The Defender Association

The Defender Association is seeking interns/volunteers for our Investigator Intern Program

The Defender Association provides legal representation to indigent and low-income clients. Our office represents individuals in criminal matters, as well as in civil matters such as civil commitments and dependencies. Typically, investigators are used in the criminal divisions of the office - misdemeanors, felony and juvenile-although we occasionally handle investigations in other divisions.

The Investigator Internship allows interested individuals the opportunity to gain hands-on experience under the direction and close monitoring of two supervisors who, taken together, have over 35 years of investigation experience. Investigator Interns also work directly with the attorneys as team members to ensure that cases are adequately investigated.

Training for the Investigator Intern Program starts in a classroom setting from 1-5:00 p.m. for the first six business days of the program. The training covers all aspects of investigation that an intern might do, including how to effectively interview witnesses, write reports, and conduct field work. In addition to investigation techniques, there are also presentations on legal issues and ethics as they apply to investigators. Almost daily contact with supervisors insures that learning continues over the course of the entire internship.

Since the Investigator Intern Program was started in 1981 more than 1500 interns have participated. At the beginning of each training period, approximately 4-6 interns are accepted into the program.

All Investigator Intern positions are volunteer ^*

The Defender Association works closely with universities and colleges for those interns seeking college credit for participation in the program. Status as a current student is not required.

Time commitment:

An intern needs to commit to a minimum of twenty hours per week for a minimum of six months. During this time an intern can expect to spend 10-12 hours in the office each week and the remainder in the field.

Who can apply:

Law school graduates, graduate students, career changers with BA or BS degrees, or third year law students or undergraduates with senior status.

Applying for Program:

Submit resume and cover letter to invintern@defender.org.

Other:

Interns must have a car and carry insurance.
Criminal history could affect your ability to intern.

* Participants in the Investigation Intern Program will not be compensated, although we will reimburse for most expenses. Participation in the program does not imply that at the conclusion of the training or internship the participant will obtain employment with our office.