Internship opportunities for public defenders

The public defender – The Criminal Division offers internship opportunities for students who want to gain experience and exposure to the criminal justice system. We welcome students who wish to earn college hours, volunteer through the Pro Bono Scholarship Program, or secure paid positions. Internships are available each academic semester as well as through our summer internship program.

Law students are welcome to apply for the Summer Law Internship program, which aims to gain first-hand experience with the duties of an assistant public defender.

Below is a description of the options available and the deadlines required.

If you are seeking a position with the District Attorney’s Office not described below, please contact the office at 315-798-5870.

Summer internship in law

The Summer Law Internship Program aims to treat legal interns as future assistant public defenders. The program provides first-hand insight into criminal defense, including trials in county, city and local courts. Students will work closely with assistant public defenders in investigating, preparing and defending criminal cases in Oneida County.

The Criminal Division of the Public Defender will file a practice order application on behalf of eligible summer law interns accepted into the program to allow law students to appear in court hearings under the guidance and supervision of an Assistant Public Defender. Efforts are made for each summer legal intern to complete a practice assignment to conduct violation trials and draft legal briefs that can be used as future writing samples.

Time required: Summer legal interns must work a minimum of 20 hours per week for a minimum of 8 weeks.

Compensation: Summer legal interns earn $25 per hour.

Application process for summer legal internships:

Applicants must apply through the Oneida County employment portal, which opens on March 1 each year. Follow the link here. You submit an application via the portal together with your CV. If you have any questions or issues submitting your application, please contact Art Rapp, Job Development & Placement Manager, at arapp@ocgov.net or 315-798-3679.

Applicants seeking summer law internships should be received by April 15. Efforts are being made to extend the offers until May 1st.

University internships

College students work closely with deputy public defenders and other staff who investigate and defend criminal cases, including interviewing clients, assisting attorneys and investigators, assisting with investigations, and other clerical tasks and responsibilities. University interns are invited to regularly attend court hearings and trials when available.

Semester internships (also possible for law students)

All semester internships are counted as coursework and are therefore unpaid. Class schedules must remain consistent throughout the semester in accordance with academic responsibilities, typically a minimum of 8 hours per week.

• Internship in the fall semester (August-December): Applications will be accepted continuously until July 1st. Offers are extended until August 1st.
• Internship in the spring semester (January-May): Applications will be accepted continuously until November 1st. Offers are extended until December 1st.

Application process: Applicants must submit a cover letter explaining their interest in public service, a resume, and a transcript of their studies. Only complete applications will be examined. Applications must be emailed to publicdefender-criminal@ocgov.net with the subject line “Semester Internship Opportunity.”

Summer internships

Summer internships are coordinated by the Oneida County Workforce Development Office. During this internship, a student may work a maximum of 200 hours in total. Summer interns who do not earn course credit will receive compensation of $15/hour (2024 rate).

Application process for university internships:

Applicants must apply through the Oneida County Employment Portal; Follow the link here. You submit an application via the portal together with your CV. If you have any questions or issues submitting your application, please contact Art Rapp, Job Development & Placement Manager, at arapp@ocgov.net or 315-798-3679.

Applicants seeking a summer internship should be received by April 15th. Efforts are being made to extend the offers until May 1st.