Opportunities for All: Exploring OFA Internship Programs

Internship programs play a crucial role in shaping the future workforce, providing invaluable experience and mentoring to the next generation of leaders. Opportunities for All (OFA) offers a diverse range of internship programs designed to provide students and community members with exposure to various fields, develop their skills, and contribute to the community. This article delves into the details of OFA's internship programs, highlighting the opportunities available for high school students, college students, law school students, recent graduates, and community members.

OFA's Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

OFA strongly believes in diversity, equity, and inclusion. As an equal employment opportunity employer, OFA prohibits discrimination, harassment, intimidation, sexual harassment, and bullying based on actual or perceived race, color, ancestry, nationality, national origin, immigration status, ethnic group identification, ethnicity, age, religion, marital status, pregnancy, parental status, reproductive health decision making, physical or mental disability, medical condition, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, veteran or military status, or genetic information, or association with a person or a group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics or any other basis protected by law or regulation, in its educational program(s) or employment.

Internship Opportunities for High School and College Students

OFA's internship program for high school and college students provides a unique opportunity to learn about the work of public defenders and gain valuable work experience in an office environment. This internship is highly recommended for students who are considering pursuing a career in law or working in and on behalf of under-privileged communities.

While OFA is unable to provide direct financial compensation to students or young adults, individuals between the ages of 13 and 24 may qualify for a paid internship through San Francisco's Opportunities for All program. Participation in this program requires a minimum commitment of 8 hours per week for a period of three months.

High School Internship Programs within Public Works

The Public Works department offers several internship programs tailored for high school students, including:

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OFA Young Architects and Landscape Architects High School Internship: This paid internship program, offered by the San Francisco Public Works Bureau of Architecture and Bureau of Landscape Architecture, aims to expose young high school students to the industry of public-sector architecture and landscape architecture.
Project Pull: Project Pull is a summer internship program designed for high school students and recent graduates. It introduces young people to careers in architecture, engineering, business, and science, developing talented youth who will one day serve as part of the City's workforce.
Youth Works: San Francisco YouthWorks is a career-oriented internship program for high school students. The program matches local youth with city department employees who provide mentorship, supervision, and training designed to expose them to careers and improve their skills in a supportive environment.
Summer Youth Program: OFA partners with a community-based nonprofit organization for the annual Summer Youth Program. This program focuses on high school students (rising 9th graders through 12th graders) who live in San Francisco. The selected grantee works with community-based organizations to recruit participants, ensuring multiethnic citywide youth participation. Summer youth engage in a variety of tasks, including landscape maintenance, planting trees and shrubs, and picking up litter in neighborhoods.

The Public Affairs team also seeks energetic self-starters to assist in web content management, special event coordination, program development, community outreach, and media relations.

Internship Opportunities for Law School Students

OFA's internship program for law school students offers a unique opportunity to work directly with clients and the defense team, which includes attorneys, investigators, paralegals, and social workers. This experience allows students to gain practical skills and knowledge in indigent criminal defense.

Students certified to practice law may also be given the opportunity to argue motions on behalf of clients in court. Academic credit may be available if an agreement is established between OFA and the intern's university.

Applicants must possess strong written and oral communication skills and demonstrate a commitment to indigent criminal defense. School (Fall/Winter) session participation requires a 16-20 hours per week commitment, while Summer participation requires a full-time, forty (40) hours per week commitment for the entire duration of the session. Students must be able to start by the session's start date and attend an orientation on or before their start date.

OFA offers three sessions per year. Applications cannot be saved and must be completed in one session. As part of the registration process, interns must attend the Orientation and submit information for a background check for jail clearance. Jail clearance is required to conduct meetings with clients who are in-custody.

Post-Bar Fellowships

Recent law school graduates can apply for fellowships in OFA for as long as one year. Post-Bar fellows receive training in all aspects of criminal defense practice. Once they are licensed to practice law in California, post-bar fellows join the Misdemeanor Unit and have the opportunity to represent clients at all stages, including jury trials.

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Community Member Opportunities

OFA welcomes community members to join in its mission to serve underserved and disenfranchised members of the public. This is not a formal program but is tailored to meet the individualized skills of the community member and the needs of OFA's office. Participation requires a minimum of 8 (eight) hours a week for a period of 3 (three) months.

Social Media and Storytelling Internship

OFA is seeking a Social Media and Storytelling Intern to help capture and share the real stories of its people and its impact. This role will be responsible for gathering photo and video content in the field, conducting informal interviews with employees and adults with disabilities OFA supports (with appropriate consent), and packaging that content into high-quality social media posts.

