressed to Senior Student Programs Attorney Kelly Levenda at klevenda@aldf.org. 
Students may apply for more than one clerkship at a time (clerkships may be available with the Litigation Program, Criminal Justice Program, Legislative Affairs Program, Pro Bono Program, and/or Animal Law Program).
Although applications for paid summer clerkships will receive priority, we will accept applications from students who would like to structure the position as an unpaid externship or student volunteer position instead of a paid clerkship. (Note: Externships are uncompensated. Students may receive academic credit from their law schools for completing externships, but award of externship credits is determined solely by the school. Applicants who would like to structure summer positions as externships should check their law school&rsquo;s externship requirements before they apply to ensure Animal Legal Defense Fund externships meet their school&rsquo;s requirements and the Animal Legal Defense Fund is an approved externship placement. Student volunteer positions include students who can receive pro bono credits for their law schools, and students whose schools provide a public interest stipend.)
Additional information:
This is a U.S. based position. Clerks will be required to provide a personal United States address and to work primarily from that address.
Equal Opportunity Employer: The Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF) is committed to providing an employment environment which is welcoming of persons from diverse backgrounds and free from unlawful discrimination and harassment, and in which all legal rights of our employees are recognized and protected. ALDF conducts all internal and external operations, programs, and employment-related decision making (including hiring decisions) without regard to actual or perceived race, ancestry, color, religion, national origin, citizenship, immigration status, sex or gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions), gender identity or expression, political affiliation, disability or medical condition (including physical, intellectual, or psychiatric), sexual orientation, marital status, military or veteran status, genetic information, age, or other protected category, and in compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local anti-discrimination and anti-harassment laws.
Consistent with the organization&rsquo;s mission, Animal Legal Defense Fund offices and events are free of animal products and byproducts.
Requirements:

We are Looking for Candidates with:<ul><li>
Experience as a current 2L (or part-time program equivalent) or LLM student at an ABA accredited law school.</li><li>
Eligibility to work in the United States.</li><li>
A sincere interest in animal protection.</li><li>
Superior legal research and writing skills, including the ability to tailor voice and style to various audiences.</li><li>
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.</li><li>
A positive attitude and ability to work cooperatively with others and function well in a mission-driven, team-oriented work environment.</li><li>
A willingness to accept a variety of assignments within the expanding field of animal law.</li><li>
Excellent organizational, prioritization, and time management skills.</li><li>
An ability to work independently and remotely.</li><li>
An ability to use discretion, keeping in mind the confidential and emotional aspects of our work.</li><li>
Access to a computer with internet and Microsoft Suite.</li><li>
Familiarity with animal law is preferred.</li></ul>
We strongly encourage persons from diverse backgrounds to apply.</div>

Animal Legal Defense Fund Pro Bono Program Summer 2026 Clerkship

Join Animal Legal Defense Fund and explore 3   exciting career opportunities. They're hiring for various roles with options for remote or on-site work. Apply today and become part of their innovative team.

Animal Legal Defense Fund

ABOUT_COMPANY

Animal Legal Defense Fund Criminal Justice Program Summer 2026 Clerkships

Animal Legal Defense Fund Litigation Program Summer 2026 Clerkships

Animal Legal Defense Fund Pro Bono Program Summer 2026 Clerkship