Capital Defense
The following are internship and job opportunities for law students and recent graduates in offices around the country that are engaged in the defense of death row inmates or capitally-charged defendants. The information provided below is submitted by the offices listed. The Berkeley Law Death Penalty Clinic cannot vouch for the reliability of the information submitted by these offices or the quality of the experience you may have as an intern or employee at any of these offices. As with any such opportunities, we encourage you to speak with other students who have worked at the offices in which you are interested, and gather as much information as you can from colleagues and mentors before accepting a position.
Please check back frequently, as new information is posted as we receive it. To submit, remove, or revise a posting, please send an email to Chris Felker at cfelker@law.berkeley.edu.
The following list contains Summer 2009 Internship Opportunities, Year-Round Internship Opportunities in the Bay Area, and Full-time Paid Positions for Law Graduates.
Summer 2009 Internship Opportunities
Alabama
The Federal Defenders Office for the Middle District of Alabama is interested in hiring law students throughout 2009, as well as for a paid, ten-week internship program we sponsor each summer. Our office is the federal public defender office for twenty-three southeastern Alabama counties making up the federal middle district. We represent individuals who have been charged with federal crimes in this district and prisoners on Alabama's death row who are seeking federal habeas relief in their appeals. Our legal interns assist attorneys at all stages of client representation, including interviewing clients and witnesses, reviewing and organizing discovery materials, researching federal constitutional and criminal law issues, and investigating and preparing cases for pleadings, hearings and/or trial. We have paid summer and unpaid mid-year internship positions for second and third-year law students. Our office would qualify for work-study placement and we would also be happy to meet the academic requirements of any internship-for-credit sponsored by your law school. Any student interested in working with us should send a letter, resume, list of references, and writing sample to me, at the following address: Federal Defenders Middle District of Alabama, Federal Defender Program, Inc., 201 Monroe Street, Suite 407, Montgomery, AL 36104. Telephone: (334) 834-2099. Fax: (334) 834-0353. Website: http://www.almfd.org. Students interested in applying for our paid, ten-week summer internship program, which begins in June of 2009, should send their applications to our office no later than February 29, 2009.
Arkansas
The Federal Public Defender for the Eastern and Western Districts of Arkansas is seeking interns to fill two positions in the Capital Habeas Unit (C.H.U.) to work on pending and future death penalty habeas cases in federal district court for ten weeks during the summer months of 2009. These positions are not paid internships. The Federal Public Defender of Arkansas operates under the authority of the Criminal Justice Act to provide legal representation to indigent persons in federal proceedings and related matters upon appointment by the United States District Courts. The Capital Habeas Unit represents individuals who have been convicted of a capital crime in Arkansas and who seek post-conviction relief in federal court. The C.H.U. interns will work exclusively on death penalty cases and related matters. Responsibilities include assisting attorneys, paralegals, investigators, and mitigation specialists with all aspects of legal and factual development and case preparation. Tasks include requesting records and documents, drafting legal memoranda, compiling detailed chronologies of information, and examining, analyzing, and researching records and issues. Education, training, or experience in the fields of psychology, psychiatry, social work and/or education is desirable, but not necessary. Strong research ability, people skills, initiative, and a commitment to equal justice are required. The final candidate will be subject to a background check as required under the policy now in effect for the Administrative Office of the United States Courts. Applicants should email a cover letter, resume, and writing sample no later than March 28, 2009, to jenniffer.horan@fd.org or mail the requisite materials to the following address: Arkansas Federal Public Defender, Attn: Jenniffer Horan, 1401 W. Capitol, Suite 490, Little Rock, AR 72201.
Arizona
The Arizona Capital Representation Project ("Project") is Arizona 's only non-profit capital defense resource center. The Project directly represents indigent inmates who are challenging their convictions and death sentences in state and federal court. The Project also provides training seminars, resource materials and consultation to capital defense attorneys representing clients at every legal stage from pretrial through clemency proceedings. The Project accepts full-time interns during the summer and part-time interns during the school year. Duties of the intern may include investigating capital cases, researching and writing on capital litigation issues, fund-raising for the Project, coordinating capital defense training seminars and consulting with clients at the state prison. The internship is open to 2Ls and 3Ls who have demonstrated an interest in public service, human rights, and/or social justice issues. Prior coursework in criminal law is preferred. The internship is unpaid; however, the Project will assist the intern in seeking scholarships or school credit. Interested students should send a resume, writing sample and cover letter to Jennifer Bedier, Executive Director, at 133 E. Speedway Blvd. #1, Tucson, AZ 85705 or azcaprep@hotmail.com. For further information, please contact Jennifer at (520) 229-8550.
