Capital Defense Internships and Jobs

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 clinicalprogram@law.berkeley.edu.

The following list contains Summer 2026 Internship Opportunities and Year-Round Internship Opportunities in the Bay Area.

Summer 2026 Internship Opportunities

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. Interested students should send a resume, writing sample and cover letter to Emily Skinner at emily@azcapitalproject.org. We accept applications on a rolling basis. For further information, please visit azcapitalproject.org.

The Capital Habeas Unit of the Office of the Federal Public Defender for the District of Arizona has a satellite office in Salt Lake City which provides representation for six of the eight inmates currently sentenced to death in the state of Utah. The office’s mission is to ensure the right to effective assistance of counsel–as guaranteed by the United States Constitution and the Criminal Justice Act–to those who are unable to afford retained counsel and other necessary defense services. Students who work in the Capital Habeas Unit will have the opportunity to contribute to this mission while they develop their legal research and writing skills. They may contribute to appellate briefs, and may have the opportunity to assist with the representation of clients who are under an immediate warrant of execution, as well as conducting specific research tasks. Applicants must have a demonstrated commitment to indigent defense, along with strong research and writing skills. For consideration, please submit a cover letter, resume, and legal writing sample to David Christensen at david_christensen@fd.org. We fill positions on a rolling basis. For additional information, please email Mr. Christensen or call (801) 524-6043.

California

The Capital Habeas Unit of the Federal Defender for the Eastern District of California, located in Sacramento, offers full-time summer internships for law students. The CHU represents California death row inmates in California, other states, and on federal death row in their federal court habeas corpus proceedings. Students may perform legal research, review documents, draft pleadings, and assist in investigation. The duration of the internship is 10 weeks and is unpaid. Rising 2Ls and 3Ls are welcome to apply; assignments will vary with background and experience and the Office’s present needs. Preference is given to students with a demonstrated commitment to capital defense, post-conviction work, and/or indigent criminal defense. Applications each year will be considered on a rolling basis, beginning in November and through the end of February. To apply, please send a cover letter, resume, two references and a writing sample to Alyssa_Mack@fd.org.

The Capital Habeas Unit of the Federal Public Defender for the Central District of California offers full-time, unpaid summer clerkships for law students. Over the course of ten weeks, law students will work closely with lawyers who are challenging their clients’ death sentences in state and federal habeas proceedings. Summer law clerks help write petitions and district court and appellate briefs. They also attend federal court trials and hearings. Interested students should email a cover letter, resume, brief writing sample, and unofficial transcript to internships@fpdcdca.org. Strong research and writing skills are mandatory; special preference is given to students with a demonstrated commitment to social justice issues. Hiring decisions are made on a rolling basis, and the office is currently accepting applications from 1Ls and 2Ls.

Community Resource Initiative is a collectively run investigation office and resource center. We build narratives to challenge the death penalty, improve the standard of care and advocate for the value of human life. We collaborate with families and communities impacted by the judicial system to facilitate safety, growth and resilience. CRI’s internship program offers an active, hands on investigative research internship to self-starting interns who are interested in immersing themselves in human rights investigation within the legal defense field. Interns will be asked to research issues related to mental health, genealogy, neighborhood effects on children, and adverse childhood experiences. Their work will be used to support CRI’s casework. This internship is unpaid and available for credit. Applicants should be working toward a degree. If interested please email a curriculum vitae and letter of interest which includes your thoughts on the death penalty as currently applied in the United States to kyle.earley@cr-i.org

The Habeas Corpus Resource Center (HCRC) represents persons sentenced to death in post-conviction habeas corpus proceedings. We investigate and review the constitutionality of California capital convictions and sentences and file petitions alleging the ways in which our clients’ constitutional rights were violated in their capital trial and sentencing procedures. Interns assist case teams in all facets of this work and they attend a multi-day training program with interns from other Bay Area defense organizations. Our paid summer internship is in-person at our San Francisco office and full-time (40 hours per week) with some flexibility to work remotely. The internship is ten weeks long. Exact dates are set by HCRC, and all interns should be available to start on the same day in order to attend multi-day training offered in conjunction with other defense agencies. Interns are also included in office-wide trainings and other opportunities for skill development throughout the internship. Pursuant to California judicial-branch policy, interns must be eligible to work in the United States.

Applications are considered on a rolling basis with interviews generally taking place in December and January. Rising 2Ls and rising 3Ls are considered for summer internship positions during this time.

Please visit https://www.hcrc.ca.gov/internships.html for details on how to apply.

The Office of the State Public Defender offers bright, energetic, and committed law students the opportunity to participate in a 10-week summer internship from June until August or during a semester of the academic year. The Office of the State Public Defender (OSPD) has an exclusive focus on death penalty cases, and represents more than 130 people on California’s death row. OSPD litigates these cases both on appeal and habeas corpus. The work of the office is often at the cutting edge of criminal law. We have appeared in the California Supreme Court in over 250 cases and in the United States Supreme Court in a half dozen cases where certiorari review was granted. We have been responsible for major developments in the areas of capital litigation, due process, right to counsel, confessions, jury selection, search and seizure, sentencing and many other issues. The work of the Office of the State Public Defender is complex and challenging, and presents a unique personal and professional opportunity for those interested in criminal defense.

Summer interns assist with preparing appeals or habeas corpus petitions to the California Supreme Court. Responsibilities may include: legal and factual research on guilt/innocence, forensic, mental health, client social history and other issues; collecting or summarizing documents, investigation and field work (expenses paid); drafting memos and legal pleadings; preparing for hearings and other tasks. Students participate in team meetings. Summer students attend a week’s worth of formal training at the beginning of the summer, in addition to informal training offered throughout the summer. The internship is unpaid, and interns during the academic year must make a minimum commitment of 16 hours per week

Please include in the application a letter of interest, resume, and writing sample. Two references must be provided upon request. Address applications to:

Office of the State Public Defender
Intern Program
1111 Broadway, 10th Floor
Oakland, CA 94607

or submit via e-mail to internprogram@ospd.ca.gov . Qualified applicants will be contacted for an interview. Call (510) 267-3300 with any questions.

