The San Diego County Office of the Public Defender gives law students and other students an unparalleled learning experience through a variety of internships. Legal interns assist skilled attorneys in all aspects of case preparation and courtroom advocacy. They will find a supportive environment with a true mentor system. We pair novices with knowledgeable practitioners to give legal interns real world experience while ensuring our clients receive the best representation possible.
Legal Interns should possess a passion for representing those whose civil liberties are at risk, an impeccable work ethic, and strong research and writing skills. Our office affirmatively seeks interns and attorneys of varied cultural and ethnic backgrounds, as well as those with bilingual skills.
Click HERE for information on the Public Defender Internship/Post-Bar Clerkship Application Cover Sheet.
If you are not a law student and you are interested in volunteering with our Investigations Unit, click HERE
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What Practice Areas have Internships & Post-Bar Clerkships available?
Interested students may volunteer with the:
- Adult Criminal Divisions (consisting of the Primary Public Defender, the Alternate Public Defender, Multiple Conflicts Office, and Office of Assigned Counsel)
- Juvenile Delinquency Divisions (staffed by the Primary Public Defender and Alternate Public Defender)
Each of these divisions is described in more detail below.
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Adult Criminal Divisions
The San Diego County Office of the Public Defender Adult Criminal Divisions provide quality legal representation to adults accused of felony and misdemeanor offenses. They annually serve over 120,000 indigent clients throughout the county with a staff of approximately 260 lawyers. As San Diego's largest criminal defense firm, we offer broad based trial and appellate experience.
The Adult Criminal Division programs provide exposure to all types of criminal cases as well as 'real-life' experience on how to defend people facing criminal charges. Volunteers experience hands-on work with both attorneys and investigators, interact with scores of clients, assist with case organization and research, prepare motions and other written documents for the benefit of actual clients, and attend a variety of court hearings. Students who are PTLS certified by the State Bar may be able to appear in court and represent clients under the supervision of an attorney. In short, certified interns get practical litigation experience, involvement with judges and the local bar, and an experience that will set them far above their peers in a very short time.
The Adult Criminal Divisions are:
- The Primary Public Defender (PPD): PPD is the primary agency appointed to represent adults charged with misdemeanor and felony cases.
- The Alternate Public Defender (APD): APD represents clients accused of felonies with whom the Primary Public Defender has a conflict of interest.
- Multiple Conflicts Office-Major Cases (MCO): MCO accepts court appointment on cases the PPD and APD cannot accept due to a conflict of interest. MCO is a small office with five attorneys and three investigators who specialize in only the most complicated and serious homicide and special circumstances cases. Its only office is located in downtown San Diego.
- Office of Assigned Counsel (OAC): If the court finds that the PPD and APD have a conflict of interest, then OAC will provide the indigent defendant with a qualified private practitioner who has been pre-screened and placed on a panel managed by the OAC. Legal interns will assist the Pro Per Coordinator in the active management of the Pro Per caseload.
Students applying for the Adult Criminal Divisions internships may be placed with any of these four agencies.
Adult Criminal Divisions Internship Requirements:
• 2L and 3L students are preferred, but there are a limited number of positions for 1Ls in the Summer Intern Program.
• Students PTLS certified by the California State Bar are preferred, but not required for some placements. Post-Bars must be PTLS certified.
• Interns must commit a minimum of 16 hours per week during school semesters and a minimum of 32 hours per week during the summer. Given court schedules, students should have blocks of time (i.e. 8 am-12 pm or 1 pm– 5 pm) to volunteer. Post-Bar Clerks must commit to a 40 hour week.
Adult Criminal Divisions Office Locations:
Central Offices are located in downtown San Diego with branch offices in Chula Vista, El Cajon, and Vista.
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Juvenile Delinquency Divisions
These offices are responsible for defending juveniles accused of committing crimes in the County of San Diego. Juvenile Court is located in the Kearny Mesa area of San Diego. The offices are located approximately 2 miles from the courthouse, so interns must have their own transportation.
