UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT SOUTHERN DIVISION
CENTRAL DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 411 WEST FOURTH STREET, SUITE 1053
WESTERN DIVISION SANTA ANA, CA 92701-4516
350 WEST 1ST ST., SUITE 4311 (714) 338-4570
LOS ANGELES, CA 90012
TEL: (213) 894-1874
FAX: (213) 894-3305 EASTERN DIVISION
3470 TWELFTH STREET, SUITE 134
CHAMBERS OF
RIVERSIDE, CA 92501-3801
MAAME E. FRIMPONG
(909) 328-4450
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
Re: Judge Maame Ewusi-Mensah Frimpong Non-Law Student Externship Posting
Judge Maame Ewusi-Mensah Frimpong of the United States District Court for the Central District of
California hires non-law student externs for the Spring, Summer, and Fall terms every year.
Undergraduate students, paralegal students, high school students, or others interested in working in
chambers (whether students or not) may apply. The positions coincide approximately with the academic
calendar as described in further detail below. Externships are fully in person, as we are unable to
accommodate requests for remote externships at this time. Externs may be either full time or part for
spring and fall but must be full time for the summer. The externship is unpaid, as the Court lacks funding
to pay externs.
Judge Frimpong is seeking externs with strong research and writing skills, who are passionate about the
law, willing to learn, and dedicated to improving our justice system. Those with a demonstrated
commitment to public service, diversity, and an inclusive work environment are encouraged to apply.
Moreover, Judge Frimpong encourages applications from all qualified individuals and seeks a diverse
pool of applicants in terms of race, ethnicity, national origin, sex, gender identity and expression, sexual
orientation, age, languages spoken, veteran’s status, disability, religion, and socio-economic
circumstances. Applicants need not have any background in the law to be considered.
Our externs work very closely with the law clerks and Judge Frimpong, and they have the opportunity to
perform various research and writing tasks, assist the judge and law clerks in preparation for hearings, and
observe criminal and civil hearings and trials. Externs’ work is reviewed by the law clerks and Judge
Frimpong, who provide substantive feedback on the externs’ writing. Judge Frimpong and her clerks are
committed to providing mentorship and guidance to externs throughout the externship and beyond.
The timelines for each semester are below. Specific start and end dates may be adjusted in some
circumstances. Applications are considered on a rolling basis beginning on the dates applications open as
described above, and students are encouraged to apply promptly after the applications open. There is no
hard deadline to apply, but Judge Frimpong will cease reviewing applications after all spots have been
filled. The likely timeline for when hiring decisions will be made is listed below.
For candidates who are not on a traditional semester-based path, Judge Frimpong will consider alternative
externship timelines.
• Spring Externship:
o Applications open: first week of October
o Final decisions on hiring: likely mid-November
o Externship dates: third week of January – third week of April
• Summer Externship:
o Applications open: second week of December
o Final decisions on hiring: likely mid-February
o Externship dates: third week of May – second week of August
• Fall Externship
o Applications open: first week of May
o Final decisions on hiring: likely mid-June
o Externship dates: third week of August – third week of November
Interested applicants must submit the following materials in PDF format to
[email protected]:
• Cover letter: Please indicate the term for which you are applying
• Resume
• Transcript (even if unofficial)
• Writing sample (five to ten pages in length)
• Response to Essay Question: Please describe your commitment to public service, to include any
service to others in the community (“Community” may include the applicant’s family, depending on
their circumstances) (500-word limit)
If you require an accommodation for any part of this process, please contact Judge Frimpong’s Chambers
at
[email protected].