District of Columbia

The ABA Death Penalty Due Process Review Project hires law students for both academic year and summer internships. Applications are considered on a rolling basis and start/end dates are flexible. The American Bar Association is the largest voluntary professional association in the world, with more than 400,000 members. The ABA provides law school accreditation, continuing legal education, information about the law, programs to assist lawyers and judges in their work, and initiatives to improve the legal system for the public. The mission of the ABA is to be the national representative of the legal profession, serving the public and the profession by promoting justice, professional excellence and respect for the law. The ABA’s Death Penalty Due Process Review Project (“Project”) conducts research and educates the public and decision-makers on the operation of capital jurisdictions’ death penalty laws and processes in order to promote fairness and accuracy in death penalty systems. The Project encourages adoption of the ABA’s Protocols on the Fair Administration of the Death Penalty; assists state, federal, and international stakeholders on death penalty issues; and collaborates with other individuals and organizations to develop new initiatives to support reform of death penalty processes. Through creation and support of the Project, the ABA recognizes that it is incumbent upon lawyers – as a profession – to ensure that we are carrying out our work justly and competently, particularly when a life is at stake.

The Project is housed within the ABA’s Section of Civil Rights and Social Justice (“CRSJ”), which was created in 1966 to provide leadership within the ABA and the legal profession in protecting and advancing human rights, civil liberties, and social justice. The Section fulfills that role by raising and addressing often complex and difficult civil rights and civil liberties issues in a changing and diverse society; and ensuring that protection of individual rights remains a focus of legal and policy decisions. Law clerks will be responsible for conducting legal research and outreach for major updates on the state Death Penalty Assessments, ABA amicus curiae briefs in death penalty cases, and other Project Initiatives related to capital punishment and criminal justice reform. Law clerks also will likely draft correspondence, legislative proposals, public education materials, blog posts summarizing legal developments, and even work on new ABA policy statements and reports related to the death penalty. Attendance at and writing briefing memos on relevant hearings, conferences, and/or oral arguments will be encouraged. Law clerks are encouraged to attend and participate in Project meetings or events, as well as those of CRSJ. The Project is small and relies greatly on the contributions of law clerks and interns to complete its work, however there may be also opportunities to work on other non-death penalty related projects for CRSJ, if the law clerk is interested.

Ideal applicants are current law students or LLM candidates who possess strong research and writing skills, are able to independently handle demanding assignments, and have a demonstrated interest in the death penalty, criminal justice, civil rights, and/or public policy advocacy. We look for applicants who are committed to public interest law upon graduation and have already completed at least one year of law school. The Project staff would be happy to assist candidates with obtaining course credit or externship credit for their contributions. Internships are available year-round and applications are accepted until positions are filled. Candidates should email a resume, a brief writing sample (less than 10 pages), and a cover letter detailing the candidate’s interest in working for the Project to: Misty Thomas, Director, at dueprocess@americanbar.org. The cover letter should also include the days and hours during the week that the candidate is available to work. For more information, visit https://www.americanbar.org/dueprocess.

The American Bar Association’s Death Penalty Representation Project was created in 1986. In the past 30 years, the Project has worked to raise awareness about the lack of representation available to death row prisoners, to address this urgent need by recruiting competent volunteer attorneys, and to offer these volunteers training and assistance. The Project also works toward systemic changes in the criminal justice system that would assure those individuals facing a possible death sentence are represented at all stages of the proceedings, from trial through clemency, by qualified, adequately compensated counsel. The Project’s Legal Internship Program gives law students the opportunity to play a significant role in the day-to-day work of the Project. Internship projects may include:

Legal research: Legal interns conduct legal research on a variety of topics related to capital punishment and representation to assist the Director and staff attorney in their work.
Policy research: The Project promotes systemic change in the capital defense system. Legal interns research state and federal statutory law in relation to the appointment of counsel, standards, compensation, and procedure.
Case summaries: The Project recruits volunteer lawyers to represent indigent prisoners on death row. Legal interns research the cases of unrepresented prisoners and prepare summaries for potential volunteers.
Attorney Resources: The Project maintains a library of online resources for attorneys representing capital defendants. Legal interns assist with the maintenance and development of these resources, including an ongoing publication that summarizes all court opinions citing to the ABA Guidelines.
Prisoner letters: The Project receives hundreds of letters from inmates requesting assistance. Legal interns assist with responding to these requests and locating outside resources for prisoners that the Project is unable to assist.
Newsletter: The Project publishes a quarterly newsletter that is distributed to thousands of contacts throughout the legal community. Interns propose and write content for the Project Press.
Other duties as assigned: Interns are encouraged to explore areas of interest to them while interning at the Project, and creativity and initiative are highly valued. Interns are expected to be self-starters, motivated, and interested in contributing significantly to the Project and its mission.

The Legal Internship Program is for a law student for a minimum of one semester or one summer. Interns work a flexible part-time schedule during the fall and spring semesters (15-20 hours) and full-time during the summer. This is an unpaid position, but students may seek academic credit. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. To apply, please send a cover letter, resume, short writing sample, and three references electronically to deathpenaltyproject@americanbar.org.

