Social Work Internship Program (Spring, 2027)

Orleans Indigent Defender • New Orleans, LA

3d • Hybrid

About The Position

OPD is seeking Master of Social Work (MSW) students interested in public defense and criminal justice advocacy for our Social Work Internship program. Social Work Interns join our Client Services Division and are partnered with a Staff Social Worker during the internship/field placement. In this role, interns will begin their learning by assisting their supervising staff social worker in identifying alternatives to incarceration, helping prepare individual mitigation plans to reduce detention for our clients, and diverting/referring clients to more appropriate social services and treatment. Under supervision, interns will be able to conduct clinical assessments, assist with determining appropriate treatment settings, and liaise with medical and psychiatric providers. As the internship progresses, social work interns will be expected to take on their own client caseload that they manage under supervision. This role requires a willingness to conduct direct client contacts in jail, court, and other community settings; to engage with community members; and to coordinate services. This internship will give you unique insight into the criminal justice system and criminal defense representation, particularly in New Orleans. You will be in a position to have a profound impact on our clients’ lives—one that many do not get an opportunity to experience. These experiences can provide you with a solid foundation for diverse social work pathways in forensic, legal, medical, and case management settings. Our social work internship program is unpaid. At present, we have field placement contracts in place with the Master of Social Work (MSW) programs at the Southern University at New Orleans (SUNO), Louisiana State University (LSU), and Tulane University, through which we can participate as an approved site for your field placement course(s). Students not from these schools should reach out early to [email protected] to determine, if we can establish a contract with your school.

Requirements

• Master of Social Work (MSW) student
• Demonstrated interest in serving underserved and marginalized communities
• Ability to work well with people of various socio-economic, racial, cultural and educational backgrounds
• Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing with clients, staff, and members of the community
• Ability to be organized
• Ability to work independently
• Ability to work in a team-driven environment

Nice To Haves

• Students from Southern University at New Orleans (SUNO), Louisiana State University (LSU), and Tulane University
• Students who reach out early to [email protected] to determine if a contract can be established with their school

Responsibilities

• Assisting supervising staff social worker in identifying alternatives to incarceration
• Helping prepare individual mitigation plans to reduce detention for clients
• Diverting/referring clients to more appropriate social services and treatment
• Conducting clinical assessments under supervision
• Assisting with determining appropriate treatment settings under supervision
• Liaising with medical and psychiatric providers under supervision
• Taking on own client caseload and managing it under supervision
• Conducting direct client contacts in jail, court, and other community settings
• Engaging with community members
• Coordinating services

Benefits

• Unique insight into the criminal justice system and criminal defense representation
• Opportunity to have a profound impact on clients' lives
• Solid foundation for diverse social work pathways in forensic, legal, medical, and case management settings
• Approved site for field placement course(s) for specific universities

What This Job Offers

• Career Level: Intern