Emilia Lechuga-Bass Civil Rights Internship

Litt, Estuar, Harrison & Kitson, LLP, a private civil rights law firm, offers its annual civil rights internship to recent college graduates. The internship is intended to provide one year of experience working in a civil rights/public interest law firm before attending law school.

This internship is named for Emilia Lechuga-Bass. Emilia was a young woman planning to attend law school with the hope of practicing civil rights law. She was going to work at the firm prior to attending law school. Emilia, who came from a politically active family in Los Angeles, was to work on a range of issues to introduce her to the world of civil rights law. She was to more closely link the firm's civil rights impact work with the goals and needs of Los Angeles communities by partnering with community organizations. Tragically, Emilia was killed in a car accident just before beginning her work at the firm.

So that others may reach their goals, the firm has created an annual internship in Emilia's name to provide experience for young people hoping to attend law school with the goal of practicing civil rights and public interest law. The internship will provide an introduction into these areas by gaining real world experiences in a civil rights/public interest law firm.

Applicants for the Internship must meet the following criteria:

1. Have graduated from undergraduate college within five years of the commencement of the internship.
2. Intend to attend law school within a year after completion of the Internship and to ultimately practice civil rights/public interest law.
3. A history of community service or political activity.
4. Skills in the use of Microsoft Office applications.
5. Completion of the Internship Application.

Factors to be considered by the firm choosing each year's civil rights intern will include academic performance, community and political experience, work experience, writing skills, and references. Experience in the Los Angeles area working with communities of color, and fluent bilingual skills, are considered a plus. California Assembly Speaker Karen Bass, Professor Gary Blasi of the UCLA School of Law, and firm partner Barry Litt will serve on the Selection Committee to choose the intern. Compensation for the intern in 2009-10 is set at $16.50/hour, plus health and dental benefits.

Applications may be downloaded by clicking here, obtained by visiting the website of Assembly Speaker Karen Bass, or by calling the firm at 213-386-3114 and speaking with Ms. Leticia Moreno to request an application. The application indicates the materials to be provided when applying.

Applications are due annually by March 1. A decision will be made by April 30. The internship will last from July 1 to June 30, year-to-year.