California
The California Appellate Project (CAP) in San Francisco assists in the legal representation of the currently more than 600 persons on California's Death Row. CAP assists both in state habeas corpus and in direct appeal proceedings for these prisoners. CAP-SF also provides professional training and litigation resource materials to capital defense counsel state-wide. In addition, CAP collects and preserves evidence, and advocates for unrepresented Death Row inmates during the lengthy period prisoners spend between sentencing and appointment of appellate counsel. As a non-profit law office with limited funding, CAP relies on students to fund their internships with public interest grants or other alternative financial support. CAP also endeavors to provide work-study matching funds where needed. Materials should include: a cover letter, resume, writing sample, and 3 references. CAP-SF accepts 1L students during the summer after first year as well as 2L and 3L students. Law students play a valuable and integral role at CAP, working directly with CAP attorneys, mitigation specialists and investigators on all aspects of capital post-conviction litigation. Students' work may include research and writing on various topics, assistance in outlining or drafting legal pleadings, preparation of basic habeas documents, and investigation of issues common to many cases. Law students' specific assignments are determined by the case needs of their litigation team. CAP presents an intensive training program in early June for our summer law student interns, and during the school year, law students work closely with attorney supervisors. Hard copy applications can be sent to Michael Lasher, California Appellate Project, 101 Second Street Suite 600, San Francisco, CA, 94105 or they can be emailed to mlasher@capsf.org.
The Capital Habeas Unit of the Federal Defender for the Eastern District of California, in Sacramento, offers unpaid summer internships for law students. The CHU represents California death row inmates in federal court habeas corpus proceedings. Students may perform legal research, review documents, and assist in investigation. Dates are flexible, but a minimum 10-week commitment is required. 1Ls, 2Ls and 3Ls are all welcome to apply; assignments will vary with background and experience. Applications are now being considered, and hiring decisions are made on a rolling basis. To apply, please send a cover letter, resume and writing sample to Allison Claire, Office of the Federal Defender, 801 I Street, Third Floor, Sacramento, CA 95814 or allison_claire@fd.org.
The Habeas Corpus Resource Center (HCRC) in San Francisco provides exciting opportunities for law students interested in post-conviction capital defense litigation. Typically, students spend the majority of their time working on one or two cases, in addition to various discrete projects. Students are integrated into existing case teams, which consist of lawyers, paralegals, and investigators. Students assist case teams on a variety of projects, including legal and non-legal research as well as factual development and analysis of legal claims. Legal research projects pertain to various capital defense issues. Non-legal research can pertain to almost any other subject matter relevant to a capital case, such as forensics or psychology. Factual development and analysis involve gathering case-related facts as well as synthesizing and organizing case materials to form a coherent legal picture. HCRC offers both paid and unpaid summer positions. Students with access to funding (such as public interest fellowships) are encouraged to utilize it, as doing so permits us to hire additional students. We request that applicants state whether they have access to funding and whether they wish to be considered for a paid or unpaid position or for both. We typically host two to six students for the summer. Students work full-time (forty hours per week). Our program typically begins in the last week of May and continues for ten weeks until the beginning of August. Qualifications: HCRC accepts both first- and second-year law students, and no particular prior coursework is required. All interested students are encouraged to apply. However, preferred applicants are typically those with a demonstrated interest in capital defense, post-conviction work, indigent criminal defense, psychology and mental health issues, and public interest work. Application Process: Applications for summer internships should include a cover letter, resume, references, and short writing sample. Applicants should remember to state in their cover letter whether they have access to funding and whether they wish to be considered for a paid or unpaid position or for both. Application Deadlines: Applications should be received by January 15 in order to ensure consideration for the ensuing summer. Applications are welcomed after that date but please understand that the positions may be filled. Interviews are generally conducted in January and February. Offers are typically made in January, February, and March. Application Process: Applications should include a cover letter, resume, references, and short writing sample. Students are encouraged to apply via e-mail to intern-committee@hcrc.ca.gov. If necessary, applications may be submitted by fax or mail to: Habeas Corpus Resource Center. Attn: Legal Intern Selection Committee, 303 Second St., Suite 400 South, San Francisco, CA 94107. Fax: (415) 348-3873. For more information: Please submit questions via e-mail to: intern-committee@hcrc.ca.gov.
The Office of the Federal Public Defender for the Central District of California's Capital Habeas Unit offers paid summer internships for law students. The Office is the largest in the Federal Defender services program and is located in the Little Tokyo section of downtown Los Angeles. There are currently over 600 individuals on California 's death row, and approximately half of these sentences arise from crimes committed in the Central District. Thus, the district court in the Central District adjudicates a large number of federal habeas corpus petitions; the Office of the Federal Public Defender represents most, if not all, of these petitioners. Summer externs receive approximately $1,478.58 bi-weekly. Students work on actual capital cases throughout the summer, attend federal court hearings, and most likely will make one trip to visit clients at San Quentin State Prison. Interested students should send a cover letter, resume, and writing sample to Brad D. Levenson, Deputy Public Defender, 321 E. 2d Street, Los Angeles CA 90012 or to Brad_Levenson@fd.org. Hiring decisions are made on a rolling basis, and the office is currently accepting applications. The office only accepts applications from 2Ls. Applicants should include resume, cover letter, writing sample, and list of grades (it need not be an official transcript).
