Agenda

Return

C. 57

To:	Board of Supervisors
From:	Diana Becton, District Attorney
Date:	September 26, 2017

Contra

Costa

County

Subject:

2017 Lawyers For America Training Program with University of California Hastings College of Law

APPROVE	OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR	RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE

Action of Board On: 09/26/2017

APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED

OTHER

Clerks Notes:

VOTE OF SUPERVISORS

AYE:

John Gioia, District I Supervisor
Candace Andersen, District II Supervisor
Diane Burgis, District III Supervisor
Karen Mitchoff, District IV Supervisor

ABSENT:

Federal D. Glover, District V Supervisor

Contact:

Cherie Mathisen, (925) 957-2234

I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of an action taken and entered on the minutes of the Board of Supervisors on the date shown.
ATTESTED: September 26, 2017
David Twa,

BY:	, Deputy

RECOMMENDATION(S):

APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the District Attorney, or designee, to execute an Agreement with the University of California Hastings College of the Law and Lawyers for America, a nonprofit corporation, in an amount not to exceed $49,000.00 for an attorney interning at the District Attorney’s Office through the Lawyers for America Program for the period June 1, 2017, through February 15, 2018.

FISCAL IMPACT:

The cost of one (1) attorney from Lawyers for America, not to exceed $49,000.00.

BACKGROUND:

The Lawyers for America Program aims to improve the lawyering skills of new lawyers while expanding the availability of legal services for those who cannot afford to hire lawyers and for the public by providing two-year work experiences in the public and nonprofit sectors. During the first year of the Program, the selected Fellows complete an Externship at the District Attorney’s Office. During the second year of the program, the Fellows leave to study for and take the bar examination. Then, the Fellows return to the District Attorney’s Office for a paid Fellowship. The Fellows will be licensed attorneys for the second year of the Fellowship and carry a full caseload as line prosecutors in the District Attorney’s Office. The Office will benefit from alleviating the existing workload, while giving potential employees advanced training in the area of criminal prosecution. The Fellows will gain important litigation experience and insight into the practice of criminal prosecution.