Legal interns are assigned to actual cases and are supervised by the attorney working on those cases. Appearing in court, writing and arguing motions, and examining witnesses are some of the tasks that interns will be assigned. The program stresses working directly with clients and their families, as well as close contact with the attorney of record and their assigned investigator. Interns begin each day with a variety of court appearances in the morning. They will then return to the office to complete assignments, meet with clients, and prepare for future court hearings. Afternoon court appearances may also need to be made.
The Juvenile Delinquency Divisions are:
- The Primary Public Defender (PPD): PPD is the primary agency appointed to represent juveniles charged with misdemeanor and felony petitions.
- The Alternate Public Defender (APD): APD represents juveniles accused of felonies and misdemeanors with whom the Primary Public Defender has a conflict of interest.
Juvenile Delinquency Divisions Internship Requirements:
• 2L and 3L students only
• Volunteers must be PTLS certified by the State Bar
• Interns must commit to a minimum of 20 hours per week and be available starting at 8:00 am on those days.
• Applicants should demonstrate an interest in juvenile delinquency law, or criminal law with a desire for working with children.
• Applicants must have their own transportation between the court and the office.
Juvenile Delinquency Divisions Office Location:
Kearny Mesa area of San Diego. This is the only location for the Juvenile Delinquency Divisions.
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What is the difference between an Internship and a Post-Bar Clerkship?
Internships are for students currently enrolled in law school. They can be part time or full time experiences depending on the students’ availability and the law schools’ clinic or externship opportunities. As an intern, you will be on the first line of defense in court on behalf of those whose civil liberties are at risk. By the end of the internship, you will have interacted with scores of clients, participated in a variety of court hearings, and researched and written legal arguments for the benefit of actual clients.
For graduating law school students, who are taking the California Bar Exam, we offer an intense, full time post-bar clerkship. “Post-Bars” assist attorneys in every aspect of case preparation and advocate on behalf of clients at all stages of the court proceedings. Post-Bars also participate in our “Trial Skills Academy”, a comprehensive courtroom advocacy program taught by experienced trial attorneys. The training staff is comprised of veteran trial attorneys, many of whom are instructors at the National Institute for Trial Advocacy and the local law schools. These professionals take pride in producing trial artists in the courtroom and in developing attorneys' natural abilities. Post-Bar positions are only available in Adult Criminal defense at our Downtown location.
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When do the Internships/Post Bar Clerkships begin and how long do they last?
Fall and Spring Intern Programs: These are three to five month programs. The spring program runs from January through May and the fall program runs from September through the beginning of December.
Summer Intern Program: This is a three month program beginning in late May/early June and running through August.
Fall and Spring Post-Bar Programs: These programs last about two to three months. The spring program starts in March, the fall program in August, and they run until the Friday when Bar results are posted.
The following is a TENTATIVE schedule of dates for each future program:
Spring Post-Bar Program dates: March 6, 2012 to May 18, 2012
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Summer Program dates: May 30, 2012 to August 17, 2012
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Fall Post-Bar Program dates: August 14, 2012 to November 16, 2012
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Fall Intern Program dates: September 5, 2012 to November 30, 2012
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Spring Intern Program dates: January 3, 2013 to May 24, 2013
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How to Apply for an Internship/Post Bar Clerkship
Please review the above internship requirements, including the time commitments, to confirm you are eligible for the program for which you are applying. The application process consists of submission of the required written materials and an interview.
To apply for an internship/clerkship with any of the above agencies applicants must submit:
1) the San Diego County Department of the Public Defender Internship/Post Bar Clerkship Application Cover Sheet
2) a cover letter identifying in which practice areas and which locations you are interested, and why.
3) a current resume
4) a current transcript. (an unofficial transcript is acceptable)
5) if you are applying for a Post Bar Clerkship, please also include 3-5 references
San Diego local law school applicants will be interviewed mainly at On-Campus Interviews (OCIs). If necessary, because of the number of qualified applicants, we may conduct additional interviews at our offices downtown.
Most applicants who come from outside San Diego will be interviewed by phone. We will contact those selected for an interview and set up an interview time. We do conduct in-person interviews at selected events outside San Diego. If you are able to participate in these events, it will allow you to meet attorneys from our office. We also set up resume drops at numerous other events that we are unable to attend in person. The upcoming events at which we plan to participate are listed HERE.