The Office of the State Public Defender handles capital cases on direct appeal and in state habeas corpus proceedings. The office accepts interns throughout the school year and during the summer. Over the summer, the internship is 10 weeks long, which includes an intensive 1-week training. Internships are unpaid, although work study may be available, and 1Ls are welcome to apply. Students work closely with a team of lawyers and investigators, and perform research and writing and assist in investigation. Interested students should send a cover letter, resume, and writing sample to Heidi Bjornson-Pennell, Deputy State Public Defender, 221 Main Street, SF, CA 94105. Summer hiring decisions are made in early March.
District of Columbia
The Death Penalty Representation Project was created by the ABA in 1986 in order to better inform the bar and public about the lack of representation available to death row inmates. We address this urgent need by recruiting competent, volunteer attorneys, offering counsel training and assistance, and working for systemic reform to ensure that individuals facing a sentence of death are represented at every stage of the proceedings by competent counsel. The Project is seeking one law student, preferably a 2L or 3L, for Summer 2008, 37.5 hours per week. Intern duties include legal and policy research, case summaries, fundraising, and more. This is an unpaid position. Previous experience with or knowledge of the death penalty is not required. Send cover letter, resume, writing sample, and 3 references to Katie Hughes at hughesk@staff.abanet.org or the following address: 740 15th Street, 7th Floor, Washington, DC 20005.
Georgia
The Georgia Capital Defender represents clients facing the death penalty at trial and on direct appeal throughout the state of Georgia. For the summer of 2009, GCD is looking to hire 5-6 law clerks to assist in all aspects of capital trial preparation. Law clerks interview fact and mitigation witnesses, gather mitigation materials, organize discovery, perform legal research, and draft motions. Law clerks also participate in trial strategy meetings, attend court appearances, and visit clients. The internship program includes trainings and lectures by prominent Georgia criminal defense attorneys and mitigation specialists. The office welcomes applications from both 1Ls and 2Ls. Interested students should submit a cover letter, resume, writing sample, and references via e-mail to ewallace@gacapdef.org or via mail to Erin Wallace, Georgia Capital Defender, 225 Peachtree Street NE, Suite 900, South Tower, Atlanta, GA 30303.
The Georgia Resource Center is a non-profit law office that represents men and women sentenced to death in the State of Georgia. GRC represents these individuals through state and federal habeas proceedings and clemency proceedings. GRC hires law students during the summer and academic year. The positions are unpaid, though outside funding is often available during the summer. The internships are not of set duration, but are typically 10-12 weeks. Interns participate in activities including interviewing witnesses, compiling life histories, visiting clients, and conducting legal research. Students can apply by sending a resume and cover letter to Lynn Damiano, Georgia Resource Center, 303 Elizabeth Street, Atlanta, GA 30307 or emailing lynndamiano@yahoo.com.
Located in Atlanta, the Southern Center for Human Rights is one of the nation's leading organizations devoted to indigent defense and protection of human rights in the criminal justice system. SCHR accepts summer interns to work throughout their practice areas, which include capital representation and civil rights litigation. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. It is suggested, however, that 2Ls get their applications in during September because they hire quickly. Applicants from both 1Ls and 2Ls welcome. Applications should be submitted by mail to Brooke Sealy and Amanda Parks at: Southern Center for Human Rights, 83 Poplar St., NW Atlanta, GA 30303 or by email to Brooke Sealy at bsealy@schr.org. All internship applications must include a cover letter, resume, writing sample, and list of references. Click here for more information.
Idaho
The Federal Defender Services of Idaho has a capital habeas unit that handles capital cases at the federal level. The Capital Habeas office offers a 10-12 week summer internship for a 2L position. Applications should include a cover letter and resume and should be sent via mail to Bruce Livingston, Capital Habeas Unit, 350 N. 9th Street, Suite 300, Boise, Idaho 83702. Applications for this position can be sent at any time but the office traditionally waits until after the first of the year to review applications. 2Ls are preferred. Summer internships are paid at a competitive hourly rate with no additional benefits except flexibility on unpaid leave if needed. Summer interns routinely help with research and writing, document preparation and finalization, attendance at any scheduled courtroom appearances, working side-by-side with staff attorneys, investigators and paralegals, including "brainstorming sessions" regarding any of the office's 13 death-row clients. Besides the work experiences, Boise is known for its eclectic art scene, and there are community activities throughout the summer months and lots of outdoor activities, etc. For more information, contact Bruce Livingston at the above address or contact the branch administrator at her e-mail address at Cynthia_Bertleson@fd.org, with the subject line: 2009 summer internship.
