Purpose. Dignity. Action. (PDA)
Legal Internship/Externship (Fall/Winter 2027)
United States · On-site · Posted 2026-11-06
• PURPOSE. DIGNITY. ACTION. Legal Internship/Externship (Winter/Spring 2027) (LEAD: Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion/Let Everyone Advance with Dignity)
PURPOSE. DIGNITY. ACTION. (PDA) PDA strives to build robust support for non-punitive, community-based solutions to many public safety issues. With neighborhood and public partners and in partnership with community members actively seeking to move past experiences of harm and injury, we design and deliver widely supported initiatives that promote safety, restoration, and racial equity.
Who We Are Formed in 1969 as The Defender Association to provide high-quality legal defense for civil rights activists in Seattle, in 2013 we began to concentrate exclusively on alternative public safety models, when King County created an in-house public defense program. PDA remained independent to carry on the work of our Racial Disparity Project, which had helped to design LEAD, the nation’s first pre-booking diversion model for drug-related offenses. In 2021, we adopted a Co-Executive Director structure, recognizing the value of power-sharing, multiple voices, and perspectives at the leadership level. Our multicultural team of lawyers, organizers, project managers, social workers, direct service providers, and administrative staff blends professional and technical skills with lived experience of the systems we’re working to change.
Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion/Let Everyone Advance with Dignity (LEAD) Background LEAD enhances public safety, health, and equity by building new systems to divert people with unmet needs related to behavioral health or extreme poverty into non-punitive, collaborative, community-based systems of response and care. Individuals approved for LEAD receive access to harm reduction-based intensive case management. Working with their case managers, participants develop an individualized plan identifying the types of services most relevant for them, including, but not limited to housing, employment, legal issues, family reconnection, reducing drug use/access to medication treatment, mental healthcare, and other physical healthcare needs. Law enforcement or the community can refer individuals to LEAD. PDA is the project manager for the flagship LEAD program in Seattle-King County, and provides technical support for jurisdictions nationally and internationally that want to replicate LEAD through our LEAD Support Bureau.
Position Description: A legal intern/extern would work with the LEAD Legal Services team, which provides widely varied legal representation to participants in the LEAD program. Common practice areas include eviction defense, family law, reentry and criminal vacation issues, immigration representation, and warrant quash assistance. The legal team is committed to providing LEAD participants with high-quality representation in any legal matter that poses a roadblock to their success. Legal services are provided through the principles of harm-reduction—meeting clients where they are, in a way that is responsive to their specific needs.
Essential Job Functions: The intern/extern with the Legal Team will work under the supervision of a LEAD Legal attorney to research and write legal memoranda, engage in individual representation of clients, and assist in the preparation of filings for ongoing litigation. Past intern projects include but are not limited to–interviewing, strategizing, briefing, and representing clients in eviction hearings; writing and submitting full motions with the supervision of a staff attorney; and preparing for discovery, filing, and other aspects of litigation.
Essential Job Qualifications: ● Completion of at least one year of law school by the start of the internship. ● Excellent legal research and writing skills. ● Strong ability to work collaboratively. ● Strong interest in community-based public safety strategies, and appreciation for all of the diverse partners who support the solutions we are building. ● Demonstrated cultural competence and sensitivity in working with diverse clients, communities, and colleagues. ● Desire to engage in individual client representation. ● Desire to work with individuals with mental illness, substance use disorder, and other disabilities.
Location This is an opening for a remote position, with the opportunity for in-person meetings. The PDA Office is in Seattle, WA.
Deadlines Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until the position is filled.
Funding PDA is committed to ensuring that legal intern/externships are available to all law students. We are particularly interested in working with law students from backgrounds that are underrepresented in the legal profession. If funding is an issue and other sources are not available, PDA may be able to bring legal intern/externs on as temporary employees in order to ensure equity of opportunities.
Equal Opportunity Employer PDA is committed to a policy of equal opportunity and fosters an environment free of barriers and discriminatory practices. PDA actively promotes mutual respect, acceptance, teamwork, and productivity. PDA is committed to maintaining an organization whose staff, Board, and clients are diverse in background, experience, race, color, national origin, gender, age, religious affiliation, marital status, sexual identity, sensory, mental or physical abilities, veteran status, and other qualities that strengthen the program while reinforcing its commitment to basic fairness. People of color, those directly impacted by the criminal justice system, people who identify as queer, trans, lesbian, gay, or bisexual, and those with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply. Individuals needing a reasonable accommodation for the application or interview process should contact hr@WeArePDA.org.
How to Apply Please apply by submitting a resume as well as a cover letter, legal writing sample, and list of at least two references through the PDA hiring portal (applicants will need to upload ALL application materials through the portal – look for the prompt that says “Make your application stronger by uploading documents…”)
Applications will not be considered until they are complete. Please direct any questions to LEAD Legal Services Director, Jajah Wu, at Jajah.Wu@wearepda.org .
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