The Summer Legal Internship Program with the Office of the State Public Defender (OPD) offers current law students a highly rewarding internship program that exposes interns to every aspect of public defense. Primarily, interns spend time practicing and developing their litigation skills in the trial and conflict divisions. Interns research and write motions, interview clients and witnesses, conduct investigations, review discovery and case files, and assist attorneys in preparing for and conducting trials. Additionally, law students who are eligible to practice under the Montana Student Practice Rule have the opportunity to argue motions, conduct hearings, and chair trials under the supervision of an experienced public defender. All summer interns attend weekly statewide, intern-specific training sessions covering fundamental trial advocacy concepts and substantive areas of interest.
Law interns also enhance their knowledge of the broader criminal legal system. Our interns are invited to attend all in-house training programs and continuing legal education sessions. Dependent on COVID-19 restrictions, we plan to schedule multiple field experiences. Experiences will be based on each intern’s office location. Previous field experiences have included visits to the Montana State Prison, Montana Women’s Prison, the Department of Justice’s Forensic Science Division (State Crime Lab), and the Montana Supreme Court.
Law interns work in one of our eleven trial offices or five conflict offices across the State. Intern location preference is prioritized when making placements and offers will be made for specific office locations. Applicants are strongly encouraged to explore local housing options before submitting location preferences.
Summer law interns are expected to work 40 hours per week during the 10-week summer program. For the 2022 summer, the program is scheduled from May 23 to July 29 but can be adjusted to accommodate academic calendars. Internships are unpaid, though we will gladly provide any necessary support for students seeking credit or external funding.
Our Summer Legal Internship Program is designed for a select group of law students who have a passion for defending the civil liberties of low-income clients, are interested in courtroom advocacy, possess strong research and writing skills, have an outstanding work ethic, and display characteristics of promising future public defenders. To be eligible, all applicants must be enrolled in an ABA-approved J.D. program. Successful candidates seeking student practice must also have completed at least two-thirds of the total hours required for graduation, be certified by the Dean of their law school, and be familiar with the Montana Rules of Professional Conduct. OPD will assist successful candidates in seeking student practice where eligible.
To apply, submit an application cover sheet (https://1drv.ms/b/s!AiiVY-koJQxbbigEC7BHskVhV7c?e=DaL43h), a one-page resume, a cover letter, a list of at least three references with contact information, and a writing sample of no more than ten pages. Cover letters should detail your reason for seeking an internship with OPD, your location preferences (if any), your interest in public defense, and any previous experience in public interest or criminal defense. Applications will be accepted and positions will be filled on a rolling basis. Applicants are encouraged to submit materials as early as possible during the fall term but submissions will be accepted until all positions are full. Incomplete or incorrectly submitted applications will not be considered.
If not applying through a law school career portal, your application should be sent, in a single email, to Mx. Chanan Brown at [email protected] with “2022 Summer Legal Internship Application Submission - [Candidate Name]” in the subject line.
If you have any questions about the summer experience, internship logistics, or the application process, please contact Chanan Brown, the Internship Program Coordinator, at [email protected] or (406) 896-4976.
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