Judicial Intern Opportunity Program: Overview

The American Bar Association Section of Litigation will begin accepting applications for its Summer 2008 Judicial Intern Opportunity Program October 1st for second-year law students. Applications for first-year law students will be accepted December 1st, in accordance with NALP guidelines. The program is a full-time, six-week minimum, summer internship program open to all first-or second-year minority and/or financially disadvantaged law students.

The program offers the following intern sites:

• Chicago and surrounding suburbs
• Central and Southern Illinois
• Houston, Dallas, Southern and Eastern Texas
• Miami, FL
• Phoenix, AZ
• Los Angeles, CA
• San Francisco, CA
• Washington, DC

Interns will receive an award of $1,500.

In certain locations, the Section of Litigation runs the Judicial Intern Opportunity Program in partnership with the ABA Section of Intellectual Property Law and the Section of Antitrust Law. Therefore, in addition to the litigation internships, internships for students with an Intellectual Property Law focus will also be offered in Chicago, Los Angeles, Texas and Washington, DC. Students can indicate their interest on their application. These “specialized” spots are limited and any student applying to the program with a request for specialization will also be considered for general litigation internships.

Students applying to the program must submit a completed application, resume, legal writing sample and a statement of interest. Detailed program information, frequently asked questions and a copy of the application are available at our website, www.abanet.org/litigation/jiop. Students may rank location preferences on their application, however no location will be guaranteed. Students may not request particular judges or courts.

All applications must be postmarked by January 18, 2008. Screening interviews to better determine student qualifications will be done on a rolling basis. We will make every attempt to screen students where they attend school and in person. Only qualified students will be sent on for judicial interviews. Students will be notified when they are sent on for a judicial interview.

Judicial interviews will continue until all positions are filled. All applicants will be notified when the program or certain locations have closed for the year and all positions are filled. The program is only open to students who have not previously participated as an intern in the program.

The ABA Section of Antitrust Law created the program in 2000. The ABA Section of Litigation now administers it. The program seeks to provide internship opportunities for minority or financially disadvantaged law students; those who are members of traditionally underrepresented groups in the legal profession. Students should outline their qualifications for this program in their statement of interest.

Participating Judges

Participating judges will determine their process for interviews and selection. Students will be forwarded to judges based on qualifications and the result of their screening interviews. Not all students will be granted a judicial interview. Judges selected for the program are selected for their mentoring skills. Students may not select particular judges or courts. Survey results from students in previous years indicate that it is the judge, not the type of court that provides quality experiences for students.

Participating judges are from:

• Illinois: United States District Court for the Northern and Central Districts of Illinois, U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Illinois, and all Illinois Circuit Courts.
• Texas: United States District Court for the Eastern, Western and Southern Districts of Texas, and Texas Civil District Courts.
• Florida: Eleventh Judicial Circuit Court for Miami-Dade County and the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida in Miami.
• Arizona: Arizona Court of Appeals, the Arizona Supreme Court, the Maricopa Superior Court and the United States District Court for the District of Arizona in Phoenix.
• California: Los Angeles Superior Court of California, the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Central District of California, San Francisco Superior Court of California, and the United States District Court for the Northern and Central Districts of California.
• Washington, DC: District of Columbia Court of Appeals, Superior Court for the District of Columbia, U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, and U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia.

Geographic Locations

Students indicate geographic location preferences on their applications. Applicants should only rank geographic locations where they are able to accept a position.

Award

Interns will receive an award of $1,500 for the entire summer. Award checks are mailed by the end of June. Students may also elect to receive law school credit. The choice of monetary award or law school credit must be indicated at the time of application. Only students with a valid social security number (US residents) may apply to the program. The program does not provide housing.

Time Commitment

The time commitment will vary by student, subject to a six-week minimum. Individual judges will determine a student’s expected schedule. Students will be expected to coordinate their schedules with their individual judge and to work the hours required by each judge. Students will be expected to attend one of the program orientation programs. They will also be invited to participate in other programming throughout the summer. Attendance at these programs is not mandatory, but is strongly encouraged.