The mission of the National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty is to end the death penalty in the US and supporting efforts worldwide. Specifically, legal interns will support the organization in implementing its national advocacy campaign to end the death penalty as well as in supporting local efforts to urge passage of legislation or other policy changes that would reform, repeal or otherwise reduce executions and death sentences. Duties include substantive legal and legislative research and writing. Legal interns perform legal and policy research; draft memoranda on current law, proposed legislation, and recent state and federal judicial opinions; research and write testimony for legislative committees; and conduct research and write on case-specific initiatives as well as issue advocacy campaigns. Applicants should note in his or her cover letter any special interest or experience in issues relevant to the position, including past anti-death penalty or broader criminal justice reform knowledge and experience as well as any direct experience working on capital or criminal justice cases. Qualifications: Currently enrolled in law school, or recently graduated, bar pending; excellent research and writing skills; attention to detail; ability to draft succinct and comprehensive legal memoranda; knowledge of the legislative process and political campaigns; and working knowledge and familiarity with social media tools including Facebook and Twitter are a plus.

This internship is an unpaid position. Academic credit or Community Service Federal-Work Study payment may be available. Please submit resume, cover letter and legal writing sample along with three references (ideally including a reference from someone who can comment on your legal writing and research abilities) to admin-info@ncadp.org. Please include LEGAL INTERN in the subject line. Note your availability including preferred start and end dates as well as any limitations you may have to working regular full time hours. No phone calls please. Positions are available year-round and applications will be reviewed on an ongoing basis. The National Coalition is an equal opportunity employer, and people of color, women and LGBTQ persons are encouraged to apply. Find more information at https://www.ncadp.org/jobs/entry/legal-intern .

Florida

The Capital Habeas Unit (CHU) of the Federal Defender for the Middle District of Florida, located in Tampa, Florida, seeks law students for full-time, unpaid Summer 2026 internships. The CHU represents individuals who have been sentenced to death by the State of Florida in their federal habeas corpus proceedings. CHU attorneys and staff file challenges to constitutional violations that have tainted our clients’ convictions and/or sentences. Our office litigates in the U.S. Middle District of Florida, the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals, and the United States Supreme Court. Our internship program allows students to work a full summer (10 weeks) on capital postconviction cases. CHU interns may become involved in any aspect of our habeas practice, including legal research and writing, record review, field investigation, and client visitation. Preferred qualifications include a demonstrated interest in indigent criminal defense and a commitment to working in a team environment. Split summers are discouraged. Those who are bilingual, people of color, and persons from backgrounds that are underrepresented in the legal profession are especially encouraged to apply. Please apply via the MDFL Federal Defender’s internship portal, located at https://flm.fd.org/internships/chu-interns(opens in a new tab) (noting that while our office offers internship opportunities in several locations, the CHU is based solely in Tampa). Applications are accepted through the end February 2026.

This representation necessarily intersects with intellectual disability, mental health, poverty, and substance abuse issues, and interns can expect some cross-disciplinary projects and experience.

Georgia

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 legal system. SCHR accepts summer interns to work throughout its practice areas, which include capital litigation, impact litigation, and public policy. Applications from both 1Ls and 2Ls are welcome. Please visit the SCHR Internship website (https://www.schr.org/careers/human-rights-internship-externship-programs/(opens in a new tab)) for information about deadlines and what materials to submit. In addition to summer internships, SCHR also has a semester-long, full-time externship program. Externs spend one semester at SCHR, serving as a member of our litigation team. Information for the semester-long externship is on the same website as above. Please direct any questions to Devin Franklin at dfranklin@schr.org and Megan Toomer at mtoomer@schr.org

The Georgia Resource Center is a 501(c)(3) non-profit law office in Atlanta dedicated to providing free, high-quality representation to death-sentenced men and women in state and federal habeas corpus proceedings. The Georgia Resource Center is responsible for ensuring that all of Georgia’s death-sentenced prisoners have meaningful and vigorous representation throughout the post-conviction review process, including clemency proceedings before the Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles.

During our 10-week summer program, law students will directly assist GRC staff in all aspects of its work, including visiting clients, interviewing witnesses, compiling life histories, and conducting legal research and writing. Interns often have the opportunity to attend court proceedings, such as state court evidentiary hearings and oral arguments before the Georgia Supreme Court and the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. We seek highly-motivated, creative, and team-oriented students committed to indigent defense and the dignity of all people. Previous experience working with incarcerated persons or individuals with mental health issues is a plus.

Applications should be submitted by email to: grc@garesource.org. All applications should include a cover letter, resume, writing sample, and three references. Applicants interested in interning during the 2027 Summer are encouraged to apply as soon as possible.

Idaho

The Federal Defender Services of Idaho is accepting applications from first-and second-year law students for a summer legal internship position with the Capital Habeas Unit (CHU) for Summer 2026. The CHU, located in Boise, Idaho, represents individuals under sentence of death in Idaho, California, Nevada, and Arizona in their collateral challenges in state post-conviction and federal habeas litigation, as well as in related method-of-execution actions and clemency proceedings.

Our interns assist attorneys and investigators at all stages of client representation, including interviewing clients and witnesses, reviewing and organizing discovery materials, researching federal constitutional and criminal law issues, drafting pleadings, and attending court proceedings. Interns will also have opportunities to observe criminal trials and hearings with our trial unit. If interns are interested, they can in addition do some work with our trial unit. This is an unpaid internship that begins on June 08, 2026 and ends on August 07, 2026, with some flexibility in the dates. Housing is not provided.

The CHU is comprised of five assistant federal defenders, three investigators, and three paralegals. Working in a smaller office allows our interns to get extensive one-on-one time with the attorneys and staff and to be extremely involved with the case teams. Interns are invited to all team meetings and are guaranteed a writing sample by the end of the summer, which will be a section of a pleading that is filed in court and which will have gone through at least three rounds of edits and feedback by an attorney. Our interns are all invited to visit our clients in person on death row and to speak to them on the phone. Boise is a small, but culturally rich community with amazing outdoor activities and events during the summer.

