3 REASONS YOU NEED A PUBLIC DEFENDER INTERNSHIP
Before you become a public defender, you need an internship (or internships) at a public defender agency. Internships have three primary benefits.
First, the public defender internship gets you some experience to put on your resume.
Second, the internship will further solidify (or extinguish) your desire and commitment to becoming a public defender.
Third, the internship will help you get your foot in the door at the public defender agency.
WHEN DO I GET MY FIRST PUBLIC DEFENDER INTERNSHIP?
The short answer is AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. That means if you are in college and you know this is what you want to do, try to get in the door, even on a part-time basis. If you are a first-year law student, go for that internship your first summer.
WHERE DO I GET MY FIRST PUBLIC DEFENDER INTERNSHIP?
This is a less tricky question, especially when you are a first year law student, than determining where you will be applying for a staff attorney position upon graduation. But, you need to do some homework. Where you intern may determine where you end up after law school.
Where Can You Live?
First, think about where you can live. Public defender internships generally don’t pay. If you don’t have family support, a night job, or a school that offers stipends, you may end up moving back home for the summer! If that’s the case, your options are limited. If you have a lease that runs through the summer and you cannot find a sublet, again, your options are limited.
If you are able to move for the summer start thinking about where you might possibly like to practice upon graduation. Here is a link to public defender agencies across the country.
What Will You Be Doing?
You want to explore the internship opportunities available and what they consist of. Is there training? Will you get your own cases? What type of cases will you be working on? Many agencies will have this information set forth on their website. Here is one example.
What you will be doing is sometimes more important than where you will be doing it. For example, let’s say that you get an internship at the Federal Public Defender in Boston, Massachusetts. The office has a strong reputation in the public defender community and an internship there may look great on your resume. But, if you are just doing research and writing and have limited client contact and never get to appear in court, the value of that internship is somewhat diminished.
Client Contact Is Key
A lot of applicants that come across my desk have spent summers doing anti-death penalty work. It is the worthiest of causes and looks fantastic on your resume. On the other hand, you have limited client contact, and rarely, if ever, get to appear in court on behalf of a client.
As a first year law student, this is just fine. After all, as a first year law student, you won’t be able to appear in court and will naturally have limited client contact to begin with.
Once you go into your second year internship, you want to be in a position where you will be representing clients in court and developing the necessary skills to become a public defender. This will also help you succeed during your third year clinic, co-op, or externship.
For more information on planning for third year opportunities, read my post Law School for Students Who Want to Become Public Defenders – A Winning Curriculum
Shoot For a Top Rated Public Defender Agency
The following agencies have strong reputations in the public defender community I work in and you may want to consider applying for a position there: DISCLAIMER – This is not an exhaustive list, nor do I guarantee the quality of any particular internship program. I have also worked as an intern or professionally at two of the agencies listed below.
- Alaska Public Defender
- Colorado Public Defender
- Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia
- Committee for Public Counsel Services (Massachusetts)
- New Hampshire Public Defender
- Brooklyn Defender Services
Check out my page Find a Public Defender Job or Internship for more listings!
HOW DO I GET THE INTERNSHIP?
There are a number of ways to apply for an internship with a public defender agency. Some agencies will allow you to apply directly to them. Usually it’s the standard procedure of “submit your cover letter, resume, and a writing sample.”
You may also be able to apply through job fairs hosted by your law school, various online resources or through the massive Equal Justice Works Career Fair. EJW is massive and you will find dozens of opportunities to interview with, or even just meet and greet with public defender agencies from across the country. Here is an example of the employers that come to the fair.
My agency has found so many talented students at fairs, like EJW. What is great about EJW is that it attracts applicants from all over the country, and not just local folks who can drive over to the office and apply. BUT, if you are one of the local folks, please do not apply through the job fair. And definitely do not wait until the deadline is coming near. Heck, you might not want to wait for the internship to be posted before you apply! What do I mean by this? I’ll answer that with a story…
Use Being Local To Your Advantage!
When I was a young 1L, I applied for a number of internships through my law school’s public service job fair. I had several interviews that day, but as I meandered about, I saw what seemed like 100 other students who also had interviews at the fair.
