Georgetown University Investigative Internship Program
Recognizing the need for high quality representation for indigent criminal defendants, the Criminal Justice Clinic was founded in 1960. Our goal is to ensure that persons charged with criminal offenses have access to top-notch legal services, so we provide them with energetic, innovative and dedicated attorneys. As part of the Criminal Defense & Prisoner Advocacy Clinic, Criminal Justice Clinic, and the Juvenile Justice Clinic, the Investigative Internship Program was founded in 1985 and continues to be an integral part of our success. Our investigators work closely with Clinic attorneys in all aspects of pre-trial preparation and, in exchange, we offer a hands-on educational and working environment.
For anyone contemplating a career in law or criminal justice, this internship is an excellent opportunity for hands-on learning and experience in the field. Interns have an opportunity to learn about the law by being involved in all aspects of its practice. Also, interns are surrounded by law students and professors who are willing to speak candidly about life as a law student and lawyer. All Clinic members are committed to ensuring that investigative interns receive an educational and rewarding experience. As a result, interns leave with a fuller understanding of the legal system and specifically of the criminal justice process. They also are able to make informed decisions about whether or not this work is appropriate for them, and have a source for recommendations and job advice when they leave.
So why should you apply? The best interns usually want to learn about the law by actually working in it. By the end of this internship, every intern should have an opinion about our adversarial system of justice that is well-grounded in fact and experience. This position is also a chance to perform some needed public service. The indigent clients who come through the Clinic have no funds to pay for investigators, yet cases are often won or lost on the basis of investigation. If you believe that the quality of legal representation should not be determined by the income of the accused, you have a place in this Clinic.
Our interns play a vital role in the defense team and are treated as professionals with real substantive responsibility. At the Clinic, interns are exposed to a wide range of criminal cases and make a significant contribution to improving the way that justice is administered. This is also a small program, so the investigations supervisor, attorneys and professors are able to devote individualized attention to investigative interns. As a teaching clinic, importance is placed upon developing an understanding of clients’ experiences, the relationship between the defense role and the justice system, and the ways that current trends in law affect the criminal justice system.
For more information and to apply, visit the Investigative Internship Program. All applications for the Spring 2023 semester is November 11, 2022.
