Navigating Judicial Internships: Opportunities and Programs

Judicial internships offer invaluable exposure to the legal profession, providing students and graduates with practical experience, networking opportunities, and a deeper understanding of the judicial system. These programs cater to various educational levels, from high school to law school, and often focus on promoting diversity and inclusion within the legal field. This article explores several judicial internship programs, highlighting their unique features, eligibility requirements, and potential benefits for aspiring legal professionals.

The Supreme Court Internship Program

The Supreme Court of the United States offers a competitive internship program providing valuable exposure to work in a professional environment. It is a paid internship. Interns may pursue academic credit through their institutions of study and in consultation with the Supreme Court Internship Program. It is a competitive program that draws interns from a highly qualified applicant pool.

It is important to possess the ability to communicate effectively with others; flexibility; self-sustaining motivation and initiative; and impeccable trustworthiness, discretion, and maturity. Interviews will follow for select candidates.

Interns have responsibilities wholly distinct from the case work of the Supreme Court and do not work directly with the Justices or on cases pending before the Court. However, some support duty, such as answering phones and responding to inquiries from members of the public, is required.

Several offices within the Supreme Court offer internship opportunities:

Counselor's Office

Congress created the statutory position of the Counselor to the Chief Justice in 1972 to aid in the increasingly complex planning and leadership duties of the Chief Justice. Court, the Counselor serves as the Chief Justice’s chief operating officer. and Chancellor of the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution, they also draft correspondence; conduct research for articles; and assist in other projects as assigned. The Counselor’s Office accepts only students available to intern on a full-time basis, five days per week.

Curator's Office

The Curator’s Office was created by Chief Justice Warren E. Burger in 1973 to record and preserve the Court’s history to foster public appreciation of the nation’s highest court and preserve it for future generations. Interns in the Curator’s Office develop a substantial working knowledge of the role and functions of the Supreme Court, its history, and the architecture of the building. They are assigned to work with a staff member on curatorial projects, such as Visitor Programs, and Digital Assets Management. For more detailed descriptions of the curatorial internship positions, see the Curatorial Internship Information page.

Public Information Office

The Public Information Office, established by the Court in 1935, serves as a contact for the press and public and as a liaison between the press and all other offices at the Court. The Information Officer acts as the official spokesperson for the Court. Interns assist in providing information to the press and public, fostering an understanding of the history and function of the Court. The office also maintains a press room provided for the use of a resident press corps and visiting journalists, as well as members of the public who contact the Court.

Office of the Clerk

The Office of the Clerk was established on February 3, 1790, with the appointment of the first Clerk of Court, and is responsible for maintaining the Court’s records of all documents submitted for filing with the Court. Interns in the Clerk’s Office provide assistance in responding to case-related inquiries from attorneys and litigants, both in-person and on the telephone.

Office of Information Technology

The Office of Information Technology is responsible for the development, operation, and maintenance of the Court’s information systems and provides technical and administrative support functions.

Marshal's Office

Under the Judiciary Act of 1867, Congress granted the Court authority to appoint a Marshal to oversee Courtroom operations, provide security for the Justices, and pay the Court’s bills. The Marshal's Office is responsible for providing security for the Justices, Court staff, visitors, the building and surrounding grounds, maintaining order during Court proceedings, and receiving and distributing packages using assigned Court vehicles. Interns may be assigned to provide support to other Court offices as necessary.

Police Department

Interns provide assistance with the Police Department of the Supreme Court of the United States in Washington, DC. Preference will be given to applicants prepared to work eight-hour days, five days per week. Interns selected for the fall and spring terms should plan to work for 16 weeks.

Department of Justice (DOJ) Pathways Programs

The Department of Justice (DOJ) Pathways Programs provide clear paths to Federal employment for students and recent graduates. The Pathways Programs consist of two major subprograms: the Internship Program and the Recent Graduates Program (RGP).

Internship Program

The Internship Program is designed to provide students enrolled in a wide variety of educational institutions, from high school to graduate level, with opportunities to work in agencies and explore Federal careers while still in school and while getting paid for the work performed. Students who successfully complete the program may be eligible for conversion to a permanent job in the civil service. This Program replaces the Student Career Experience Program (SCEP) and Student Temporary Employment Program (STEP).

Recent Graduates Program

The Recent Graduates Program affords developmental experiences in the Federal Government intended to promote possible careers in the civil service to individuals who have recently graduated from qualifying educational institutions or programs. To be eligible, applicants must apply within two years of degree or certificate completion (except for veterans precluded from doing so due to their military service obligation, who will have up to six years after degree completion to apply).