To apply, please forward a letter of interest, current transcript, resume, a short writing sample, and two references in a single pdf to Jonah Horwitz at Jonah_Horwitz@fd.org. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis, with priority given to those applicants who have submitted their materials by January 30, 2026. However, earlier applications are usually the most successful. Limited positions are available. People of color and other minorities underrepresented in the legal profession are especially encouraged to apply.

Indiana

The Capital 2255 Unit of the Indiana Federal Community Defenders is accepting applications from law students with a demonstrated interest in capital litigation, criminal defense, or public interest work. The Unit represents federally death-sentenced clients in federal habeas corpus proceedings throughout the United States. Our Unit has a stellar record of success. We currently have cases at various stages of litigation, and interns will have the opportunity to work with experienced attorneys and mitigation specialists on assignments ranging from investigation, to research, to drafting pleadings and motions for federal courts, potentially including briefs for the United States Courts of Appeal. Students will also meet with clients who are on death row at USP-Terre Haute.

Interested applicants should send a letter of interest, resume, list of references, unofficial transcript, and a representative writing sample to Jean Giles at jean.giles@fd.org. We will consider applicants on a rolling basis. We prefer interns who are willing to be in Indianapolis for the summer but also will consider applicants who prefer a remote internship. Indianapolis is a dynamic city with a tight-knit legal community, plus great amenities including ample opportunities for outdoor recreation. It is also an affordable place to spend the summer. The internship is unpaid; however, we will work with schools and other resources to meet the criteria for work-study, course credit, or other support. We ask that interns commit to a minimum of 8 weeks and are flexible as to start and end dates.

Louisiana

The Center for Social Justice at Loyola University New Orleans College of Law represents people sentenced to death in their direct and post-conviction appeals.

A CSJ clerkship is a great opportunity to learn about criminal defense, capital defense, and post-conviction work. Law clerks are paired with attorneys and work on case teams throughout the summer. Clerks can expect to research law, draft pleadings, interact with clients, participate in field investigation, obtain and review records, and other common appellate and post-conviction tasks.

The summer begins with a two-day orientation covering capital work in Louisiana. Throughout the summer, clerks are invited to attend weekly brown bag lunch presentations by speakers from local criminal defense and social justice organizations.

Requirements:

Commitment to zealously representing clients
Strong research and writing skills
Attention to detail
Some travel and weekend/after hours work is required of all staff–including law clerks–depending on case needs.
At least 8 week (and preferably 10 week) internship duration.
No prior criminal law experience is required.

Please send cover letter, resume, and writing sample to capinternship@defendla.org. The position is unfunded; we encourage applicants to seek financial support from their law schools and other grant sources.

The Louisiana Capital Assistance Center (LCAC) invites law students to apply for summer legal internships. The LCAC is a non-profit law firm founded in 1993. The LCAC represents indigent defendants in capital cases – primarily at trial, but also on direct appeal, in state post-conviction, and in federal habeas proceedings. We represent clients in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas and in federal as well as state court.

The LCAC has been at the cutting edge of capital defense litigation, particularly in areas such as prosecutorial misconduct, racial and religious discrimination, inadequate indigent defense funding, and the capital prosecution of those with serious mental impairments. In the context of its casework, the LCAC pursues impact litigation in critical areas so as to advance the position of indigent capital defendants more generally. The LCAC emphasizes excellence and creativity in capital practice as well as making the client the center of all efforts in the case.

Legal interns work closely with LCAC attorneys. Tasks they typically perform include:

conducting legal research, writing legal memoranda, and drafting pleadings;
reviewing discovery and other evidence;
obtaining records through state and federal public records laws and analyzing them;
collecting data that inform the LCAC’s litigation;
helping prepare for and attending court proceedings; and
visiting clients.

The LCAC provides interns with training and orientation at the beginning of the summer internship program. Applicants should send a resume, cover letter, writing sample, and list of two references to Elliott Brown, at ebrown@thejusticecenter.org, with the subject line “Summer Legal Intern Application.” Non-legal writing samples are acceptable. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis.

The internship requires an eight- to ten-week commitment to work in New Orleans. The position is unfunded. We encourage applicants to seek financial support from their law schools, if available.

The Mwalimu Center For Justice (MCFJ) is a non-profit law office that represents indigent, death-sentenced men and women in Louisiana in their state post-conviction appeals. As an office of post-conviction attorneys and legal workers, we investigate and challenge the convictions of death-sentenced individuals who have been condemned to die through unjust and unconstitutional means. We fight systemic racism and social injustice by investigating and bringing to the forefront the stories of these men and women – forgotten and abandoned by our communities. Through investigation, discovery, and consultation with experts, we uncover exculpatory and mitigating facts that have ultimately resulted in new trials, exonerations, and pleas to lesser sentences. The work done by MCFJ is diverse, creative, meaningful and uniquely adaptable to our new remote-working world. Students can expect to do several of the following while with MCFJ:

Conduct legal research and draft claims for pleadings
Locate and process relevant medical, mental health and other mitigation records
Read and digest transcripts
Gather and analyze data
Write internal memos on various forensic science topics
Inspect records for potential undisclosed exculpatory evidence
Conduct case-specific factual analysis

Come and join this tight-knit and dedicated group of individuals. In these shifting times, we are working quickly to adapt our work to a remote format and need your help more than ever to accomplish our mission of vigorously protecting those sentenced to death in Louisiana.

To apply, please submit a cover letter, resume, writing sample and three references to Riley Horan at RHoran@mcfj.organd Robert Morris at RMorris@mcfj.org. Feel free to reach out with any questions or for the names and contact information of past and current interns with whom you can discuss the program.

