L Summer Internship- Summer

Position: 1L Summer Internship- Summer 2026
Position: 1L

Company Description

The Philadelphia District Attorney's Office is the largest prosecutor's office in Pennsylvania, and one of the largest in the nation. It serves more than 1.5 million citizens of the City and County of Philadelphia, employing 700 lawyers, detectives, and support staff. Our Assistant District Attorneys are dedicated to public service, public safety, and justice for all involved in the criminal justice system.

The Philadelphia District Attorney's Office, in particular, is committed to several citywide collaborations aimed at reducing Philadelphia's jail population and improving the criminal justice system overall.

Please note that effective September 1, 2021, the City of Philadelphia requires all new employees to present proof of vaccination against COVID-19.

Summary of 1L Summer Internship Program

Our First-Year Law Student Internship is a ten-week program designed to give first-year law students maximum exposure to the practical aspects of the prosecutor's role in the criminal justice system in Philadelphia. During the summer, interns will rotate with one of our specialized trial units or law division units. The assignments are based on the needs of the office, and one's demonstrated interest ability, and work ethic.

Some of our specialized trial units include Juvenile, Family Violence and Sexual Assault, and Homicide/Non-Fatal Shootings. Our Law Division is comprised of Appeals, Civil Litigation, Federal Litigation, and the Post-Conviction Relief Act (PCRA) units.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Trial Division:

• Assistant District Attorneys in the Trial Division handle misdemeanor trials and felony preliminary hearings within the Family Court. Our 1L interns assigned to a trial unit would be assisting and shadowing supervisors and ADAs in the preparation of their cases, and potentially serve as second-seat to trials, depending on the case, assignment and needs of the unit.

• Law Division:

• Assignments primarily involve research on caselaw and statutes, as well as drafting and writing briefs or memos:
  • Draft and compile edits on appellate briefs
  • Address sufficiency and weight of the evidence claims and discretionary sentencing issues
  • Conduct state law research on state criminal law as well as occasionally on federal law
  • Complete Brady-Giglio checks of past cases for the PCRA and Appeals Unit

Skills & Qualifications

• All qualified applicants must be a current 1L student at an accredited law school.

• Demonstrated commitment to public service and a strong academic record.
• Ideal candidates will also possess a capacity for fairness and empathy, a strong work ethic, and an understanding of the uniquely sensitive and confidential nature of the professional services provided by the Office.

The Philadelphia District Attorney's Office is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, marital status, source of income, familial status, genetic information or domestic or sexual violence victim status.