Internship

This is how lifelong careers as Public Defenders usually begin. Our internship for law school students allow them to work directly with clients and the defense team, comprised of attorneys, investigators, paralegals, and social workers. Responsibilities include meeting with clients, reviewing documents, drafting motions, attending meetings with experts and other witnesses, and participating in advocacy team meetings and case conferences.

Students certified to practice law may also be given the opportunity to argue motions on behalf of clients in court. Academic credit is available if there is an agreement between our office and the intern’s university. Work-study is offered if the office’s portion is covered by the university.

Prerequisites

Applicants must possess strong written and oral communication skills. We expect student to have a demonstrated committed to indigent criminal defense. Those with a general interest in criminal law or who view being a prosecutor as a possible career choice should not apply.

School (Fall/Winter) session participation requires a 16-20 hours per week and Summer a full-time, forty (40) hours per week, commitment for the entire duration of the session. Students must be able to start by the session’s start date and must attend an orientation on or before their start date. Sessions cannot be split and students cannot participate for shorter periods of time.

Internship Sessions & Dates

The Office offers three sessions per year. The relevant dates are below.

* Application Deadline may be extended beyond the deadline date if there are openings still available. 

Application Process

Please apply below, and include a cover letter and your resume.

Applications cannot be saved and must be completed in one session. Upon completion of the application, a confirmation email from PUBDEF.Internship@sfgov.org will be sent to the email address provided in the application. Please check your junk/spam email folder.

If you do not receive a confirmation email in 24 hours, please register again.

If you encounter issues, please confirm that you are using the latest version of your web browser. Clear the browser’s cache and/or reset the browser back to its factory default. If this does not work, please contact PUBDEF.Internship@sfgov.org to confirm the receipt of your application.

Acceptance & Registration Process

Upon acceptance, interns will receive a code to register for the internship program at the link below.

As part of the registration, interns must attend the Orientation (see chart above) and submit information for a background check for jail clearance. Jail clearance is required to conduct meetings with clients who are in-custody. Negative results of a background check will not necessarily prevent participation as an intern.

Recent law school graduates can apply for fellowships in our office for as long as one year. Post-Bar fellows receive training in all aspects of criminal defense practice. Once they are licensed to practice law in California, post-bar fellows join our Misdemeanor Unit and have the opportunity to represent our clients at all stages, including jury trials. Applicants must demonstrate a strong commitment to indigent criminal defense and social and racial justice.

Please have a cover letter and resume ready for submission and apply below.

Our internship for high school and college students provide an opportunity to learn about the work of public defenders and gain work experience in an office environment. It is recommended for students who are considering going to  law school or working in in and on behalf of under-privileged communities. These internships can be tailored to the needs of the student, and are often alife-changing first step toward a career as a public defender.

While we are unable to pay students or young adults, individuals who are between 13 to 24 years of age may quality for a paid internship in our office through the San Francisco’s Opportunities for All program. Individuals can apply to our office using the link below and to through Opportunities for All (OFA).

Participation requires a minimum of 8 hours a week for a period of three months. No resume or cover letter is required.

Public Defender Investigators are critical to great outcomes for our clients. They are responsible for reviewing police reports, witness statements and pictures taken by the police, identifying and interviewing witnesses (some of whom the police failed or neglected to interview), taking photographs, measuring distances, securing video surveillance, serving subpoenas and reviewing and retrieving documents.

If you are a smart, curious, a good listener, and a committed to indigent defense work, please apply to be a Public Defender Investigator intern.

Minimum time commitment: two days a week, sixteen hours a week, three months, one semester or one quarter.

Please have a cover letter and resume ready for submission and apply below.

We are a community law office that serves underserved and disenfranchised members of the public. We welcome more privileged members of our community to join us in our mission. This is not a formal program but tailored to meet the individualized skills of the community member and the needs of our office. It is a meaningful way for retirees and others who are looking to apply their skills to advocate for our clients.

Participation requires a minimum of 8 (eight) hours a week for a period of 3 (three) months. A resume would be helpful, but no resume or cover letter is required.