Please note: As a non-profit organization in a state that chronically underfunds public defense, our financial resources are limited. We are working on securing funding for these positions but have not yet done so. We will work with you and your school to fulfill requirements for funding or academic credit.

Maryland

Advancing Real Change (ARC), Inc. provides comprehensive life history investigation for indigent clients facing the most severe penalties. We currently work on death penalty and juvenile life cases. Those who face criminal charges in our court systems confront tremendous dehumanization, often presented as nothing more than their crimes. The goal of life history investigation – often referred to as mitigation investigation – is to break this narrative by developing an accurate, multi-dimensional account of the accused’s life, including investigating the circumstances of the offense. ARC, Inc. is based in Baltimore, MD and works on cases throughout the country. We are seeking an intern to assist with gathering, reviewing and summarizing historical documents, conducting legal research, and providing administrative support. Start/end dates are flexible, and the internship may be full- or part-time, with a minimum of 20 hours per week. If you are interested in interning or volunteering with ARC, Inc. please send a cover letter and attach a copy of your resume to info@advancechange.org. Let us know what area of programming you are interested in, the time range you are available, how many hours per week you would like to contribute, and why you’re interested in our work.

Missouri

The Capital Habeas Unit of the Office of the Federal Public Defender, Western District of Missouri,

offers law students an opportunity to experience engaging capital defense work. We are a small, but committed, group of advocates serving individuals sentenced to death in Missouri (and some in Ohio, Kentucky, Kansas, and Nebraska). We comprehensively evaluate each of our client’s cases and identify any aspect that may have rendered the client’s conviction or sentence unfair. For each of these aspects, we bring federal habeas corpus actions through which we zealously represent our client’s—and society’s—interests in fairness and human dignity.

This opportunity is available as an academic-year or summer internship. The office recognizes the importance of providing supervision and guidance, and the office is committed to ensuring that each intern has a meaningful experience with the office. Our internship projects include researching constitutional issues, drafting legal pleadings, interviewing witnesses, reviewing and digesting records and discovery materials, and visiting clients.

Our internships are unpaid positions. However, students may be able to secure class credit for work or obtain a public interest fellowship or stipend through their law schools. We seek qualified applicants with strong research and writing skills and an interest in indigent criminal defense or public interest law. Interested applicants should send a cover letter, resume, and brief writing sample to Daniel Kirsch (daniel_kirsch@fd.org).

We encourage applicants to join us in Kansas City if possible. However, our office has robust teleworking capabilities, and we will be able to conduct a remote internship program if need be. Regardless of whether the position is in-person or remote, we will do our best to make the internship engaging and meaningful.

Nevada

The Capital Habeas Unit (CHU) of the Office of the Federal Public Defender, District of Nevada encourages students with a demonstrated interest in capital litigation, criminal defense, or public interest work to apply for summer and semester-long internships. The CHU represents death sentenced defendants in federal and state postconviction litigation in Nevada, California, Arizona, Nebraska, and Texas. In addition, the office represents clients in federal capital trial proceedings. First, second, and third-year law students may apply. Our summer opportunity is a ten-week long, full-time unpaid internship. Students will work with a dedicated team of attorneys, investigators, paralegals, and legal assistants, assisting them in: (1) researching and writing arguments for capital pleadings; (2) investigating client cases for newly discovered evidence, facts concerning the ineffectiveness of counsel, and extensive record review; and (3) visiting clients on death row. Students may also attend evidentiary hearings in state and/or federal court. Our semester-long opportunity requires a minimum of 12 hours per week and assignments may vary given the applicant’s availability. Interested applicants should send a letter of interest, resume, list of references, unofficial transcript, and a representative writing sample to Jocelyn Murphy and Hannah Nelson at NVX_CHU_internship@fd.org. There is a strong preference for internships to be in-person. We review applications on a rolling basis and positions are open until filled.

New York

The NAACP Legal Defense Fund is currently accepting applications from law students for spring and summer 2022 policy internships for the New York and Washington D.C. offices. Interns will be responsible for policy research and analysis, memorandum writing, factual investigation, development of educational and outreach materials, and a host of other needs that arise in LDF’s policy efforts in the areas of Education, Political Participation, Economic Justice and Criminal Justice. Policy interns will also be exposed to a variety of activities within the national civil rights coalition, including a series of brown bag luncheons featuring prominent civil rights and public interest attorneys, attended by interns from numerous non-profit legal organizations. Applicants must be able to receive academic credit or funding from their law school’s public interest programs. Although LDF prefers to hire second and third-year law students, we will consider exceptional first-year law students. Spring interns are expected to work at least 20 hours a week and summer interns are expected to work full-time for at least ten (10) weeks during the summer, but other arrangements may be accommodated on a case-by-case basis. See their website for more information on how to apply.

North Carolina

Each summer, the Center for Death Penalty Litigation hosts full-time law student interns, and each year, we receive rave reviews. Former interns consistently remark on the diversity of opportunities, the rigorous intellectual environment, and the collegiality of our office. In recent summers, law student interns have met with clients, traveled across the state interviewing witnesses and jurors, assisted with research and writing tasks for trial, direct appeal and post-conviction cases, attended capital trials, and assisted at non-capital trials and at evidentiary hearings.

We eagerly recruit both 1Ls and 2Ls to fill our summer intern positions. Because of the nature of the work our students perform, we typically do not allow split summers and we prefer that all interns begin work on the same date. Further, we ask each intern to commit to a 10-week program. CDPL does provide a stipend to each law student summer intern.