Read also: Cultivating Future Leaders

Opportunities for Law Students within the DOJ

The Department of Justice offers several programs specifically for law students:

The Attorney General's Honors Program

The Attorney General's Honors Program (Honors Program) is the Department's recruitment program for entry-level attorneys and is the only way the Department hires graduating law students. The Honors Program is highly competitive; the Department reviews many elements of a candidate's background before selecting him or her for employment, including: academic achievement, law review experience, moot court competition, legal aid and clinical experience, and summer or part-time employment. The Department also considers specialized academic studies (including undergraduate and post-graduate degrees), work experience, and extracurricular activities that directly relate to the work of the Department. Attorneys offices do not hire entry level attorneys.

The Summer Law Intern Program (SLIP)

The Summer Law Intern Program (SLIP) is the Department's competitive recruitment program for compensated summer internships. Selection for employment is based on many elements of a candidate's background including academic achievement, law review or moot court experience, legal aid and clinical experience, and summer or part-time legal employment. The Department also considers specialized academic studies (including undergraduate and post-graduate degrees), work experience, and extracurricular activities that directly relate to the work of the Department.

Volunteer Legal Intern Recruitment

Through Volunteer Legal Intern Recruitment, the Department selects approximately 1800 volunteer interns each year. These positions are without compensation but are highly sought after because of the responsibility and experience they offer. Attorneys' Offices, the 52 Immigration Courts, and other Department field offices nationwide. The remaining internships are with Department offices located in Washington, D.C. Some volunteer internships qualify either for course credit or as part of a law school's work-study program. Interested students can contact their law schools for specific requirements.

Department of Defense's Office of Diversity Management & Equal Opportunity (ODMEO)

The Department of Defense's Office of Diversity Management & Equal Opportunity (ODMEO) offers the Workforce Recruitment Program, which aims to provide summer work experience, as well as full-time employment, for college students and recent graduates with disabilities. The program develops partnerships with other federal agencies and sub-agencies to ensure its success. Each year, federal recruiters interview over three thousand candidates with disabilities at college and university campuses across the nation, and develop a database listing the qualifications of each candidate. Candidates interested in the program must work through their colleges. Due to limited staff resources, the WRP cannot respond to direct student inquiries.

Student Volunteer Program

Federal agencies and departments offer unpaid training opportunities to students in high school and college. These opportunities provide work experience related to your academic program. The program allows you to explore career options as well as develop your personal and professional skills. As a student volunteer, you will be exposed to the Federal work environment and will learn about the missions and responsibilities of various Federal agencies and departments.

Judicial Intern Opportunity Program (JIOP)

Housed within the Litigation Section of the American Bar Association, the Judicial Intern Opportunity Program (JIOP) works to fill a gap by giving law students opportunities to excel and become part of the solution by including and assisting underrepresented law students and providing them with essential tools. This increased knowledge and skills help catapult them into successful legal careers where they can serve in government, law firms, as law clerks and the judiciary. JIOP exposes law students to a summer working with a judge and prepares students to succeed with increased writing skills, better decision-making, mentoring and programming. Former JIOP interns often credit their time with the program in assisting them finding their first position post law school and the JIOP community continues to support our more than 3,000 alums with programming and a community that supports their advancement and growth. JIOP participants achieve positive long-term outcomes, such as graduating from law school and obtaining a job of choice-all leading to greater diversity in the legal profession and judiciary, helping to close the gap.

What is the JIOP all about?

The American Bar Association offers the program to first- and second-year law students from backgrounds underrepresented in the legal profession. These include racial and ethnic minorities, students with disabilities, veterans, economically disadvantaged students, women, and those who identify as LGBTQ+. Here, selected interns conduct legal research for state and federal judges during the internship. The program runs for a minimum of six weeks and interns work full-time (35-40 hours), receiving a $2,000 award by the end of the program.

Eligibility for JIOP

To be eligible for JIOP, candidates must:

Be a U.S. citizen
Come from a racial or ethnic background underrepresented in law
Be a first or second-year law student

Additionally, JIOP asks candidates to submit the following along with their application form:

Resume
Grades
Statement of interest (< 1,000 words)
Legal writing sample

Application Process

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and the first 500 applicants are guaranteed screening interviews. Broadly, the application process can be broken down into three steps:

First-round interviews: A program volunteer conducts the first screening round to determine if the applicant should advance to the next round. The volunteer will evaluate the student’s writing, judgment, work ethic, grades, professionalism, and other abilities deemed important to the program.
Judicial interviews: Judges review the list of students sent by the program volunteer and decide whom they want to interview. Judges conduct these interviews in person, though special considerations can be made to hold them online.
Final selection: By April, judges communicate which candidates have been selected and assign courts to them.

