Intern

Defender Association of Philadelphia • Philadelphia, PA

10d • Onsite

About The Position

The Defender Association of Philadelphia is seeking law school students who have completed their 2L year for our Summer Internship Program, focused on our criminal trial practice divisions. This internship runs from mid-May through early August. The Defender Association is a non-profit public interest law firm representing over 70% of individuals charged with crimes in Philadelphia. We are committed to client-centered advocacy from arraignment through appeal, and we operate as part of a multi-disciplinary team that includes social workers, investigators, paralegals, mitigation specialists, and administrative professionals to represent the city’s most vulnerable. Our mission extends beyond the courtroom. Through Participatory Defense, expungement clinics, and community-based partnerships, we seek justice not just in legal outcomes but in the lives of our clients.

Requirements

• Must be enrolled in an accredited law school
• Must have completed the equivalent of at least 3 semesters of instruction by Summer 2027

Nice To Haves

• Opportunity to litigate various matters in court in the same manner as our first-year attorneys

Responsibilities

• Represent Defender clients at Preliminary Hearings, Motions to Suppress, and Municipal Court trials
• Draft, file, and argue motions and memoranda of law
• Interview clients via phone, in-person, and at county or state correctional facilities
• Analyze forensic evidence and draft memoranda outlining its significance to the case
• Participate in holistic representation practices to support clients with collateral consequences
• Collaborate closely with senior attorneys, social workers, investigators, and other Defender staff

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Intern
• Education Level: Associate degree