Illinois
The Office of the State Appellate Defender - Capital Post-Conviction Unit is now accepting applications for its Summer 2009 internship program. The Capital Post-Conviction Unit represents indigent, death sentenced clients at the state post-conviction stage. The internship program begins in June, and is a ten-week, full time, unpaid position. Summer interns routinely assist the office with a variety of projects throughout the summer including: factual development of both guilt/innocence and penalty phase claims through witness/client interviews and document gathering and digesting; legal research and writing; assisting in the filing of documents; as well as long term projects. Preference is given to applicants with demonstrated interest in capital defense, post-conviction work, indigent criminal defense and public interest work. Applicants should submit a cover letter and resume by April 10, 2009 to: CapitalPCU.internprogram@osad.state.il.us
Louisiana
The Capital Post-Conviction Project of Louisiana accepts unpaid interns to work on capital cases in state post-conviction. Applicants should send a resume to Gary Clements, 1340 Poydras Street, Suite 1700, New Orleans LA 70112. Gary may be contacted with questions at gclements@cpcpl.org. CPCPL also accepts local law students in year-round internship positions.
The Louisiana Capital Assistance Center (LCAC) and Capital Appeals Project (CAP) in New Orleans, LA are seeking hard working and dedicated law students in their first and second years for ten week unpaid internships during the Summer 2008. The LCAC's primary focus is on litigating capital cases at the trial level in order to prevent a death sentence from being imposed in the first place. The LCAC has clients in Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi and Florida. CAP focuses on providing top quality appellate representation to people on death row in Louisiana on their direct appeals. Interns in both offices conduct a wide range of tasks including legal research and writing, records collection and digesting, investigation and client interviews. For more information, please visit our website at: www.thejusticecenter.org. To apply, send a cover letter, resume and writing sample by February 1st, to rachelj@thejusticecenter.org. Applicants will be selected and interviewed on a rolling basis.
Maryland
The Federal Public Defender for the District of Maryland handles a steady stream of federal capital trials. Summer interns will likely work on both capital and non-capital cases. Interested students should send a resume and cover letter to Jim Wyda, Federal Public Defender, Office of the Federal Public Defender, 100 South Charles Street, Tower II Suite 1100, Baltimore MD 21201. Internships are generally unpaid. Hiring decisions are made on a rolling basis. The office also accepts internship applications for short periods of time outside of summer months (i.e. winter break, etc.).
The Federal Capital Habeas Project, a program of the Federal Public Defender System, is currently accepting applications from law students for the summer of 2009 for a position in its Greenbelt, Maryland office, located fifteen miles from the heart of downtown Washington, DC. The Project was started in 2006 to provide litigation and other support to lawyers for the growing number of prisoners on federal death row. Its aim is to ensure that all individuals sentenced to death in federal court who have completed their direct appeals receive representation consistent with the highest standards of the legal profession during post-conviction and clemency proceedings. Students will have the opportunity to work closely with the Project’s attorneys on federal death penalty cases across the country, on research and writing assignments related to both substantive and procedural issues of federal capital habeas law, as well as assignments related to mitigation, mental health, and forensic evidence. The intern will also assist the Project’s attorneys in preparing materials for training and related educational opportunities for lawyers representing individuals on federal death row. Because the internship position is unpaid, students should seek summer funding through their law schools. The intern would ideally work for at least ten weeks during the summer. Applicants should submit (1) a resume; (2) cover letter; (3) a writing sample; and (4) the names of two references to: Ruth Friedman, Director, Federal Capital Habeas Project, Office of the Federal Public Defender, District of Maryland—Southern Division, 6411 Ivy Lane, Suite 710, Greenbelt, Maryland 20770-4510 or via email, addressed to Ruth Friedman, at john_nidiry@fd.org.
Missouri
The Missouri State Public Defender Capital Division specializes in capital murder cases and represents defendants for whom the state has decided to seek the death penalty. Capital offices are located in Columbia, Kansas City, and St. Louis. Applicants attending law school in Missouri should participate in the spring on-campus interview process at their law school. The office also participates in OCI at many other law schools surrounding Missouri. Applicants attending law school in other locations may submit an application at anytime and they will be contacted to schedule a phone interview. Applications should be received no later than February 15th. Interns may assist in case preparation for the guilt or penalty phase of the capital murder trial, including reading discovery information and reviewing evidence. Interns with backgrounds in psychology, sociology, or mental health work may particularly enjoy this internship, since the office performs a significant amount of mitigation investigation. The internship is unpaid. Interested students should mail a resume and cover letter to Human Resources located at Woodrail Centre, 1000 W. Nifong, Bldg. 7, Suite 100, Columbia, MO 65203. Both 1Ls and 2Ls welcome to apply. Gina Hall, Human Resources Coordinator, can be contacted at (573)-882-9855, ext. 204 or gina.hall@mspd.mo.gov for more information. You can also learn more about MSPD by visiting their website at http://www.publicdefender.mo.gov.
