How it works — Legal Underground

For students

Landing your first legal role

1 · Create your free account

Hit Join free in the top-right corner and choose Student. All you need is an email — no dues, no interviews, no gatekeeping. That's the whole point of the Underground.

2 · Build your profile once

On your dashboard, add your year, major, interests, a short bio, and a link to your résumé (a public Google Drive link works great). This profile rides along with every application, so you never re-type it.

3 · Filter the board like a pro

On the Opportunities page, stack filters: pick practice areas (Immigration, IP, Civil Rights…), choose remote / hybrid / in-person, set the compensation you need, and narrow by location. The search bar digs through titles, organizations, and descriptions.

4 · Apply in one click

Open any listing and hit Apply now. Your profile auto-fills; you just add 2–4 sentences on why you're a fit. Specific beats long — mention the org's actual work.

5 · Track everything

Every application appears on your dashboard with a live status: Submitted → Reviewed → Interview → Accepted. Our team coordinates with organizations each week; you can also hear back directly from the organization at the email on your application.

For clinics, nonprofits & firms

Finding your next great student

1 · Create an organization account

Choose Organization when signing up. Fill in your org profile — name, website, contact email, and a line about your work — so students know who they're applying to.

2 · Post an opportunity in minutes

From your dashboard, hit Post an opportunity. Choose Full listing or Application link, and optionally check Accepting applications soon to tease a role on the board before applications open. When you're ready, hit Open applications on your dashboard listing.

3 · Review applicants in one place

For full listings, each posting shows its applicant list: name, year, major, résumé link, and their note on why they fit. Link listings send students to your external application — you manage those candidates on your own site.

4 · Move candidates through your pipeline

For full listings, flip an applicant's status to Reviewed, Interview, Accepted, or Declined — the student sees the update on their dashboard. Link listings send students to your own site, so you manage those applicants externally. Use Edit on any posting to update details, or Close listing once it's filled.

Questions

Frequently asked

Does it really cost nothing?

Nothing, for anyone, ever. Legal Underground is a student organization at UCLA — we exist to open doors, not to bill for them. Organizations post free; students join and apply free.

Do I need to be pre-law to join?

Nope. Most members are exploring — that's what the roles are for. If you're curious whether law is for you, three months in a real clinic answers that faster than any lecture.

Are the positions paid?

It varies by organization: some roles are paid or come with a stipend, many offer school credit, and some pro bono roles are volunteer-based. Every listing is labeled, and there's a compensation filter so you only see what works for you.

How are organizations vetted?

Our board reaches out to and screens each clinic, nonprofit, and firm before their listings appear — we confirm the work is substantive and that a supervising attorney or staff member will actually mentor students.

Some listings say “Apply via link” — what does that mean?

That organization chose to use their own application form instead of applying through Legal Underground. Open the listing and click Apply on organization site — you'll leave our platform and complete their application on their website.

I run a legal clinic — how do I post?

Create an Organization account (top-right, "Join free"), fill in your org profile, and hit "Post an opportunity" on your dashboard. Choose Full listing to accept applications here, or Application link if you already have an application page — just paste the URL. If you'd rather have us post on your behalf, email legalunderground@g.ucla.edu.

How will I hear back about my application?

For applications submitted through Legal Underground, check your dashboard for status updates (Submitted → Reviewed → Interview → Accepted). Our team emails partner organizations a weekly summary of new applications, and organizations may also contact you directly at the email on your application. For Apply via link listings, follow up through the organization's external application process.

What happens after I'm accepted?

The organization contacts you directly at the email on your application to arrange onboarding, scheduling, and any paperwork (including school-credit forms if applicable).

How the Underground works