Law Apprenticeship

Law ApprenticeshipBecome a California lawyer without law school. Get paid while you learn.Pay: $70,000 a year, from day oneWho: Recent college grads, and community college students who have finished two years of collegeYou need: 60 semester units or 90 quarter units of college, a 3.5 GPA or higher, and an AI certification (or earn one in your first 90 days)You start as: An apprentice on our legal team. No legal experience needed.You become: A lawyer. No law school. No loans.Length: Four yearsWhere: Our offices in Menlo Park and Mountain View, Monday to Thursday. Fridays can be remote.

Benefits

Health insurance, 401(k), two weeks of paid time off, and paid holidaysWhy This PathAbraham Lincoln never went to law school. He learned by working next to lawyers and reading the law. California still allows that path. It is called the Law Office Study Program.Most lawyers spend four years in college and three years in law school, then start with large loans. Our apprentices start working on real cases right away, get paid the whole time, and finish with no law school debt.You do not need a bachelor's degree. Two years of college is enough to qualify. If you are at a community college and thinking about law school, this may be a faster and cheaper way in.Who We AreTrademarkia has helped more than 125,000 businesses protect their brands. We also run SueEasy, an AI platform that helps people prepare and file strong civil claims, and PatentVC, a venture studio for legal and AI startups. You will work across all of them.What You DoYou do two things: study law and help the team. Both are paid.Year oneLearn the basics of law: contracts, torts, and criminal lawTake a written exam from your supervising attorney every monthHelp the team with daily tasks across trademarks, patents, and litigationPrepare for the First-Year Law Students' Exam (the "baby bar")Years two to fourDraft documents, research memos, and court filings for attorney reviewSupport litigation, including SueEasy cases, personal injury, employment, and contract disputesSit in on client calls and attend depositions with our attorneysHelp build legal AI tools with our engineersPrepare for the California Bar ExamEvery case you work on is bar exam practice. The fact patterns on the bar exam look a lot like the problems our clients bring us.You use AI every day. You give it good context and check its work. You never sign legal documents or give legal advice. A licensed attorney reviews and signs everything.Who We WantYou want to be a lawyer and help people. You are excited about the law, not just the paycheck.You like to argue a case. Mock trial, speech and debate, or moot court is a big plus.You are interested in criminal justice, political science, paralegal studies, business, or pre-law.Personable. Someone the team loves working with.Dynamic. You switch gears fast.Smart. 3.5 GPA or higher. You think for yourself.AI savvy. You have an AI certification (Google, Microsoft, AWS, Anthropic, or similar), or earn one in 90 days.Business minded. You want to be a lawyer who thinks like a business owner.Gritty. You have worked hard for what you have, and you finish what you start.We are hiring a small group who will start together and study together.How You Become a LawyerRegister with the State Bar. We help you file. You send your college transcripts. Your four years start once the State Bar approves you.Study for four years. At least 18 hours a week, during your paid workday. A supervising attorney teaches you, tests you monthly, and reports your progress to the State Bar.Pass the baby bar after year one. It is the First-Year Law Students' Exam. Pass it to keep going.Pass the California Bar Exam. Also pass the ethics exam (the MPRE) and the moral character review. Then you are a lawyer.We stay with you. If you do not pass the first time, we keep helping you study until you do.How to ApplyEmail jobs@trademarkia.com with:Your resumeYour college transcriptsA 2 to 3 minute video answering the three questions belowWho are you? Tell us about yourself.Why do you want to be a lawyer? Why this path, and why now?Teach us something you learned recently. Anything: a hobby, a business idea, a legal rule. Tell us how you used AI to learn it and how you knew it was right.Look at the camera and talk to us. Do not read a script. There is no right answer. We want to see how you think.Questions? Contact Tristan Dowdell at tristan@trademarkia.com.The Fine PrintThe State Bar of California sets the Law Office Study Program rules. Study time counts only after the State Bar approves your registration. Pass rates for this route are lower than for law school graduates, so we give every apprentice structured study and exam prep. Learn more at calbar.ca.gov (search "Law Office Study").Trademarkia is an equal opportunity employer. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, medical condition, marital status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.