Students interested in a summer internship should provide the following beginning in the fall of the school year: 1) Cover letter clearly articulating the applicant’s interest in death penalty defense or criminal defense work; 2) Current resume; 3) Phone number and email address for one professional reference. Applications should be submitted through our website at https://www.cdpl.org/internships/. Applications are considered on a rolling basis until internships are filled. Contact Barrie Wallace at barrie@cdpl.org with specific questions.

CDPL complies with the letter and spirit of all federal, state, and local employment discrimination laws and does not discriminate based on race, age, color, sex, religion, national origin, marital status, family responsibility, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status or disability. Our statement concerning racial equity can be found here: https://www.cdpl.org/racial-equity/

Ohio

The Capital Habeas Unit (CHU) in the Columbus, Ohio branch of the Office of the Federal Public Defender for the Southern District of Ohio offers summer and school-year externship opportunities. The CHU represents death-row inmates at all levels in federal court and also argues for clemency before the Ohio Parole Board and Governor. The legal work concerns the exciting and challenging intersection of constitutional law, death-penalty jurisprudence, and habeas and civil-rights litigation; factual investigation involves digging into records and witnesses related to clients’ social histories, including their upbringing, education, and other factors relevant to their development. The CHU works closely with a variety of experts in a range of areas, including neurology, psychology, psychiatry, forensics, DNA, mental-health, addiction, and intellectual disability.

The office operates in teams of attorneys, investigators, and support staff to tackle this demanding and sobering work. Externs (or “CHUterns,” as we call them) work closely with these teams to assist in both legal and factual research and drafting related to the clients’ cases. CHU teams rely on CHUtern assistance on real projects for real clients and aim to involve CHUterns as much as possible from start to finish on projects.

We seek law students with sound judgment, the ability to work independently, excellent research and writing skills, and a strong commitment to indigent defense and saving clients’ lives. While we prefer full-time CHUterns, law students may apply to extern for a minimum 20 hours per week during the summer and 12 hours per week during the school year. We consider remote positions on a case-by-case basis. CHUterns are unpaid but are free to seek funding through work-study or other public-interest programs, as well as credit hours at their law schools.

To apply, e-mail your (1) cover letter, (2) resume with GPAs listed, (3) writing sample, and (4) law school transcript to erin_barnhart@fd.org and justin_thompson@fd.org. To apply via hard copy, mail these materials to Erin Barnhart and Justin Thompson in the Federal Public Defender’s Office at 10 West Broad St., Suite 1020, Columbus, Ohio 43215.

Mindful of the variety of backgrounds, races, religions, genders, sexual orientations, and abilities of our clients, we believe that a diverse team strengthens our representation and that we are obligated to support and increase diversity in the field of public defense. We therefore invite applicants to identify personal characteristics or experiences that would contribute to that goal.

We consider applications on a rolling basis until positions are filled, and generally complete interviews for summer positions in February. CHUterns will be subject to a background check as required by the Administrative Office of the United States Courts.

The Office of the Ohio Public Defender in Columbus hires summer interns in the Death Penalty Department, which includes representation of capital defendants in direct appeals, state post-conviction, federal habeas, and clemency proceedings. Our office practices client-centered representation in a team advocacy model, and our student interns become valuable members of our client teams. Interns assist with legal research, memo writing, and drafting of claims or portions of briefs. We are looking for students who are highly motivated and have a demonstrated interest in indigent defense or public service. The office also has a limited number of internships available in the Trial Department, which represents indigent capital defendants throughout the state. Trial interns review discovery, draft motions, and research cutting-edge legal and forensic issues.

Our internships are full-time paid positions. Internships last 10-12 weeks, typically starting in early June. Successful applicants are welcome to apply for academic credit or outside funding; we are happy to provide documentation or verification as needed.

First and second-year law students are welcome to apply. Applicants should submit a cover letter addressing their interest in capital defense and their preferred department (if any), a resume, and a short writing sample, to Elise Grifka Wander (Elise.GrifkaWander@opd.ohio.gov) and Samantha Kovacevic (Samantha.Kovacevic@opd.ohio.gov). Applications will be considered on a rolling basis until positions are filled, with hiring decisions typically completed by March 15 each year. People of color and other minorities underrepresented in the legal profession are especially encouraged to apply.

Oklahoma

The Capital Habeas Unit of the Federal Defender for the Western District of Oklahoma, located in Oklahoma City, offers full-time summer internships for law students. The CHU represents Oklahoma death row inmates in federal court habeas corpus and clemency proceedings. Students may perform legal research, review documents, draft pleadings, and assist in investigation. The internship is unpaid and is of flexible duration, preferably for at least 8 weeks. All years are welcome to apply, but preference is given to 2Ls and to students with a demonstrated commitment to capital defense, post-conviction work, and/or indigent criminal defense. To apply, please send a cover letter, resume, two references and a writing sample to Callie_Heller@fd.org.

Pennsylvania

Founded 30 years ago, the Philly Capital Habeas Unit (CHU) of the Federal Community Defender for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania represents indigent death-sentenced men and women all across the country. We regularly litigate (and win) in the Supreme Court, see, e.g., Rompilla v. Beard, 545 U.S. 374 (2005); Williams v. Pennsylvania, 579 U.S. 1 (2016); Gutierrez v. Saenz, 145 S. Ct. 2258 (2025), and our alumni have gone on to become federal circuit and district court judges, professors, and leaders at public defense organizations around the country. We have trained more than 100 current public defenders through our summer internship program alone.

