Summer 2027 Criminal & Municipal Legal Internship

ArchCity Defenders•St. Louis, MO

7d•Hybrid

About The Position

ArchCity Defenders (ACD) is a holistic legal advocacy organization dedicated to combating the criminalization of poverty and state violence, particularly in communities of color. ACD integrates civil and criminal legal representation, social services, impact litigation, policy and media advocacy, and community collaboration to achieve justice and equitable outcomes. The organization envisions a society free from oppressive systems, prioritizing community well-being and transformation over criminalization and incarceration. ACD engages in both impact litigation through its Civil Rights Litigation team, focusing on issues like debtors' prisons and police misconduct, and individual representation through its Direct Representation teams, which handle housing, consumer, criminal, and municipal cases. The Criminal & Municipal Defense team specifically provides defense representation for individuals facing criminal and municipal ordinance violation charges across the St. Louis region, appearing in over 80 courts annually. Legal interns will select a team to work with, but experiences will be similar. Interns seeking client contact will prefer direct representation teams, while those interested in federal court or extensive motion drafting may prefer the Civil Rights team. All legal interns will conduct research, draft legal documents, assist with discovery and investigation, and communicate with clients. They are also encouraged to attend court hearings with staff attorneys and function as part of an interdisciplinary team supporting ACD's mission.

Requirements

Excellent written and verbal communication and interpersonal skills
Excellent legal research and writing skills
Detail-oriented approach to working in a team-driven organization
High capacity for problem solving and self-direction
Ability to work independently within time constraints
Flexible and able to respond appropriately to ACD’s changing needs
Commitment to racial and economic justice and systems change
Cultural awareness and sensitivity toward diverse populations
Awareness of structures of power, privilege, and oppression
Undergraduate students will engage in research, drafting, discovery, document review, investigation, and administrative work.
Undergraduate students are encouraged to attend and observe court proceedings with staff attorneys.
Not able to accept interns or practicum students who seek to simultaneously engage in more than one internship while working with ACD.

Nice To Haves

An intern seeking more individual client contact will likely prefer to work with one of the direct representation team.
An intern seeking federal court experience or lengthier motion drafting experience would likely prefer to work with the Civil Rights team.

Responsibilities

Perform fact and legal research to bolster understanding of claims and issues.
Draft memos synthesizing findings, as well as motions, pleadings, and other legal documents.
Assist with discovery and investigation.
Interview and communicate with clients or class members.
Attend court proceedings with staff attorneys (if applicable).
Coordinate with attorneys and staff to support ArchCity Defenders' mission.