The Public Interest Litigation Clinic, formerly the Missouri Capital Punishment Resource Center, is a non-profit law firm in Kansas City, Missouri, which represents death-sentenced prisoners in Missouri, Kansas, Arkansas, and other jurisdictions, while providing support and other services to capital attorneys in Missouri and neighboring states. The bulk of our work involves post-trial litigation, including habeas corpus, direct appeal, and state and federal post-conviction proceedings. We offer paid and unpaid summer internships to students who have completed one or two years of law school; the number of paid internships will depend upon our ability to fund them. Depending upon interest and skill level, interns will become involved in research and writing projects, factual and mitigation investigation, client visits and virtually any other aspect of capital representation. Applicants should send a cover letter, writing sample, resume and three references to Jennifer A. Merrigan, Public Interest Litigation Clinic, 305 E. 63rd Street, Kansas City, Mo., 64113, by March 1, 2009.
Nevada
The Federal Defender for the District of Nevada, based in Las Vegas, accepts summer interns. The position is paid and the internship duration is variable. Students may work with the office's Capital Habeas Unit, assisting on cases in federal habeas corpus, as well as on retrial and in state post-conviction. Students who have completed their 2L year are preferred. Please contact Brian Abbington at Brian_Abbington@fd.org.
New York
The NAACP Legal Defense Fund hires summer interns in their Criminal Justice Project, which includes representation of capital and non-capital clients. Most of these cases are in the habeas stage. The internship is unpaid and lasts 10 weeks. Students assist with all aspects of cases, including legal research, memo writing, drafting portions of briefs, working on clemency issues, developing claims, and conducting investigation. 1Ls and 2Ls are welcome to apply; applications should include a cover letter, resume, list of references, and a writing sample. Decisions are made on a rolling basis, but are generally made between October and February. See their website for the addresses to which applications should be sent.
North Carolina
Each summer the Center for Death Penalty Litigation hosts approximately six full-time law student interns. One of our law student intern positions is dedicated to the Center's Trial Assistance Unit; the other law students assist attorneys working on capital post-conviction cases. In recent summers, law student interns have assisted with research and writing of direct appeal and post-conviction claims, assisted at evidentiary hearings, traveled across the state conducting investigation, worked on clemency cases, and visited clients. Each year we receive rave reviews from our summer interns. Former interns consistently remark on the diversity of opportunities, the rigorous intellectual environment, and the collegiality of our office. We eagerly recruit both 1Ls, and 2Ls to fill our summer intern positions. Because of the nature of the work our students perform, we do not split summers and we prefer that all interns begin work on the same date; we ask each student to commit to a 10-week program, usually beginning the first workday of June. Generally, our student internships are unpaid. The staff at the Center will gladly assist students who are applying for third-party or school-based grants and fellowships. In the summer of 2005, we proudly initiated a Fellowship program for students attending a North Carolina law school. The Weston Fenhagen Fellowship awards two law students $3500 in exchange for full-time 10 week employment at the Center. All applicants from the law schools at UNC, NCCU, Duke, Wake Forest, Campbell, Elon, and Charlotte are automatically considered for the fellowship. Students interested in a summer internship should provide a current resume, a writing sample (10 pages or less), and a cover letter by January 31. Please include in your letter any special interest in death penalty litigation or criminal defense generally. We prefer that applications be submitted electronically whenever possible. Applications should be emailed to cdpl@cdpl.org. Students planning to attend the public interest job fairs at UNC-CH or NCCU are encouraged to apply through those events. Our goal is to make final hiring decisions by February 28.
The Fair Trial Initiative assists in the representation of defendants facing capital charges in North Carolina. The office seeks 1Ls and 2Ls to participate in a variety of work preparing for capital trials, including researching and drafting motions, meeting clients, interviewing witnesses and family members, and collecting and reviewing documents. The internship is unpaid and last 10 weeks. Students should send a resume and cover letter to Sara Bell, via email at sarabell@fairtrial.org or via post at Fair Trial Initiative, 201 West Main Street, Suite 300, Durham, NC 27701. Applicants should note on their resumes whether they have any special skills (such as Spanish proficiency) and whether they have taken any courses relevant to criminal or capital law. Candidates may be asked for additional information following the initial screening.