We litigate from our offices in downtown Philadelphia. Located in the historic Curtis Building, kitty corner to the Liberty Bell and overlooking a National Park, we’re walking distance from just about every major landmark (and charming neighborhood) in one of the world’s most storied and enduring metropolitan areas. Our summer interns work closely with our attorneys and clients, conducting challenging, pressing, and novel research. Over the course of the summer, students typically:

Draft motions, memoranda, and briefs;
Research forensic issues, including DNA, fingerprints, hair and fiber, and ballistics;
Assist in factual investigation;
Participate in team meetings and observe development of case strategy;
Review and analyze institutional records and transcripts of prior proceedings;
Observe hearings and oral arguments, participate in moots;
Receive substantive training on all stages and facets of federal habeas litigation;
Go to a Phillies game and participate in the office’s annual Supreme Court Review.

We start our summers with a week-long intensive training covering dozens of post-conviction related topics. The training is taught by Assistant Federal Defenders and features in-person presentations from some of our exonerated clients. There are few better places to start a career in public defense.

The 10-week internship is unpaid, but we are happy to work with your schools to meet the criteria for work study, course credit, etc. The internship will begin in June 2026. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis (but we usually pick our summer class by January at the latest). Please send all application materials (cover letter, resume, writing sample, and transcript) to the following email address: PAE_Employment_CHU_Interns@fd.org with the subject title “Summer 2026 Intern Application.”

The Federal Public Defender for the Western District of Pennsylvania in Pittsburgh represents individuals in Federal court charged with Federal crimes. Its Capital Habeas Unit (CHU) represents individuals who have been convicted of capital crimes in state and Federal court and who seek post-conviction relief in Federal court. This office offers a 10-week summer program for second-year law students who possess excellent research and writing skills and demonstrate an interest in Federal indigent defense and/or capital habeas litigation. The positions are unpaid. Responsibilities may include legal research, assisting in drafting motions, drafting memoranda, reviewing records, documents and transcripts, assisting with investigations and observing court proceedings. Prior course work in criminal law and procedure would be helpful. To apply, please forward a (1) cover letter; (2) resume; (3) short writing sample; (4) complete list of law school classes; (5) current GPA and class ranking; and (6) two references to: paw_employment@fd.org or via regular mail to: Julie Roberts and Gabrielle Lee, Assistant Federal Public Defenders, Western District of Pennsylvania 1001 Liberty Avenue, Suite 1500 Pittsburgh, PA 15222. Successful applicants will be subject to a background fingerprint check as required under the current policy for the Administrative Office of the United States Courts. This office also offers year-round externship opportunities for second and third-year law students, and inquiries can also be made regarding same to the above.

South Carolina

The Capital Trial Division of the South Carolina Commission on Indigent Defense is an office charged with meeting the high standards of capital defense demanded by federal and state constitutions. We are looking for interns that are interested in criminal defense and/or working with indigent clients from all backgrounds who come from families with a history of poverty, abuse, and mental health problems. Throughout the course of the summer, you will be working directly with the attorneys in our office. You will be:

Meeting and interviewing clients, making sure they have all the necessary information to answer their various legal questions
Meeting and interviewing potential mitigation witnesses to assist the defense team in putting together a comprehensive life history of the client
Researching and preparing memos for attorneys concerning particular legal questions, such as the viability of a particular defense or admissibility of a particular piece of evidence
Investigating data necessary for some systemic challenges to the Death Penalty (which will include going to clerks’ offices around the state and gathering information on all jury strikes and/or murder cases for the last decade)
Attending court and assisting as necessary

This is an unpaid internship but students will be reimbursed for all travel expenses they incur including mileage at the federal rate. Interested students should submit a cover letter and resume by e-mail to Boyd Young, Deputy Director at byoung@sccid.sc.gov. We accept applications on a rolling basis until spots are filled.

Tennesse

The Office of the Federal Public Defender for the Middle District of Tennessee contains two units: the Trial Unit, which represents indigent persons charged with violations of federal criminal statutes, and the Capitol Habeas Unit (CHU), which represents Tennessee death row inmates seeking federal habeas corpus relief from their capital convictions and death sentences. Our office currently employs 21 attorneys, 11 investigators, and 20 support staff.

Each unit sponsors a summer internship program (8-10 weeks) as well as semester externships for law school credit. We can accommodate students who can spend only part of their summer (4-5 weeks) in our office. Our interns perform legal research and writing for motions, memoranda, and briefs. We encourage interns to attend court hearings, trials, meetings with clients, and field investigation with our investigators. In addition, we hold in-house seminars on various aspects of criminal practice and organize a handful of social events throughout the summer to give interns an opportunity to network with our staff.

We seek qualified applicants with strong research and writing skills, and an interest in indigent criminal defense or death penalty work. Our internships are unpaid. Students may wish to secure class credit for their work with us, or apply for any public interest fellowship or stipend that may be available through your law school. Applications should include: (1) cover letter; (2) resume; (3) writing sample; and (4) law school transcript (need not be official) all saved in one PDF. Trial Unit Internship: please send materials to Molly Rose Green (molly_green@fd.org). CHU Internship: please send materials to David Fletcher (david_fletcher@fd.org). We typically begin extending offers in February, however applicants are encouraged to submit their materials as early as possible. For more information, visit https://tnm.fd.org/.

Texas

Atlantic International Associates is based in Houston, Texas. Through the assiduous process of fact finding and mitigation we are dedicated to the role of playing an integral part in the fervent defense to indigent individuals charged with capital murder facing the death penalty in state and federal proceedings, to alleviate the suffering of those persons, and to contest the opprobrious portrayal associated with defendants the government is seeking to execute.