What does the internship include?

As an intern, you will conduct legal research for a state or federal judge specializing in areas of law like intellectual property, antitrust, criminal law, appellate, civil law, bankruptcy, and child and family law. You can indicate your preferred field in your application, though JIOP does not guarantee placement. If you’d like to be considered for intellectual property, you must submit relevant educational proof and experience proving you are qualified. Cases that you may be assigned to involve securities issues, bankruptcy, patents and trademarks, copyright, civil rights, constitutional law, tax lawsuits, and more.

Benefits of Participating in JIOP

Several benefits accrue to students who participate in the Judicial Intern Opportunity Program:

Demonstrated Rigor: If selected, you can demonstrate that you’ve made it through a rigorous application process. Selection for JIOP involves an initial screening round and a second judicial interview round with judges who determine your capability to work in a courtroom and evaluate your skills. The program’s organizers say the judicial interview is similar to a job interview and you can expect to be grilled about your qualifications and career goals.
Accessibility and Inclusivity: The program is aimed at students from ethnic and racial minorities, veterans, people with disabilities, economically disadvantaged candidates, women, and students identifying as LGBTQ+. The program offers a solid opportunity for you if you happen to belong to one (or more) of these communities!
Financial Assistance: You get paid a stipend. Upon successful completion of the internship, you receive a $2,000 award, which can help compensate you for housing, food, transport, and other expenses incurred during the course of the internship.
Practical Experience: As a law student, you can use the internship to witness how legal theory learned in the classroom is applied in a courtroom setting. Through legal research, you better understand how to use digital and physical resources to find laws and precedents relevant to the case, improve legal writing skills while drafting memos, motions, and briefs, and gain critical thinking skills when analyzing and applying legal principles.
Mentorship and Observation: For six weeks, you conduct legal research for cases they are assigned. During this time, you will receive mentorship, observe courtroom proceedings like trials, hearings, witness questioning, etc., gain a deeper understanding of judicial rulings, and more.
CV Enhancement: The internship will add value to your CV. Conducting legal research for a sitting judge and being mentored by them not only helps you develop the necessary skills to succeed in law, gain valuable professional experience, and help connect theory and practice but also improves your employability. Potential employers will notice that you have strong writing, critical thinking, problem-solving, and other skills, know that you can conduct yourself professionally in a courtroom, and have experience communicating with judges, clients, opposing counsel, and other stakeholders.
Valuable Recommendation: If you complete the internship and impress your assigned judge with your work ethic, attention to detail, and other qualities, they can write you a recommendation letter that would serve you well when applying for jobs, higher studies, and scholarship opportunities.
Networking Opportunities: Make the most of the limited time you have in the courthouse by interacting with attorneys, clerks, paralegals, court staff, and even other interns. The relationships you build with them can benefit you later in life when you are looking for job opportunities or professional development.

Key Dates for JIOP

Applications are typically open from November till mid-January. Successful candidates will be notified by April.

Is the program prestigious?

The internship is moderately selective, with an acceptance rate between 15-20%. In 2023, 774 students applied, and 159 were accepted. The selective application criteria likely prevent more interested students from applying. The program’s prestige comes from the fact that students have the unique opportunity to work with state and federal judges in courts across the country, giving them a firsthand view of how litigation works.

Additional Opportunities

Lumiere Research Scholar Program

If you’d like to participate in a rigorous research program in law open to high schoolers, you may want to consider the Lumiere Research Scholar Program, a selective online high school program for students founded by researchers at Harvard and Oxford. Last year, we had over 4000 students apply for 500 spots in the program! You can find the application form here. Also check out the Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation, a non-profit research program for talented, low-income students.

Program Policies and Rules

It is imperative to understand and agree to abide by the policies and rules of any internship program, as well as the instructions of the organizers, employees, staff, and volunteers at all times. Failure to do so may result in immediate dismissal from the program.

Assumption of Risk

Participation in any internship program involves inherent risks, including the risk of serious personal injury, illness, permanent disability, dismemberment, and death, as well as the risk of severe economic and property loss and damage. These risks may result from the actions, negligence, and failure to act of oneself and others, including other participants, organizers, employees, staff, and volunteers, and the condition of any real or personal property, facilities, or equipment used during the program. It is essential to understand and voluntarily assume all risks associated with participation in the program.

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