Students selected for an internship or clerkship must pass a background screening (which includes fingerprinting) prior to participating in any of our programs. Interns who return for a subsequent internship or clerkship within 6 months do not need to complete a new background screening.
Submit Applications by:
E-mail (as attachments) to: Michael.Owens@sdcounty.ca.gov
Fax to: 619-338-4811, Attn: Michael Owens
Or Mail to:
San Diego Office of the Public Defender
Attn: Michael Owens -- Recruitment Coordinator
450 B Street, Suite 900
San Diego, CA 92101
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When to Apply for an Internship/Post Bar Clerkship
Students from local San Diego law schools must comply with application deadlines for their schools’ on campus interviews.
For all other law schools: If applying through one of the Interview Programs or Career Fairs that we are participating in, follow the deadlines for that program.
For all other applicants; the application deadlines are:
- Summer 2012 Internship: March 2, 2012
- Fall 2012 Post-Bar: March 16, 2012
- Fall 2012 Internship: July 6, 2012
- Spring 2013 Internship: October 12, 2012
- Spring 2013 Post-Bar: November 16, 2012
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How to complete the Internship/Post-Bar Clerkship Application Cover Sheet
Our office currently consists of multiple agencies in offices located throughout the county. In order to place as many interns as possible, we ask applicants to complete the Application Cover Sheet.
Fill out the top section in full. Check whether you are applying for an Internship or a Post Bar Clerkship and identify the season during which you wish to volunteer.
In the "Practice Preference" section, rank the two practice areas that we offer in the order you prefer (See Practice Areas above for more information). If there is a practice area in which you would prefer not to work, do not rank it. Leave it blank. Post-Bar positions are only in Adult Criminal Defense. There are no Post-Bar positions in Delinquency.
Likewise, rank your top three work location preferences in the “Work Location Preference” section (1,2,3) Leave the other locations blank. (See office location information in the Practice Areas section above). You can also see the addresses and maps to the offices in the "Locations" tab on the Main Menu. All Delinquency internships are in Kearny Mesa. If you want a Delinquency position, Kearny Mesa should be your #1 work location.
**Be advised: Post-Bar positions are ONLY at the Downtown San Diego location. Otherwise, the more practice areas and work locations for which you are willing to volunteer, the greater your chance of being interviewed and possibly selected for the program.
Print out your completed Application Cover Sheet and submit it with your other materials. See how to apply above.
If you only have the Adobe Reader, you may not be able to save your completed Application Cover Sheet. You will need to print out the completed form for your records.
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What does being “PTLS certified” mean?
The California State Bar permits law students to speak on behalf of clients in court as long as they qualify for “Practical Training of Legal Students” (PTLS) certification. This is accomplished by applying to the California Bar. A student must have completed one full year of law school (270 hours) at an American Bar Association (ABA) or State Bar of California accredited law school or passed the First Year Law Student’s Exam (FYLSE). The student must also be enrolled in or have completed Evidence and Civil Procedure courses. If you are accepted into the program, our office will assist you in submitting the paperwork for PTLS certification to the California Bar
More information on the requirements and certification process can be found at www.calbar.ca.gov.
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Can I get paid for my Internship/Post-Bar Clerkship?
These are not paid positions, at the current time; however, the experience volunteers receive is priceless. If you are eligible for any pro bono grants, or your school gives credits for volunteer work, we will assist you with getting all of your paperwork completed so you are compensated. We encourage you to consult your school’s Career Services or counselors to locate, and take advantage of, the many grants and programs available.
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Other Volunteer Opportunities
Winter Intern Program
Duration: This is a small, three week program unique to the Primary Public Defender Central Office and the Primary Public Defender Juvenile Delinquency office that begins in mid December and runs through early January, depending on the applicant's schedule.
Goal: This program is designed to give 2L and 3L law students an initial exposure to the work environment in the Public Defender’s office, including possible court appearances and conducting legal research.
Certification: It is not required that winter interns be certified by the California State Bar. If desired, students may be certified by the Bar if they have completed their Civil Procedure and Evidence classes. More information can be found at the State Bar of California site at http://calbar.ca.gov.
