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The Role
Summer legal interns work with trial and appellate public defenders, shadow court hearings, depositions, and jail visits, conduct legal research, draft motions, receive writing feedback, attend workshops and CLE presentations, and participate in weekly check-ins. The ten-week, full-time program runs from late May through early August 2027 and is intended for students who will be rising 2Ls or 3Ls.
Summary Generated by Built In
INTERVIEWS FOR SUMMER 2027 WILL COMMENCE IN FALL 2026.
The Palm Beach County Public Defender's Office, 15th Judicial Circuit, is a client-centered, dynamic advocacy office providing representation to people whose lives and liberty are at stake.
The office handles close to 30,000 cases per year and has approximately 200 employees including lawyers, investigators, social workers, and support staff. The main office, housing the trial and appellate divisions, is in downtown West Palm Beach and there are four branch offices in other areas of the county.
Divisions include: County Court; Felony; Mental Health; Major Crimes; Youth Defense; Appeals; and Investigative & Social Services’ Units.
Recruiting Summer Legal Intern Volunteers: Those who are rising 2Ls and 3Ls during the summer of 2027.
Summer Dates: Ten weeks between late May and early August 2027, following a full-time schedule.
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Overview: Legal interns contribute to the effectiveness of our County and Appellate teams. Legal interns are typically rising 2Ls and 3Ls.
The intern program supervisors assign the legal interns to two attorney mentors—one from the trial division and one from the appellate division. Interns shadow the trial mentor at court hearings, depositions, and jail visits. Program supervisors and mentors assign the interns research projects and motions to write. The appellate mentor reviews all of the legal interns’ writing projects and makes suggestions before the interns submit the project.
Legal interns attend a writing workshop geared toward improving their motion writing skills and various monthly Continuing Legal Education (CLE) presentations. Each week they have a group check in with two senior Assistant Public Defenders to discuss some of their experiences from that week and to get new assignments. Students do not typically receive academic credit.
The Palm Beach County Public Defender's Office, 15th Judicial Circuit, is a client-centered, dynamic advocacy office providing representation to people whose lives and liberty are at stake.
The office handles close to 30,000 cases per year and has approximately 200 employees including lawyers, investigators, social workers, and support staff. The main office, housing the trial and appellate divisions, is in downtown West Palm Beach and there are four branch offices in other areas of the county.
Divisions include: County Court; Felony; Mental Health; Major Crimes; Youth Defense; Appeals; and Investigative & Social Services’ Units.
Recruiting Summer Legal Intern Volunteers: Those who are rising 2Ls and 3Ls during the summer of 2027.
Summer Dates: Ten weeks between late May and early August 2027, following a full-time schedule.
.
Overview: Legal interns contribute to the effectiveness of our County and Appellate teams. Legal interns are typically rising 2Ls and 3Ls.
The intern program supervisors assign the legal interns to two attorney mentors—one from the trial division and one from the appellate division. Interns shadow the trial mentor at court hearings, depositions, and jail visits. Program supervisors and mentors assign the interns research projects and motions to write. The appellate mentor reviews all of the legal interns’ writing projects and makes suggestions before the interns submit the project.
Legal interns attend a writing workshop geared toward improving their motion writing skills and various monthly Continuing Legal Education (CLE) presentations. Each week they have a group check in with two senior Assistant Public Defenders to discuss some of their experiences from that week and to get new assignments. Students do not typically receive academic credit.
Skills Required
- Must be a rising 2L or 3L during summer 2027
- Must commit to a full-time, ten-week internship between late May and early August 2027
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The Company
What We Do
The Palm Beach County Public Defender’s Office, serving Florida’s 15th Judicial Circuit, provides criminal defense services. Based in West Palm Beach, the office supports clients through a multidisciplinary team that includes public defenders, investigators, social workers, paralegals, IT personnel, and secretaries. Its work centers on delivering legal representation and related support to people involved in the criminal justice system across Palm Beach County.