A core focus of this internship is strengthening the professional presence of OFA's Executive Leadership Team (Leadership Team) on social media. The intern will help develop consistent, values-aligned branding for individual leaders and for OFA, while ensuring content is respectful, accurate, and aligned with OFA's mission and voice. This role will also support external-facing storytelling by creating posts that highlight Leadership Team members and OFA's engagement with employers, community partners, community leaders, advocacy partners, and other organizations that help bring OFA's mission to life. This internship will be starting on June 1, 2026, and ending on August 7, 2026. This role requires the intern to work 100% onsite in OFA's San Diego HQ.

Additional Opportunities

Beyond the specific programs mentioned above, OFA may offer internships in other areas, such as the Investigation Unit, where interns can assist Public Defender Investigators, who are critical to securing great outcomes for clients.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

To help potential applicants better understand OFA's internship programs, here are some frequently asked questions:

Q: Do I need any prior employment experience to apply?

A: No! OFA encourages anyone to apply regardless of previous experience. The only requirement to apply is that you live and/or attend school in San Francisco.

Q: What are the qualifications for an OFA internship?

A: To qualify, you must be a San Francisco resident and/or San Francisco student, between the ages of 13 - 24.

Q: What is the time commitment for an internship?

A: The schedule varies based on the site/opportunity. Participation requires a minimum of 8 hours a week for a period of three months. For Law School Students, School (Fall/Winter) session participation requires a 16-20 hours per week commitment, while Summer participation requires a full-time, forty (40) hours per week commitment for the entire duration of the session.

Q: What opportunities are available?

A: Available opportunities will be outlined in the Intern application.

Q: How can I sign up?

A: Youth may complete the application during the application period. The application for Summer 2025 will open in early 2025.

Q: Who should I follow up with if I have INTERN-related questions?

A: For intern-related questions, please follow up with the designated contact person or department.

Q: What is a Fellow?

A: An OFA Fellow is a young adult who has graduated from high school or obtained their GED and is an undergraduate student, postgraduate student, or has related work experience, aged 18 - 26. A full description can be found on the Fellow application. If you do not meet the requirements, you should not apply for this position.

Q: How do I become a Fellow?

A: If you are interested in applying to become a Fellow and meet the minimum criteria, please apply via the application link provided. Fellow candidates will also complete an interview and will need to upload a copy of their resume during the application process. If you are not selected as an OFA Fellow, you will be considered for an Intern position, provided you meet the minimum, Intern criteria (live and/or attend school in San Francisco).

Q: Will this be virtual or in-person?

A: The majority of placements will be in person. Candidates must be available for the duration of their selected assignments. The Social Media and Storytelling Internship requires the intern to work 100% onsite in OFA's San Diego HQ.

Q: Who should I follow up with if I have FELLOW-related questions?

A: For fellow-related questions, please follow up with the designated contact person or department.

The Significance of Internships

Internships are more than just temporary jobs; they are stepping stones to future careers. They provide opportunities to:

Gain Real-World Experience: Internships allow students and young adults to apply their knowledge and skills in a professional setting, bridging the gap between academic learning and practical application.
Develop Professional Skills: Interns develop essential skills such as communication, teamwork, problem-solving, and time management, which are highly valued by employers.
Explore Career Paths: Internships provide a chance to explore different career paths and industries, helping individuals make informed decisions about their future.
Build a Professional Network: Interns have the opportunity to connect with professionals in their field, building a network that can provide guidance and support throughout their career.
Enhance Resume: Completing an internship enhances a resume, making individuals more competitive in the job market.

Career Development Beyond Internships

OFA is committed to providing experience and mentoring to the next generation of leaders. When it comes to starting a career, it's vital to have the right skills and real opportunities to make the most of them. As a career gains momentum, there are plenty of directions to go further, faster.

OFA is not a typical professional services firm. Federal, state, and local governments constantly seek ways to stimulate economic development and investment. Many companies have some form of activity outside their national jurisdiction, whether it's foreign subsidiaries, joint ventures, international suppliers, or import-export relationships. These arrangements can provide distinct competitive advantages but also create challenges for organizations to remain in compliance, reduce risk to individual employees and the company, and succeed in the marketplace.

OFA's team provides a variety of state tax consulting services, including but not limited to income and franchise tax, sales and use tax, property tax, and tax controversy representation. The team of tax, family office, and investment advisory practitioners work together to help families, executives, and business owners plan for the future and achieve their goals.

There are several different technical tracks within the wealth management team. The personal tax team works with clients to develop a comprehensive tax strategy tailored to their unique circumstances and helps preserve their hard-earned wealth. It takes careful planning to employ tax-saving strategies. The income tax planning practitioners address clientsâ unique needs and equip them with insight and answers to reduce taxes related to income. Core services may include individual income tax planning, projections, and preparations for federal, state, and local income taxes. Other services include stock option planning, charitable giving strategies, stock option planning, state residency and cross-border tax planning, tax audit representation, and tax planning related to the personal impact of business transactions.

