DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES:
Federal Defenders seeks to recruit law students who wish to work in an office dedicated to the zealous defense of the indigent accused. Interns will work with attorneys in preparation for trials, complete client visits, perform legal research, and go on investigations. Due to local court rules, law students are not permitted to represent individuals in court. Internships are unpaid and thus students are encouraged to seek alternate sources of funding.

HOURS:
Varies depending upon time of internship, during the school year minimum 15 hours per week commitment; during the summer, minimum 40 hours per week commitment

QUALIFICATIONS:
Applicants to the program must be attending an accredited law school. For fall and spring semester internships, 2L and 3L students are considered.  For summer internships, only students who are rising 3Ls are considered.  It is preferred that interns have completed Evidence and Criminal Procedure courses prior to the commencement of the internship. The program seeks applicants with strong written and oral communication skills and a demonstrated interest to public interest law.

Obtaining School Credit:
Many law school programs will award academic credit to participants in the Legal Intern Program. The requirements and procedures may vary depending upon the specific school. If credit is approved, Legal Intern is responsible for ascertaining what materials are necessary and the Intern Committee will submit the materials on behalf of the Intern. The number of credits that you can receive can vary greatly depending upon your school and major. Some schools will award a full semester’s worth of credit, while others will only award the equivalent of one class. It is advised that you check with your school to determine what credits are available.

HOW TO APPLY:
Submit a cover letter, resume, unofficial transcript, and writing sample by email to the Legal Intern Committee at: [email protected]

Due to the large volume of applications received by FDSDI, we do not respond to each applicant individually. If you are selected for an interview or if additional materials are needed, you will be contacted by FDSDI.

Additionally, trial attorneys from FDSDI attend several career fairs, diversity fairs, and other large recruitment events across major cities in the United States to recruit the best potential participants for our Legal Intern Program. If you are interested in an internship in the office, it is strongly encouraged that you make an effort to meet with FDSDI at one of the career fairs.

FDSDI is strongly committed to the principle of diversity and actively encourages applications from people of varied and diverse backgrounds.

DEADLINE: Applications for the Legal Intern Program are accepted on a rolling-basis, however serious applicants are encouraged to submit their materials as early as possible.