Everyone was dressed to impress and had their interview game face on. I thought to myself, “How can someone conducting ten interviews in a single day remember anyone? How can I set myself apart from the pack?” I thought that there has got to be a better way than getting lost in the pack of eager beavers.
And there was…leave the pack.
I left the job fair after my last interview and walked next door to the local public defender’s office. I asked reception if the head of the office had any time to speak with a law student from “X” Law School that wanted to work for their office. The receptionist gave me a big smile and said, “I am sure we can find some time for you.” And just like that, I had myself an “interview” with the head of the office.
During our meeting he told me that he had not planned on hiring anyone for the summer, (which I assumed was the case because his office was not advertising), but that he would be happy to take me on an unpaid basis.
Boom. Internship. No job fair. No competing with 100 other students for the same job. And it took me all of 30 minutes. They didn’t even ask for my resume! (Though I mentioned my high grades during my elevator speech).
This might not work for everyone, but if you’re local, take advantage! Don’t let yourself get caught up in the job fair chaos, (though definitely stop by their table and say hello to get some quick face time and promote name recognition).
Hand deliver your application to the local office. See if the managing attorney is around to shake their hand and chat for a few minutes. Whatever it is, set yourself apart from the pack.
Network With Local Criminal Defense Organizations
Join your local criminal defense association. You can find a list here. I met a lot of people when I joined my state’s criminal defense association. It is also a good thing to include in your cover letter or add onto your resume.
A lot of state criminal defense groups do not have law student members. When a law student joins, they absolutely love it. And most groups won’t charge you a membership fee.
Before you know it, you’re a first or second year law student going to defense bar continuing education courses, awards dinners (all for free) and rubbing elbows with the top public defenders in your state!
I would also find out what law professors in your school have local ties to the public defender’s officer. Make an appointment with them to discuss your career goals and see if they have any recommendations for you. Ask, “Who should I talk to and will you help me with an introduction?”
The key word here is “networking.” Get out there and meet some people.
I’M JUST A FIRST YEAR LAW STUDENT AND THE LOCAL PUBLIC DEFENDER AGENCY IS ONLY HIRING SECOND YEAR STUDENTS, WHAT DO I DO?
Here’s what you do. You apply for a job. I know, I know…what job? Just because an agency isn’t advertising for first year law student internships, does not mean you can’t convince them to create one for you.
Public defender offices are generally strapped for resources. The attorneys have a high caseload and no paralegal to help them with simple motion writing or research. For that reason, interns are loved and worshiped!
If you don’t see a job posting for a first year law student internship, fear not. Sit down and write them a letter expressing your interest in coming to their office for the summer.
Explain that you want to become a public defender. Write passionately about why you want to do this work. And tell them why their office is where you want to be!
Check out my advice on writing Cover Letters.
SELL YOURSELF!
Let them know that you have excellent grades, access to your law school’s library and Lexis/WestLaw accounts. Explain how you could be a valuable resource for their office by conducting thorough legal research for the office’s attorneys.
Express an interest in working with their office’s investigators. In other words, if they can think of a task, you want to be the person to do it.
I know this works because that is not only how I earned my first summer internship, but it is also how I got hired for my first part-time job at a private criminal defense firm during my second year of school.
I CAN’T AFFORD TO TAKE AN INTERNSHIP THAT DOESN’T PAY
I hear ya. Money is tight, especially when you’re in law school. And there are opportunities out there for law students to make some coin in the summer.
But, you have to remember, if you’re going to become a public defender you’re going to be poor. Might as well get used to it now. (And also, check out my post on surviving on a public defender salary).
But in all seriousness, if you really want this you will have to make sacrifices and find ways to make it work.
My first year I interned at the public defender for free during the day and worked 6pm-midnight at a paying, non-legal job. I won’t like to you. It sucked, It really, really sucked. But it was one of the best experiences I ever had, (the internship, not the living in hell night shift).
Your law school should have grants for second year summer internships. Here is an example.
And to this point, I would highly recommend that if you are still shopping for law schools this is a box that needs to get checked off. When researching law schools make sure that they have financial aid/grants for public interest summer internships for second year law students.
If they don’t, you may want to look elsewhere.
