Summer 2027 Criminal & Municipal Legal Internship

ArchCity Defenders•Saint Louis, MO

8d•Hybrid

About The Position

ArchCity Defenders is a holistic legal advocacy organization dedicated to combating the criminalization of poverty and state violence, particularly in communities of color. Our work encompasses civil and criminal legal representation, social services, impact litigation, policy and media advocacy, and community collaboration to achieve justice and equitable outcomes. We envision a society free from oppressive systems, where justice and racial equity are realized, public safety prioritizes well-being and transformation over criminalization and incarceration, and people can thrive in their communities regardless of race or income. While continuing to provide direct legal advocacy in St. Louis, ArchCity Defenders is actively working to reform the region's criminal legal systems through impact litigation focused on issues such as debtors' prisons, police misconduct, cash bail, and jail conditions, primarily using federal Section 1983 litigation. Simultaneously, our Direct Representation teams provide individual client support in areas including housing, consumer, criminal, and municipal law, with work divided between a Housing & Civil Advocacy team and a Criminal & Municipal Defense team. The Housing & Civil Advocacy team represents tenants and those experiencing homelessness in St. Louis and handles various civil matters in Missouri state courts, occasionally appearing in criminal, municipal, and federal courts. The Criminal & Municipal Defense team provides direct defense for individuals facing criminal charges and municipal ordinance violations across the St. Louis region, appearing in over 80 courts annually. Legal interns can express a preference for a team, with direct representation teams offering more individual client contact and the Civil Rights team providing federal court and extensive motion drafting experience. All legal interns will engage in fact and legal research, draft legal documents such as memos, motions, and pleadings, assist with discovery and investigation, and communicate with clients. Interns are also encouraged to attend court hearings with staff attorneys. Interns function as part of an interdisciplinary team, supporting ArchCity Defenders' mission. Successful interns are assertive, independent, persistent, empathetic, proactive, flexible, and self-directed, demonstrating initiative, problem-solving skills, and the ability to see projects through to completion. Undergraduate students will have assignments focused more on discovery, document review, investigation, and administrative tasks, with opportunities to observe court proceedings.

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 and the 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
Ability to work from June 1-July 30.
Ability to work from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Fridays.
Not simultaneously engage in more than one internship while working with ACD.

Nice To Haves

Preference for Criminal & Municipal Defense team for individual client contact.
Preference for Civil Rights team for federal court experience or lengthier motion drafting experience.

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.
Coordinate with attorneys and staff to support ArchCity Defenders’ mission and expand our reach.
Engage in discovery, document review, investigation, and administrative work (for undergraduate interns).