Criminal Law Internship Program

The Criminal Law Internship Program at the Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia (PDS) is one of the preeminent legal internship opportunities in the United States. It has been described by The Washington Post as one of the finest pre-law experiences available, and The Princeton Review has consistently ranked the program as one of the most hands-on internship programs in the nation, stating that the program is "a criminal law internship at its in-your-face best." If you are looking for a one-of-a-kind learning experience that can both prepare you for graduate level work and provide you with the experience necessary for employment in any field, apply to become an Intern Investigator in the Criminal Law Internship Program.

Investigate the details of the Criminal Law Internship Program

Fellowship and Stipend Opportunities

While participating in the Criminal Law Internship Program is a priceless experience, we understand that living and working in the Nation’s capital can be financially burdensome. Therefore, a limited number of paid internship opportunities may be available through our Stipend and Fellowship programs. It is important to note that the Stipends and Fellowships are awarded to those who have already been selected to participate as a volunteer.

Discover more about our Stipends and Fellowships

Recruitment

Representatives from PDS, most of whom are former Intern Investigators, attend several career fairs, diversity fairs, and other large recruitment events across major cities in the United States to recruit the best potential participants for our Criminal Law Internship Program. The program attracts students from across the country and around the world.

Learn more about our Recruitment Practices

We may be in your area soon. Check out our Recruitment Calendar

Hiring

Applications for the Criminal Law Internship Program are accepted on a rolling-basis, however priority deadlines have been set up to encourage serious applicants to submit their materials as early as possible. To apply, complete the program application and send it, along with your essay response, cover letter, and resume, to the address listed on the last page of the application. Once the entire application packet is received and reviewed, you may be contacted to schedule an interview. Interviews are conducted over the phone or in person, depending on where you are located. Decisions are generally made within two weeks of the interview. Please note that the hiring process is extremely competitive, particularly for the summer session; when we hire an average of 8%-10% of the applicants.

Obtain detailed Hiring Information or download the Program Application

Training

The first week of the Criminal Law Internship Program is dedicated to an intensive training session that covers a wide variety of topics related to investigation procedures and the law. The training is conducted by the Supervisory Investigator in charge of Internships, but guest lecturers include current PDS executives, staff attorneys, and staff investigators.

Get detailed Training information

Resources