The estate planning team works with clients to create an estate plan that takes all planning dimensions into account, including income tax planning, estate tax planning, business succession planning and sale transactions, philanthropic goals, life insurance optimization, and financial planning. OFA also makes sure an adequate plan is in place to avoid unintended consequences and to take advantage of available opportunities.

Through Moss Adams Wealth Advisors LLC, OFA provides clients with comprehensive financial planning and investment management solutions. They work with clients to understand their current financial situation and risks, help them establish and prioritize their goals, determine an investing strategy, and help them execute their plan along the way. The financial advisory team works with clients to discover and claim their future. OFA believes achieving financial goals happens through diligent planningânot by chance. The financial advisors guide clients through a comprehensive planning process that helps them articulate or refine their financial goals, gain a detailed understanding of their current financial situation, evaluate risks, develop an investing strategy, and execute and monitor their plan along the way. Common goals often include financial independence or lifestyle maintenance, family and legacy planning, business transition planning, managing equity compensation or concentrated stock positions, and wealth building and preservation.

The team researches and stays abreast of the US and global economies, current investment themes and risks, and manages the overall approach to implementing client investing strategies. Core functions of professionals in this practice area include conducting technical diligence on investment solutions, managing portfolio models, implementing and managing individual client portfolios, generating investment recommendations and proposals, and meeting with clients and prospects to discuss investing strategies.

Like a business, a family seeks to build, deploy, and preserve its capital. To run smoothly and prosper, a family's wealth requires effective administration, coordination, and planning. Operational team members manage the business, are responsible for centralized processes and technology, and strive to ensure they deliver an excellent client experience.

OFA provides financial analysis, due diligence, valuations, and M&A tax services. The team works closely with clients to understand their unique business objectives and develop tailored strategies to increase value and reduce risk. Services are designed to meet the clientâs needs and can include support for accounts payable, fixed assets, bank and balance sheet account reconciliations, and month-end activities.

In an increasingly complex regulatory environment, compliance risk management is essential, whether to meet statutory requirements, adhere to practices in corporate governance, or reduce reputational risk. Day-to-day work on this team involves assessing internal controls, mitigating risks, conducting IT audit reviews, and implementing controls to promote compliance with regulatory requirements and industry practices. This team works in close contact with the firmâs Assurance and Internal Audit teams. This team performs System and Organization Control (SOC) examinations for service organizations. They have direct interactions with clients who range in size from start-up to enterprise. Internal audits help clients achieve reliable financial reporting and regulatory compliance. Boost efficiency and employee engagement by examining people, processes, systems, and culture. Strategic and operational consulting services help equip organizations drive forward no matter what challenges they face.

Ignite Scholarship and GPS Operational Summer Internship

If interested in pursuing a degree and a career in accounting, prospective students are invited to apply for the Ignite Scholarship. All Ignite Scholarship recipients will receive an invitation to TakeOff!, an exclusive in-office event, to learn about OFA's culture and engage with leaders and other professionals. This opportunity is posted in the spring of each year.

OFA's six-week GPS Operational Summer Internship serves as the first step in the internship offerings. It aims to enhance participation from outstanding sophomores and juniors from all backgrounds, with a goal of introducing students to the business and inspiring inclusion in the accounting profession. The opportunity is posted in the fall of each year.

Launching a Career Through Internships

Internships provide robust training and mentoring. Winter/spring internships typically run from January to late March; summer internships are mid-June to mid-August. After completing an internship, participants will understand the expectations and gain insight into the future that awaits after graduation. These internships kick off with a training program. Summer interns attend a firmwide summer internship program (SIP) in Southern California. The weeklong program provides technical and soft-skills training, along with an opportunity to build a network with OFA's professionals and summer interns across the firm. Internship positions are primarily posted from January-April for spring recruiting, and in August-November for fall recruiting.

Joining OFA Full-Time

Join OFA full-time in assurance, tax, or consulting. As part of OFA, youâll have a seat at the table from day one, gaining valuable insights by working on complex business challenges with clients and coworkers at all levels. As you grow your expertise and collaborate with a variety of middle-market clients, youâll have the ability to customize your own career path. Through it all, you wonât get lost in the ranks.

Project Run With It

Each year, OFA sponsors Project Run With It. Each participating not-for-profit organization presents its business challenges and answers questions for selected students during the Beta Alpha Psi annual meeting. Afterward, students have about 24 hours to develop strategies and formal presentations that showcase a solution for their assigned not-for-profit. The organizationâs leaders, faculty members, and a panel of OFA judges choose a winning team for each of the cases presented. Project Run With It is a unique opportunity to experience what client service is really like. Youâll tackle genuine business issues in real-time with a team of like-minded students, gaining critical experience while contributing meaningfully to a not-for-profit organizationâs success.

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