Availability: All winter interns must work a minimum of three days each week. Many winter interns choose to work up to 40 hours a week. The one day orientation for this program is held on the first day of the program starting at 9:00 a.m. and must be attended by all winter interns.
Assignments: In addition to assisting in the arraignment courts, interns will be assigned to work directly with misdemeanor attorneys in our office. The more time the intern has to invest, the greater the experience he or she will receive. Interns may shadow the attorneys, research and write motions, assist in client interviews, prepare investigation requests, participate in case preparation, and participate in court appearances.
Tentative Dates:
Winter Intern Program dates: BetweenDecember 3, 2012 to December 28, 2012
Winter Internship Application Deadline: September 14, 2012
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Investigative Internships
Undergraduate and graduate students may participate in our Investigations Internship Program. Our teams of professional defense investigators are critical to the protection of civil liberties for those accused of crimes. Interns may assist defense investigators in visiting crime scenes, interviewing witnesses, observing court hearings, taking crime scene photographs, and serving subpoenas.
Investigative interns volunteer in both our Adult Criminal Divisions and our Juvenile Delinquency Divisions. Information on our various divisions can be found above. The Adult Criminal Divisions have offices in Central San Diego, Vista, Chula Vista, and El Cajon. The only location for the Juvenile Delinquency Division is in Kearny Mesa. Addresses can be found on our “Locations” page. Indicate the locations you can work at in your cover letter.
All Investigative Interns are volunteers who receive invaluable on-the-job training and experience. Some students may receive academic credit for the internship program from their school.
Internship Requirements:
Applicants with a degree (or currently majoring) in Criminal Justice, Political Science, Sociology, or Pre-Law are preferred, but no specific experience is required other than a desire to aid those accused of criminal offenses.
Interns must volunteer a minimum of 12 hours per week for 6 (six) months.
Interns must pass a San Diego County security background check.
Interns must have a valid driver’s license and proof of insurance.
Application Process:
Applications are accepted at any time, but active recruitment happens twice a year. Interviews for the Summer/Fall season occur in mid-May. The Winter/Spring season interviews take place in mid-November. Applications that miss the interview season are added to a wait list. The numbers of positions available vary.
Submit a cover letter, resume, and current unofficial transcript to the Investigations Internship Program Coordinator, Dina Barron-Ramirez, at: Dina.Barron@sdcounty.ca.gov Applications should be submitted by e-mail, when possible. Otherwise, mail it to her at 8525 Gibbs Dr. Suite 300, San Diego CA 92123
Please indicate if you speak another language on your resume and/or cover letter.
If you are available to work at locations other than Downtown, please mention that in your cover letter.
For more information or questions about the Investigative Internship Program, please contact Dina Barron-Ramirez at her e-mail address or leave a voice-mail at 858-974-5782.
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Non-Legal Interns and Job Shadows
At the present time, our office has a limited number of non-legal intern positions for college undergraduates and high school students. These are positions with our paralegal and clerical departments.
Unpaid paralegal internships are available to students in a paralegal program or with a paralegal degree. Positions are available infrequently. Submit a resume and cover letter to Michael Owens at the e-mail address below. Indicate in your cover letter the number of hours you are available each week and if you can volunteer Downtown or at one of our branch offices in Vista, El Cajon, Chula Vista, and Kearny Mesa.
High school students are used primarily as clerical interns. Applicants should submit a resume and cover letter to Michael Owens at the e-mail address below. Indicate in your cover letter the number of hours you are available each week and if you can volunteer Downtown or at one of our branch offices in Vista, El Cajon, Chula Vista, and Kearny Mesa.
Job Shadows are students that have an interest in criminal law who wish to spend a day with one of our attorneys to see "a day in the life" of a Deputy Public Defender. Job shadow opportunities are available periodically during the school year. Send an e-mail to Michael Owens at the address below indicating your interest. Please give an indication of your available dates giving us at least 3 weeks lead time.
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Need More Information?
If you wish further information regarding an internship or law clerk position you can e-mail our Recruitment & Volunteer Supervisor, Kate Braner, at: Katherine.Braner@sdcounty.ca.gov or Michael Owens, our Recruitment Coordinator at: Michael.Owens@sdcounty.ca.gov. We will reply as soon as we can. Thank you for your interest in our office.