Application Requirements/Procedure

Applications for this year’s program will be accepted for second-year law students beginning October 1, 2007. Applications for first-year law students will be accepted beginning December 1st, according to NALP guidelines.

Students will be given a screening interview on a rolling admission basis. Screening interviews will begin in November and will continue through the application process. We will make every attempt to interview students where they attend school and in person.

Students will be sent on for judicial review and possible interviews based on qualifications. Not all students will be granted judicial interviews. Individual judges will determine their interview procedures. We will continue to send students for judicial interviews based on qualifications until all positions are filled.

All applicants will be notified when the program or certain locations have closed for the year and all positions are filled. Students are strongly encouraged to apply early as the program has become more competitive and available positions fill quickly. No applications will be accepted after the January 18, 2008 (postmark) deadline.

Applicants are required to submit four copies of each of the following:

• A completed application (located on the program website)
• resume
• A legal writing sample no more than 10 pages in length; and
• A statement of interest

The statement of interest should be no more than two pages in length and should outline the student’s qualifications for the internship. Students should use that statement as an opportunity to express why they believe they are qualified for this program and what sets them apart from the rest of the applicants.

If you are submitting your application materials electronically, please follow the instructions on the JIOP website.

In addition, there are also specialized internships being offered this year in the area of Intellectual Property Law in Chicago, Los Angeles, Texas and Washington, DC. Students interested in also being considered for one of these positions should include a one-page summary of qualifications and background in intellectual property.

For additional information, contact the program director, Gail Howard at 312-988-6348.

Application Process

First Round Interviews

• First round interviews will be conducted either in person in the geographic area where you attend law school, or by telephone.
• The interviewer (or his or her assistant) will contact you to set up an interview time and place. You do not need to do anything. You will be notified by telephone or email.
• The interview will last no longer than 30 minutes and is intended to give you the opportunity to discuss your skills, experience and interest in being an intern. You can best prepare by reviewing your resume and summarizing previous work experience and law school activities.
• If you decide to withdraw from the program at any time during the interviewing process, please notify the program staff as soon as possible.

Judges’ Interviews

• Candidates will be sent to judges based on qualifications for review. The most qualified applicants will be sent out for review first. Due to the large number of applications received, we will not notify you if you have been selected for judicial review.
• Individual judges will determine which students they will interview and ultimately hire. If you have been selected for a judicial interview you will be notified either by the chamber or the program staff. Due to the large number of applications received, we ask that you not contact us about whether you have been selected. We will notify you as soon as possible.
• Most judicial interviews will be conducted in person in the judges’ chambers in the city selected for the internship. They usually last a minimum of 30 minutes. If personal interviews are not possible, they may be conducted by telephone. Please remember that there is no reimbursement for any travel expenses.
• Be prepared to talk about your law school activities, legal background and your interest in working as an intern. Most judges will also ask to see a copy of your current grades if available.
• Judicial interviews will continue until all judges have filled their positions.
• Some judges may offer positions during the interview. If a student is offered a position, they must either accept or decline within 24 hours.
• If a student declines a position, they will be removed from the program.
• Please do not accept judicial interviews unless you are certain that you will be able to meet the judge’s expectations and intern in that location for the summer.

Final Selection of Interns

• Judges are expected to conclude their selection process by May.
• At that time all applicants will be notified as to whether or not they have been accepted into the program. If you are accepted into the program, it is assumed that you are committed to participate and fulfill the requirements outlined by the hiring judge.

Program Orientations

Welcome receptions and program orientations will be held in Chicago, Houston, Dallas, Miami, Phoenix, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Washington, DC in June. Students are expected to attend the program orientation if possible. In addition, supplemental programming will be made available to students. Students are strongly encouraged to attend these programs.

Follow Up Procedures

Upon completion of the internship, students will be asked to complete a program evaluation form. Interested students may join a JIOP alumni group to work on future program development.

Contact Information

Questions about the program can be directed to the Program Director, Gail Howard at 312-988-6348.