Legal Intern Spring 2026 (Prison Legal Services Section)
About The Position
The Office of the Ohio Public Defender (OPD) is seeking a motivated legal intern who would work primarily with attorneys at the Lorain Correctional Institution. The legal intern will assist attorneys in the Prison Legal Services section in providing zealous, empathetic, and committed advocacy for incarcerated indigent individuals in Ohio. You will work under the supervision of OPD attorneys and work collaboratively and be mentored by attorneys and support staff on a range of legal advocacy, including meeting with clients and providing representation in matters related to violation hearings, parole, prison, and criminal law. We are seeking a current 2L or 3L student with a legal intern certificate who has demonstrated a commitment to public defense and social justice and who is interested in working with people who are incarcerated in a prison setting.
Requirements
- current 2L or 3L student
- legal intern certificate
- demonstrated a commitment to public defense and social justice
- interested in working with people who are incarcerated in a prison setting
- Certificate as legal intern as issued by Ohio Supreme Court.
Responsibilities
- Reviewing discovery materials for parole and post-release control violation hearings.
- Contacting relevant witnesses and gathering relevant evidence.
- Observing panel hearings or full board parole hearings for clients seeking release onto parole after decades in prison and sharing questions and feedback with attorneys.
- Conducting legal research, including locating relevant case law for violation hearing defenses and answering legal questions.
- Represent clients at post-release control violation hearings.
- Conduct interviews with clients on phone or in-person.
- Conduct factual investigations, review case material, and analyze pending cases.
- Accompany staff attorneys to client visits, oral arguments, or other proceedings.
- Participate in department meetings, moot courts, roundtables, and agency-wide meetings.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Part-time
Career Level
Intern
Industry
Executive, Legislative, and Other General Government Support
Education Level
No Education Listed
Number of Employees
5,001-10,000 employees