The Capital Punishment Project of the American Civil Liberties Union engages in public advocacy and strategic litigation, including direct representation of capital defendants. The Project’s Durham, North Carolina office seeks a limited number of first and second year summer interns to work on active capital litigation and other projects. Working closely with project attorneys, interns assist in all aspects of litigation, including legal research, factual investigation, and drafting of memoranda, affidavits and briefs. The internship last between 10-12 weeks. Students are highly encouraged to seek Public Interest Fellowship funds for the internship. Arrangements can also be made with the student's law school for work/study stipends. Summer interns who receive less than $500 per week from alternative sources, if any, will be eligible for ACLU funding for the difference between $500 and the amount that they are able to obtain. Students should send a cover letter, resume, short writing sample (5-10 pages) and list of three references to Renee Rauch, via email at rrauch@aclu.org or via post at Law Student Intern Program, ACLU CPP, Suite 402, 201 West Main St. Durham, NC 27701. The application deadline is December 1, 2008, but applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Please indicate in your cover letter where you found this job posting.
Pennsylvania
The Federal Community Defender of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania has a Capital Habeas Unit that handles federal habeas corpus petitions for death row inmates. The office offers between four to six full-time, paid, 10-week summer internships for law students. Applications should be sent in early fall to Shawn Nolen, Assistant Federal Defender, Federal Community Defender for the Eastern District of Pa., Capital Habeas Unit, 601 Walnut Street, Suite 545 West, Philadelphia PA 19106. Applications should include a resume, transcript, and writing sample. Interviews are usually conducted at the Equal Justice Works Career Fair in Washington, D.C. in October.
Tennessee
The Tennessee Office of the Post-Conviction Defender accepts full-time or part-time interns throughout the year to work on pending-hearing and post-hearing state post-conviction proceedings. One-Ls, 2Ls, and 3Ls are considered for intern positions, which are unpaid. The TNOPCD operates as an independent agency of Tennessee government and represents inmates sentenced to capital punishment state-wide, and provides training, resource materials, and consultation to capital case defense attorneys. Intern requirements include a demonstrated commitment to protecting the constitutional rights of death-sentenced inmates, and excellent legal research and writing skills. Interns assist staff attorneys and investigators, including interviewing clients and witnesses, reviewing and organizing materials, researching constitutional and criminal law issues, assisting experts, and preparing cases for evidentiary hearings. Some in-state travel is possible; travel expenses are reimbursed. Send cover letter, resume, writing sample, and references to Lynn York, Administrator, Tennessee Office of the Post-Conviction Defender, 530 Church Street, Suite 600, Nashville, TN 37243; Fax: (615) 741-9430; E-mail: YorkL@tnpcdo.net.
Texas
The Bexar County Public Defender's Office represents clients on direct appeal and in petitions of certiorari to the U.S. Supreme Court. Student interns perform legal research and writing, and investigation. Interns also observe trials and hearings and visit the local jail and may have contact with clients. Year-round and summer internship opportunities are available. The internship is unpaid, but the office is flexible in the schedule and duration of the internship. Rising 2Ls are encouraged to apply; the office is looking for interns with a demonstrated interest in criminal law, indigent defense, or related areas. Applicants should send a cover letter, resume, recent writing sample, and a list of at least two references to Lori Olenick Rodriguez, Senior Assistant Public Defender, Bexar County Public Defender's Office, Heritage Plaza, 410 South Main, Suite 214, San Antonio, TX 78204. Applications are considered as received. For more information about the office or the internship, please feel free to contact Lori at lorirodriguez@bexar.org.
Gulf Region Advocacy Center represents and assists in the representation of defendants charged with capital crimes. Most interns spend a large amount of time collecting records and digesting documents. More experienced interns may help with research and writing motions. If there is a trial during the internship, an intern will mostly likely be involved in preparing for trial and providing support for the lawyers and mitigation specialists. The office accepts rising 2Ls and 3Ls as interns. Internships are unpaid. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and may be submitted by email to staff@gracelaw.org or by mail to Gulf Region Advocacy Center, 2307 Union Street, Houston TX 77007. For more information, contact Jeremiah Sierra at staff@gracelaw.org or call (713)869-4722.
Virginia
The Federal Public Defender of the Eastern District of Virginia accepts summer interns to work on federal capital cases at the trial and appellate levels. Interns may work in the offices in Alexandria, Richmond, or Norfolk. For information about applying, please contact Kenneth Troccoli at the Alexandria office at 703-600-0800. The office is currently accepting applications and makes decisions on a rolling basis.
The Capital Defender Office of Northern Virginia (CDO) has been providing quality representation to impoverished defendants facing the death penalty since 2003. The CDO is charged with handling all facets of trial representation for capital cases arising in Virginia's 22 northern jurisdictions, comprising one of the most active death penalty regions in the Commonwealth. The CDO seeks highly motivated law students with a commitment to the zealous representation of capital defendants. Each year, students spend a semester or summer at the CDO completing a variety of assignments under the supervision of experienced staff. The tasks to be performed are limited only by the ability and willingness of the interns. Typically, CDO interns research criminal and death penalty law, write legal memoranda, assist in investigating and organizing mitigation evidence, and perform other tasks necessary to aid in the defense of capital clients. For summer 2009, the CDO will offer one paid position and encourages candidates to seek grant funding for the remaining two positions. These internships provide an invaluable opportunity to receive direct experience working in the rewarding and challenging field of capital defense. Interested students should submit a resume, transcript, writing sample, and list of references to Amy Fitzgibbons, Deputy Capital Defender, Capital Defender of Northern Virginia, 7900 Sudley Road, Suite 208, Manassas, Virginia 20109. The CDO is an equal opportunity employer equal without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, age, or political affiliation.