We are seeking an intern who possesses the following competencies:

Extensive experience in research and fact gathering.
Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.
An understanding of the law governing mitigation evidence in capital cases.
An awareness of the psychological, behavioral, and neurological diseases and disorders set forth in the most recent edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.
An interest in interviewing clients, family members, relatives, friends, neighbors, teachers, employers, and other potential mitigation witnesses including those from different racial, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds to obtain information regarding the capital defendant’s life story relevant to statutory and non-statutory mitigating factors.
An approach to investigation that is creative, curious, strategic, and culturally competent.
A commitment to diversity using a personal approach that value all individuals and respects differences in regard to race, ethnicity, age, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, religion, ability and socio-economic circumstance.
A dedication to working collaboratively and respectfully toward resolving obstacles and/or conflicts.
The ability to work successfully as part of the defense teams in a client-centered practice.
Strong computer skills, including internet search and people finder tasks, case file organization, digesting, and tracking of collected information, and with such programs as Adobe Acrobat, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
Familiarity with social media tools including Facebook and Twitter is a plus.

Under supervision the intern will actively collaborate with our mitigation team and perform a multiplicity of tasks that include requesting records, finding and locating people using proprietary online databases, logging records requested and received into various master documents, developing master witness logs and related documents, digesting voluminous records received. developing trauma summaries and timelines and conducting research in various areas, e.g., locating and vetting potential experts, cultural and sociological research, developing and interpreting statistical and demographic data. Assignments will vary with background and experience and the firm’s present needs.

Applicants may apply at any time. We accept full-time interns during the summer and part-time interns during the school year. We prefer interns who are willing to be in Houston, Texas for the summer but also will consider applicants who desire a remote internship. 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. Interested students should send a cover letter, resume, transcript, a short writing sample (5-10 pages) and contact information for two references to Jeff Wax at texaslegalinvestigations@gmail.com with the subject line “Legal Intern Application.” For additional information, please call Jeff Wax at (207) 838-7260 and visit www.texaslegalinvestigations.com.

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.

The Capital Habeas Unit (CHU) , is located in Austin, one block south of the Texas Capitol building. The CHU represents death-sentenced individuals in federal habeas proceedings and related state court proceedings across the State of Texas, and hosts unpaid internships and fellowships for law students, social work students, and recent law graduates throughout the year. Internships are expected to last eight- to ten- weeks, and fellowships can last up to a year.

Through an interdisciplinary team approach, interns will:

Receive thorough training on all stages and facets of post-conviction litigation;
Improve their research skills through focused research projects;
Improve their writing through drafting and editing motions, memoranda, and briefs;
Develop investigative skills through assisting mitigation specialists and expert fact investigators;
Contribute to litigation strategy during team meetings;
Learn critical skills for interacting with clients;
Experience the meaning of zealous, client-centered, holistic advocacy.

Though the positions are unpaid, interns are free to seek outside funding through work-study or public-interest programs, as well as class hours or other applicable credit at their schools. Please apply electronically, send a cover letter, resume, writing sample (no longer than 25 pages), and unofficial transcript addressed to Maureen Scott Franco, Federal Public Defender for the Western District of Texas, care of Adriana_limon@fd.org.

The CHU considers applications on a rolling basis until positions are filled. The CHU is currently accepting internship applications for Spring and Summer of 2026.

The Gulf Region Advocacy Center (GRACE) is a 501(c)(3) charity that represents indigent clients in charged with capital crimes at all stages of litigation in state and federal courts. GRACE also does training and consulting for other capital defense teams nationwide. 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 and MatthewH@GraceLaw.org or by mail to Gulf Region Advocacy Center, 2307 Union Street, Houston TX 77007. For more information, contact Matthew Hefti at MatthewH@GraceLaw.org or call (713)-869-4722.

The Texas Office of Capital & Forensic Writs (OCFW) in Austin, Texas is seeking bright and motivated interns interested in capital defense to develop claims on behalf of our death-sentenced clients in state post-conviction proceedings. The OCFW is a public defender office that takes cases from across the state. Interns have the privilege of working as part of a team with attorneys, mitigation specialists, and paralegals to investigate and present our clients’ stories and the constitutional violations that affected their cases. We are committed to client-centered, high-quality legal representation. Under the supervision of the intern supervisor and case team leads, legal interns conduct investigation, develop research and writing skills, review and digest transcripts and records, and communicate with clients. This is an extraordinary opportunity to gain a broad understanding of how post-conviction capital representation works in Texas and to make a difference. To apply, email your cover letter, resume, and two references to internship@ocfw.texas.gov or visit https://ocfw.texas.gov/legal-internship.

The Capital Habeas Unit of the Federal Public Defender for the Western District of Texas is now accepting applications from law students for our summer internship program. The Capital Habeas Unit was formed in late 2017 to represent death-sentenced people in federal habeas across the State of Texas. Located in Austin, Texas—the Live Music Capital of the World—the Capital Habeas Unit is committed to providing its clients with innovative and stellar legal representation, while priding itself on treating its clients with dignity and respect. During the eight- to ten- week internship, students will participate in all aspects of capital habeas representation. Students will:

Improve their writing through drafting and editing motions, memoranda, and briefs;
Improve their research skills through focused research projects under the guidance of highly-experienced attorneys;
Develop investigative skills through assisting mitigation specialists and expert fact investigators;
Learn client-centered, holistic advocacy;
Learn critical skills for interacting with clients;
Receive substantive training on all stages and facets of post-conviction litigation.

The positions are unpaid, but interns are free to seek funding through work-study or other public-interest programs, as well as class hours or other applicable credit at their law schools. Please apply electronically, send a cover letter, resume, writing sample (no longer than 25 pages), and unofficial transcript to Tivon Schardl care of Victoria_Longoria@FD.org. The CHU considers applications on a rolling basis until positions are filled.

The Capital Habeas Unit is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all applicable laws prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, national origin, age, ancestry, disability, status as a veteran, sexual orientation, marital/parental status, gender identity, gender expression or any other status or classification protected by federal law. We encourage students of all backgrounds to apply.

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