REQUEST FOR
INFORMATION (RFI)
JUDICIAL COUNCIL OF CALIFORNIA
TITLE: SUMMER 2026 INTERNSHIP PROGRAM WITH
JUVENILE DEPENDENCY LAWYERS AND LAW FIRMS
RFI NO.: CFCC-2025-04-LP
RESPONSES DUE BY: FEBRUARY 27, 2026
NO LATER THAN 2:00 P.M. PACIFIC TIME
Request for Information No.: CFCC-2025-04-LP
Title: Summer 2026 Internship Program with Juvenile Dependency Lawyers and Law Firms
TABLE OF CONTENTS
I. OVERVIEW
II. INVITATION TO RESPOND
III. DESCRIPTION OF SERVICE
IV. REQUIREMENTS
V. RESPONSE FORMAT
VI. CLOSING DATE FOR SUBMISSION AND CONTACT INFORMATION
VII. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
VIII. CONFIDENTIAL OR PROPRIETARY INFORMATION
IX. INFORMATION EXCHANGE
X. STATEMENT OF LIMITATIONS
Request for Information No.: CFCC-2025-04-LP
Title: Summer 2026 Internship Program with Juvenile Dependency Lawyers and Law Firms
I. OVERVIEW
The Judicial Council of California (Judicial Council), chaired by the Chief Justice of California,
is the chief policy making agency of the California judicial system. The California Constitution
directs the council to improve the administration of justice by surveying judicial business,
recommending improvements to the courts, and making recommendations annually to the
Governor and the Legislature. The council also adopts rules for court administration, practice
and procedure, and performs functions prescribed by law.
The primary purpose of the Judicial Council’s Center for Families, Children & the Courts
(CFCC) is to assist the courts in maximizing access to and effectiveness of court services for
children, families, and other vulnerable litigants.
Juvenile dependency law is a very specific practice of law that requires specialized training.
CFCC is committed to increasing the number of attorneys dedicated to the practice of juvenile
dependency law and to providing quality legal representation to children and families.
II. INVITATION TO RESPOND
You are invited to respond with information to assist the Judicial Council in identifying
prospective juvenile dependency court appointed counsel who might be interested in
participating in the Judicial Council law student summer 2026 intern program.
Responses will only be accepted from dependency providers currently participating in the
Federally Funded Dependency Representation Program (FFDRP) or receiving Court-Appointed
Counsel (CAC) funds through the Dependency Representation Administration Funding, and
Training (DRAFT) Program.
III. DESCRIPTION OF SERVICE
CFCC is funding a program to increase law students’ exposure to juvenile dependency law with
the hope of developing interest in the field. The program is also intended to provide law
students’ assistance to providers in geographically diverse areas of the state, including rural and
suburban areas with limited access to lawyers.
The purpose of this Request for Information (RFI) is to determine interest from juvenile
dependency court appointed counsel providers in participating in a program that would allow law
firms to mentor law school students, who would intern in their law practice during the law school
summer break, typically starting in May 2026 or June 2026.
This internship program funds interns for 240 to 400 hours of work at the state minimum wage,
at a minimum.
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Request for Information No.: CFCC-2025-04-LP
Title: Summer 2026 Internship Program with Juvenile Dependency Lawyers and Law Firms
IV. REQUIREMENTS
The Respondents providing management of the internship program can be a firm or an
individual. The firm or manager of the intern project must have at least seven (7) years of legal
experience and at least five (5) years of juvenile dependency law experience. Five (5) years of
legal experience may be substituted if the attorney is credentialed as a Child Welfare Law
Specialist by the National Association of Council for Children certified by the State Bar of
California. The Respondents may have a mixed legal practice that includes at least 50% of work
for juvenile dependency proceedings. Providers will be responsible for recruiting the law
students for the internship. Respondents should consider law student interns who may provide
diversity, equity, and inclusion to the practice of juvenile dependency law. CFCC will help, to
the extent possible, in the law student recruitment by providing information about law schools
that have courses or clinics in juvenile dependency law.
Each Respondent must provide a description of their proposed internship program to include:
How the law student interns will be recruited, trained, and mentored, including
strategies aimed at diversity, equity, and inclusion.
The training curriculum.
The tasks the intern will perform.
How student interns will receive feedback on performance.
Confidentiality agreements or other assurances that interns maintain client
confidentiality.
Confirmation that the program mentor will be an experienced dependency
practitioner.
Confirmation that the law school interns will observe court and accompany
attorneys, social workers, and/or investigators on interviews.
Respondents must specify the number of interns they are requesting, the number of hours
anticipated per intern, the minimum wage for city in which the court(s) are located, and a pay
range per intern comparable to other paid internships in nonprofit legal organizations.
Respondents may request stipends for summer interns as follows:
Sole Proprietor – one (1) summer law student intern.
Practice or Panel with two (2) to nine (9) attorneys – up to two (2) summer law
student interns.
Practice or Panel with ten (10) or more attorneys – up to five (5) summer law
student interns.
It is expected that at the end of the internship, the law student interns will be able to:
Describe the juvenile dependency legal system.
Describe the type of parents and children that enter the juvenile dependency
system.
Describe the role of the court, agency, social worker, and parent and child
attorneys in juvenile dependency proceedings.
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Request for Information No.: CFCC-2025-04-LP
Title: Summer 2026 Internship Program with Juvenile Dependency Lawyers and Law Firms
The cohort of law student interns will be expected to meet at least two (2) times during the
internship period of 240 to 400 hours with Judicial Council staff or designee to discuss their
internship experience, provide feedback for improvements if needed, any barriers encountered,
and complete the Judicial Council’s exit survey about their internship experience.
The supervision of law student interns in this project is eligible for title IV-E activities through
the Judicial Council’s Federally Funded Dependency Representation Program (FFDRP).
V. RESPONSE FORMAT
Technical Response. The following information must be included in the technical response.
1. Title Page must include the following information:
a. Response title;
b. Date submitted;
c. Respondent’s name and business name;
d. Identification of Respondent as individual, partnership, corporation,
public agency, or joint venture of one or more of the preceding;
e. Identification of the business structure of the Respondent’s
representational model (e.g., public agency, private for-profit
organizational representation, private non-profit organizational
representation, solo practitioner, centrally administered panel, any
combination of the preceding, etc.); and
f. Respondent’s contact information (physical and electronic addresses,
telephone, and fax).
2. Framework: Respondent must provide a description of their proposed
internship program as described in Section IV. Requirements, above.
3. Competency and Experience Requirements: Provide verification that the
attorney or firm has at least seven (7) years of legal experience and at least
five (5) years of juvenile dependency law experience or that the lead attorney
holds a credential as a Child Welfare Law Specialist from the National
Association of Council for Children certified by the State Bar of California.
This could include resumes of proposed attorney supervisors in your office.
VI. CLOSING DATE FOR SUBMISSION AND CONTACT INFORMATION
All submissions are due no later than the closing date of February 27, 2026, no later than
2:00 P.M. (PT). All interested parties must submit an electronic version of the entire response
marked “Response to RFI No. CFCC-2025-04-LP” to be transmitted by email to the Judicial
Council’s solicitations mailbox at solicitations@jud.ca.gov.
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This is the opportunity summary page. It provides an overview of this opportunity and a preview of the attached documentation.
