EDUCATION-CENTERED PRACTICE
Phillips Black is founded upon a commitment to preparing future attorneys and specialists in the demanding area of capital defense and post-conviction advocacy. Education is at the heart of the practice. Mobilizing clinical opportunities is indispensable to effective representation in this labor-intensive field. Perennially, students contribute greatly while they gain experience assisting in the range of intensive activities that go into representing an individual facing or under a sentence of death.
INTERNSHIPS
Law students are a vital part of our practice. Those interested in volunteering with our practice, whether for a summer or a semester, should send a cover letter, resume, and writing sample to clinics@phillipsblack.org. Successful applicants will have a demonstrated commitment to social and criminal justice issues, strong research and writing skills, and a desire to provide the highest level of representation to those facing the severest penalties under law. Opportunities are available in New York, Philadelphia, St. Louis, and Oakland.
LAW SCHOOL PROGRAMMING
Phillips Black leads and facilitates post-conviction clinical programming throughout the country.
Phillips Black founded and leads a post-conviction clinical practicum at Washington University School of Law.
Phillips Black has established an intensive clinical placement relationship with the University of California, Berkeley’s Law School. Perennially, Berkeley Law places several students with our practice and in conjunction with the law school's death penalty clinic.
Phillips Black maintains an office and hosts clinical externships at the Saint Louis University (SLU) School of Law.
Phillips Black hosts J-term externships from Harvard Law School, where second-year students spend most of in January in office working intensively with Phillips Black and then continue their work through the spring term.
Phillips Black also partners with UC Law San Francisco, hosting students and fellows who are involved in our death penalty cases at every stage of litigation.
Phillips Black also collaborates with the University of Idaho College of Law by hosting externs, providing pro bono opportunities for students, and teaching various courses on the death penalty and post-conviction remedies.