Year-Round Internship Opportunities in the Bay Area
The Office of the State Public Defender handles capital cases on direct appeal and in state habeas corpus proceedings. The office accepts interns throughout the school year and during the summer. Internships are unpaid, although work study may be available, and 1Ls are welcome to apply. Students work closely with a team of lawyers and investigators, and perform research and writing and assist in investigation. Interested students should send a cover letter, resume, and writing sample to Alison Bernstein, Deputy State Public Defender, 221 Main Street, SF, CA 94105.
The Habeas Corpus Resource Center in San Francisco provides exciting opportunities for law students interested in post-conviction capital defense litigation. Typically, students spend the majority of their time working on one or two cases, in addition to various discrete projects. Students are integrated into existing case teams, which consist of lawyers, paralegals, and investigators. Students assist case teams on a variety of projects, including legal and non-legal research as well as factual development and analysis of legal claims. Legal research projects pertain to various capital defense issues. Non-legal research can pertain to almost any other subject matter relevant to a capital case, such as forensics or psychology. Factual development and analysis involve gathering case-related facts as well as synthesizing and organizing case materials to form a coherent legal picture. Externships are unpaid positions during the school year. For students interested in obtaining clinical credits from their law school, HCRC will work with the student and the school in an effort to meet the school’s requirements. Start and end dates for the externship are flexible, as are the number of hours and days worked per week. Qualifications: HCRC accepts both first- and second-year law students, and no particular prior coursework is required. All interested students are encouraged to apply. However, preferred applicants are typically those with a demonstrated interest in capital defense, post-conviction work, indigent criminal defense, psychology and mental health issues, and public interest work. Application Deadlines: Applications are accepted and considered at any time. Applicants should specify for which semester(s) they are applying. Application Process: Applications should include a cover letter, resume, references, and short writing sample. Students are encouraged to apply via e-mail to intern-committee@hcrc.ca.gov. If necessary, applications may be submitted by fax or mail to: Habeas Corpus Resource Center. Attn: Legal Intern Selection Committee, 303 Second St., Suite 400 South, San Francisco, CA 94107. Fax: (415) 348-3873. For more information: Please submit questions via e-mail to: intern-committee@hcrc.ca.gov.
The California Appellate Project (CAP) in San Francisco assists in the legal representation of the currently more than 600 persons on California's Death Row. CAP is seeking law students to join us as clinical externs during the school year. We need highly motivated students with a strong commitment to vigorous advocacy on behalf of indigent defendants on death row. You will be come actively involved in supporting the litigation of their cases through fact investigation, legal research and drafting, development and coordination of litigation materials, and a variety of other tasks, under the supervision of experienced attorneys, mitigation specialists, and investigators. To apply please send us, preferably by email, a cover letter explaining your interest in our work, a resume, a writing sample, and the names and phone numbers of three references familiar with your skills and experience. Since nearly all of the men and women on California's death row are from deprived economic backgrounds, and the majority are people of color, we are interested in learning from your cover letter the aspects of your life experience, education, training, and work history that you believe have prepared you to understand and work well with the clients we serve and their communities. Please email these materials to internships@capsf.org.
Full-time Paid Positions
The Federal Capital Appellate Resource Counsel seeks a research and writing attorney. The position of Federal Capital Appellate Resource Counsel was created in 2008 to (1) help recruit, train, advise, and otherwise support attorneys appointed under the Criminal Justice Act to represent clients in federal death-penalty appeals, (2) provide direct representation in a limited number of such appeals, and (3) coordinate with other resource counsel to advise trial and habeas lawyers on certain appellate-related legal issues. Barry Fisher assumed this position in September 2008. The research and writing attorney will work under the supervision of the Federal Capital Appellate Resource Counsel. Responsibilities will include, but not be limited to providing legal advice and assistance to federal capital appellate attorneys; creating and disseminating model pleadings, case updates, and other information of common interest to appointed counsel; monitoring recent legal developments in federal death-penalty cases and jurisprudence; and legal research and brief-writing in a limited number of direct-representation appeals. Candidates must have significant experience in criminal defense and/or criminal appeals, preferably including experience in capital or federal cases; excellent legal research and writing skills; a demonstrated ability to understand and manage complex factual and legal issues and voluminous case records; excellent communication skills and experience working cooperatively with other attorneys; and a strong commitment to obtaining justice for indigent defendants. Some travel will be necessary. The new attorney will be based in a host federal defender organization, though not necessarily in the same office where the Federal Capital Appellate Resource Counsel is located. There are more than 75 such organizations (which include a total of 150 main and branch offices) throughout the United States. The office location of the selected applicant is subject to negotiation and will be determined based on the mutual needs of the candidate, the Federal Capital Appellate Resource Counsel, the federal defender program, and the potential host office. Applicants must be licensed attorneys in good standing, and must be admitted to the bar of the highest court of a state. Hiring is subject to the availability of funding for the position. The salary will be commensurate with experience. To be considered, please submit (1) a cover letter detailing your experience and interest, (2) a resumé, (3) a writing sample, and (4) the names of three references, together with their telephone numbers and their e-mail contact information. Applications by e-mail are preferred, and may be sent to barry_fisher@fd.org. Mail applications will also be accepted, and may be sent to Federal Capital Appellate Resource Counsel, Office of the Federal Public Defender, 39 North Pearl Street, 5th Floor, Albany, NY 12207. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.
