Spring 2026 Investigative Intern | Public Defenders Service of DC
Closing Date: November 1, 2025
The Criminal Law Internship Program (CLIP) provides a fast paced, hands-on Internship for current undergraduate and graduate degree students. *Law School Students are ineligible.*
PDS Investigative Interns spend at least 12 weeks at one of the most prestigious Public Defender offices in the nation. Our Interns don’t just sit in the office all day copying files. Partnered together, Interns work directly with our Staff Defense Attorneys and Investigative Specialists to complete various investigative tasks and zealously advocate for their clients.
Typical investigative tasks include: locating and interviewing witnesses, interviewing clients, taking detailed witness statements, performing extensive criminal background checks, serving subpoenas, testifying, photographing, measuring and diagramming crime scenes, preparing courtroom exhibits, writing reports regarding investigative activities, assisting with case development and generally assisting the assigned attorney(s) in and out of the courtroom.
Investigative Interns will be given some clerical duties, but the majority of their work is performed out in the community. Investigative Intern training is provided upon employment and throughout the duration of the internship. The first week of every session is mandatory for Intern Training.
To view upcoming Session Dates, please visit our webpage and review the Informational Bulletin - https://www.pdsdc.org/careers/student-internships/criminal-law-internship-program.
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CLIP has 8 sessions each year:
2 Winter/Spring Sessions, 4 Summer Sessions, and 2 Fall Sessions. This posting will be active for the entire 2026 recruiting season and will be updated for each session. We are currently recruiting for Spring 2026.
- January 5, 2026- March 27, 2026
- February 2, 2026- April 24, 2026
