The Los Angeles County Public Defender’s Office Youth Defender Program introduces select high school students to the operations of the public defender’s office, the court system, and related agencies in the criminal just system. Our Youth Defenders will be given a mock case assignment and throughout the week-long program will learn the various stages of criminal procedure and a trial. They will be challenged to act as Public Defender’s in defending their client throughout the mock case. They will be trained on how to approach the defense of the most vulnerable members of society throughout the criminal process. They will also have opportunities to observe courtrooms with active criminal cases occurring live and in-person!
The Youth Defender Program enables high school students to gain exposure, training, and guidance from the largest public defender’s office in the country. Youth Defender’s must be actively enrolled in high school. The pilot of the Youth Defender’s program will occur from June 23rd – June 27th, 2025. Each day will have a high structured agenda lasting from 8:30 a.m. until 3 p.m. and will occur at the Central Criminal Courts Building, known as Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center. This is located at 210 W. Temple Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012.
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. APPLY TODAY!
