FRESNO OFFICE
2300 Tulare Street, Suite 330
Fresno, CA 93721
Toll Free: 855-656-4360
TEL: 559-487-5561
FAX: 559-487-5950

SACRAMENTO OFFICE
801 I Street, 3rd floor
Sacramento, CA 95814
Toll Free: 855-328-8339
TEL: 916-498-5700
FAX: 916-498-5710


OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS

Full-time and part-time Internships are available. Supervisors review resumes of interested applicants, conduct interviews and hire directly. Internships are available in the following units:

  • Misdemeanor
  • Felony
  • Noncapital Habeas/Appeals
  • Capital Habeas
  • Investigation
  • Paralegal
  • Social Work

For consideration, all applicants must meet the minimum qualification listed. Law Student brochure available for download.


Resumes for Legal Intern positions should be submitted by the following deadlines:


February 28th for summer positions
June 30th for fall semester positions
October 30th for spring semester positions


College Work Study Program

Students interested in this program must contact their college and/or university to determine if they qualify for a college work study position. The office has several work-study positions available, requiring a commitment of 12 to 15 hours per week. A full-time commitment is desired for summer interns.

Student Volunteer Service

Offers unpaid training opportunities to students in college and law school. These opportunities provide work experience related to the student's academic program. Students must be enrolled at least half-time in an accredited technical or vocational school, a 2-year or 4-year college or university, or a graduate or professional school to participate in this program. Positions available include Legal, Paralegal, or Investigator Intern. The volunteer positions usually last one semester but may be extended.

Intern Clinic Program

This program offers school credits. Students must check with their school's clinical advisor regarding the number of units earned. During the school year, a minimum of 15 hours per week is required. Positions available include Legal, Paralegal, or Investigator Intern.

Legal Intern

The Legal Intern positions allow students to gain experience in researching issues; writing memoranda of findings, briefs, and motions; and observing federal court proceedings. Employment in this program is restricted to students enrolled in or recent graduates of a 3 or 4 year law school curriculum leading to a degree, and to persons who have been admitted to the State Bar of California within the past 12 months. Prefer second semester, second year day or third year evening students but will accept some first year day or second year evening students in the summer. To qualify for the position of Legal Intern during the school year, a person must have completed their first year at an accredited law school.

  • Misdemeanor Unit

    Misdemeanor legal intern positions are available for second and third-year law students. The misdemeanor legal intern will provide direct representation, under the supervision of a staff attorney, to indigent clients. The intern will represent clients at arraignment, motion hearings, plea negotiations, trial, probation interviews, judgment, and sentencing. Students must be certified as a law student attorney to appear in federal magistrate court (See Certification Package) and must have either successfully completed or be currently enrolled in both evidence and civil procedure. Prior course work in criminal law and/or prior criminal law experience is desired, but not necessary. Because the misdemeanor legal intern provides ongoing representation to his or her clients, this position is ideally suited for a student seeking clinical hours who can commit to the position for more than one semester. Students work 20 hours per week during the school year and 40 hours per week during the summer months.

    Student Application for Certification

  • Felony Unit

    The felony legal intern performs legal research using all available resources, including computer-assisted legal research tools. Research includes state and federal statutes, case law, regulations, treaties, and sentencing guidelines. The felony legal intern will prepare legal memoranda, motions, and briefs for review by Assistant Federal Defenders and for use in federal court.

  • Capital Habeas Unit

    The legal intern performs legal research using all available resources, including computer-assisted legal research tools. Research includes state and federal statutes, case law, regulations, precedents, treaties, and sentencing guidelines and related subject matter. Analyzes legal decisions, opinions, rulings, memoranda and related legal materials and prepares digests and indexes of those materials. Compiles and summarizes substantive information on statutes, treaties and specific legal subjects. Prepares jurisdictional statements, review of issues, comprehensive statements of relevant facts, standards of review and briefs complex legal and factual arguments. Obtains and reviews documents, records and information relevant to case preparation. Prepares legal memoranda, motions, and briefs for review by Capital Habeas Attorneys who represent state death row inmates in federal habeas corpus proceedings.

  • Investigative / Paralegal Intern

    This program is restricted to students enrolled in a four year curriculum leading to a bachelor’s degree. To qualify for the position of Investigator or Paralegal Intern, a person must be a high school graduate or the equivalent and currently enrolled in a bachelor’s degree program from an accredited college or university in such fields as criminal justice, political science, law, or sociology. The Investigator and/or Paralegal Intern assists Investigators, Paralegals and Attorneys in preparing cases. Duties include preparing and serving subpoenas; gathering and reviewing records; locating and interviewing clients and witnesses; photographing and diagraming crime scenes; and preparing reports.

Social Work

Social work student interns become an integral part of the FDO Social Work Team as they advocate for and support our clients. Students gain skills in advocacy, case management, collaboration, and leadership through a very unique learning experience. Our office setting allows students to gain social work skills while learning the intricacies of the Federal judicial system. Students gain knowledge from members of our FDO office, as well as our Eastern District court family. Students assist clients from a variety of socioeconomic backgrounds, each with varying needs and challenges. The social worker and interns regularly meet with clients in various settings, such as the County Jail, the federal courthouse, home settings, public settings, and the FDO office. Students work closely with outside agencies to accomplish established goals for each client, while developing partnerships for future collaboration. Students attend court hearings and often assist with court case preparation, in order to help enable the best possible resolution of client cases. We also cooperate with the Federal Court, the Pretrial Services Office, and the Probation Office by working together to fill any gap in services that might create recidivism risk.


Social Work Student Intership Opportunity  Social Work Program Brochure


For more information, please contact crystal_sheffield@fd.org