Alabama
The Equal Justice Initiative (EJI) in Montgomery, Alabama is pleased to announce the availability of a fully funded (with benefits) two-year fellowship for law school graduate beginning September 2010. EJI is a private, non-profit organization that provides legal representation to poor people and challenges discrimination in the criminal justice system. EJI litigates on behalf of people wrongly charged with or convicted of violent crimes, poor people denied effective representation, juvenile offenders, and others who face prosecutorial misconduct or racial bias. EJI is very active in the death penalty area and handles dozens of cases at all stages of the appellate process. EJI publishes reports documenting unfairness and discrimination in the criminal justice system as part of an effort to educate communities and policy makers about the need for reform.
EJI is in the process of expanding its work and has initiated a campaign to aid 13- and 14-year old children sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. EJI has also started projects which challenge racial bias in jury selection and the severely punitive restrictions on public benefits for ex-drug offenders. EJI also has begun work in Alabama's Black Belt counties to address the legacy of slavery, Jim Crow, and decades of racial violence and trauma as part of a new initiative to confront racism and poverty in America. New fellows will be involved in litigation in each of these areas as well as death penalty appeals and other criminal reform litigation.
If you are interested, please email a letter of interest and resume to Bryan Stevenson
(bstevenson@eji.org) and Angie Setzer (asetzer@eji.org) by November 16, 2009. People of color are encouraged to apply. If you have questions about the fellowship or would like more information, please feel free to contact Angie Setzer at asetzer@eji.org or (334) 269-1803.
California
The Habeas Corpus Resource Center in San Francisco represents death row inmates in their state and federal habeas proceedings. HCRC often hires recent law school graduates. For further information and for application instructions and deadlines, click here.
The Office of the Federal Public Defender for the Central District of California's Capital Habeas Unit will consider hiring recent law school graduates, but usualyl after a clerkship with a federal circuit or ditrict court judge. Interested students should send a cover letter, resume, and writing sample to Brad D. Levenson, Deputy Public Defender, 321 E. 2d Street, Los Angeles CA 90012 or to Brad_Levenson@fd.org.
Florida
Office of the Capital Collateral Regional Counsel (South): This office represents death-sentenced inmates in state and federal post-conviction proceedings in Florida, and often hires recent law school graduates. For more information, contact Neal A. Dupree at dupreen@ccsr.state.fl.us.
Idaho
Capital Habeas Unit, Federal Defender Services of Idaho: Full-time one year fellowships available for recent law graduates with the possibility of extending for an additional year. Click here for specific job information.
North Carolina
The Fair Trial Initiative assists in the representation of defendants facing capital charges in North Carolina. Each year, the office seeks outstanding third-year law students and new lawyers who are committed to providing first-rate legal representation to indigent defendants facing the death penalty. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, so you are encouraged to apply as early as possible. Fellowship applications must be received by January 31, 2009. For more information on how to apply, click here.
Oklahoma
Oklahoma Indigent Defense System (Capital Post-Conviction Office): Positions often available in trial and appeals divisions. Click here for job listings.
Virginia
Virginia Capital Representation Resource Center: VCRRC has cases throughout Virginia and travel is required. VCRRC Staff include legal and non-legal professionals with successful “people” skills, a willingness to learn diverse subject matter, and an ability to work cooperatively and independently as needed. Applicants with significant litigation experience as well as those with less experience but with the ability to develop quickly are encouraged to apply. Attorneys wishing to work with VCRRC must be admitted to the Virginia Bar, eligible for admission, or willing to take the Virginia Bar exam. VCRRC is located in Charlottesville, Virginia, and operates a Clinical Program at the School of Law at the University of Virginia. VCRRC is an equal opportunity employer. Salary is based on experience. Health and other benefits provided. Interested candidates should send a cover letter discussing their special experience and talents and explaining their interest in death penalty work, resume, professional references, and a brief writing sample to roblee@vcrrc.org.