Rising 2Ls Summer Legal Intern

Defender Association of Philadelphia • Philadelphia, PA

8d

About The Position

The Defender Association of Philadelphia offers a summer internship program for law students who have completed their first year of law school and have a strong interest in indigent criminal defense litigation. Running from the end of May through the end of July, the program provides practical exposure to criminal defense and the opportunity to work with experienced trial lawyers.

The program begins with one week of intensive in-house training in law, procedure, and Defender practice. Interns rotate through assignments involving preliminary arraignments, miscellaneous criminal motions, pre-trial probation, and juvenile courts. They have extensive client contact through phone, in-office, and prison interviews, where they learn to analyze clients’ legal problems. Interns also review forensic data, including video, voice, and body-camera footage, and draft legal memoranda assessing the information. They may participate in a legal research and writing program and work in the civil/criminal mental health unit. Selected interns are asked to seek outside funding; the Association can serve as a work-study site.

Requirements

• Must be a law student who has completed the first year of law school.
• Strong interest in indigent criminal defense litigation.
• Submit a cover letter addressing interest and experience in indigent criminal defense, along with a resume.

Responsibilities

• Participate in rotating assignments involving preliminary arraignments, miscellaneous criminal motions, pre-trial probation, and juvenile courts.
• Conduct client interviews by phone, in the office, and in prison, and analyze clients’ legal problems.
• Review forensic data, including video, voice, and body-camera footage.
• Draft legal memoranda assessing the weight of reviewed information.
• Potentially participate in a legal research and writing program and work in the civil/criminal mental health unit.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Intern
• Education Level: No Education Listed