Legal Internship Program
The Office of the Federal Public Defender for the Middle District of Florida is pleased to partner with law school programs to provide meaningful field placement and educational experiences. We welcome students who wish to gain professional work experience in a federal defender setting and are happy to work with accredited programs so that students may receive course credit or fulfill field education requirements. In addition, this Office also offers internship programs for Masters of Social Work students.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Federal Defender Office?
The Federal Defender’s office is a branch of the U.S. Courts and operates under authority of the Criminal Justice Act, 18 U.S.C. Section 3006A, to provide indigent defense services in federal criminal cases and related matters. In fulfilling this goal, the Federal Defender enforces the rights of those charged with criminal offenses who cannot afford to retain counsel.
Under § 3006A, each United States district court is required to place in operation throughout the district a plan for furnishing representation for any person charged with a felony or Class A misdemeanor who is financially unable to obtain adequate representation in accordance with § 3006A. Representation includes providing investigative, expert, and other services necessary for adequate representation.
Who May Apply?
Law students of any year may apply for an internship, but preference will be given to second and third year students. Students will be selected on the basis of their past work or school experiences, their desire to work in the area of criminal defense, their demonstrated level of maturity and competence, as well as the level of commitment they are prepared to make to the Office's work.
Only qualified applicants will be considered for this position. Applicants must be U.S. Citizens or eligible to work in and for the United States. Applicants selected for interviews must travel at their own expense. This position is subject to a background investigation; therefore, the successful applicant will undergo a mandatory criminal background check investigation, which may include the completion of fingerprint checks. The Federal Defender’s office is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Do you provide accommodations?
The FDO provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation, please notify Human Resources at (813) 228-2715. The decision on granting reasonable accommodations will be made on a case by case basis.
Where are internships available?
The Middle District of Florida has a limited number of placements in each division: Tampa, Orlando, Jacksonville, Fort Myers, and Ocala.
What are the application deadlines?
The deadlines to submit your request is the last day of the month for each of the following terms:
- Summer: February
- Fall: June
- Spring: November
Is the orientation date mandatory?
Please understand if the student is accepted into a Summer, Fall, or Spring internship program, the start date/orientation training is mandatory. There will be no exceptions. Students who cannot attend may not participate in this program.
What's the time commitment?
All interns are expected to commit to work the specific number of hours per week agreed upon by the law school and this Office. If working to gain work experience, the student will be asked to commit to work the number of hours agreed upon by the assigned supervisor with this Office. The Federal Defender's Office for the Middle District of Florida is open to the public between the hours of 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except for federal holidays.
What will an intern do?
Students will have the unique opportunity to receive hands-on experience in defending federal criminal cases. Students may conduct legal research, draft motions, memoranda, and assist with appellate briefs and/or habeas corpus petitions. The student may also assist with trial preparation and investigation/mitigation, to include interviewing clients and witnesses, visiting clients in local jail facilities, and helping the attorneys plan case strategies. Students are also strongly encouraged to observe daily court proceedings, scheduled hearings, trials, and sentencings.
Is an intern supervised/evaluated?
Student will be supervised by an attorney assigned by the Federal Defender in the division they wish to serve. The supervising attorney will be in charge of the day-to-day activities. Students will only be allowed in local jail facilities while escorted by an attorney, paralegal, or investigator employed by this Office. Tasks of the student will be assigned in accordance with their legal abilities to further their legal education. Tasks will vary, ranging from mere observation to full participation in defense litigation. Students will receive informal feedback from their attorneys, and if requested, may receive a formal evaluation of their performance at the end of the term.
What should I wear?
Attire will always reflect the professionalism this organization aspires to. While no formal dress code exists and casual dress is permitted, all employees are expected to dress in a manner appropriate for the business of the office. Whenever an employee chooses to dress in a casual manner, the employee shall have available in the office attire appropriate for court or other needs which may arise unexpectedly. Every employee attending court proceedings will wear business attire and comply with any local rules of practice. The Internship Director and/or Intern Supervisors may direct the dress code for the business of the day.
Can I get compensated?
This is is a non-paid position. The intern will not receive remuneration or compensation of any kind for services rendered to the Office of the Federal Defender. The legal intern will be responsible for parking arrangements at their own expense during the duration of their internship with this office. In addition, this Office is not responsible for any personal property brought into the office or carried in any vehicle on official business. No payment will be made for property stolen from the official duty station or left unattended in any part of a motor vehicle while on official business.
Can I talk about what happens?
You can discuss your experiences with others, but you cannot divulge confidential communications or work product information. Client case files and records are confidential and not to be released without consent of this Office. Interns, like staff, are expected to make every effort to confine such discussions or communications to areas which can reasonably be expected to be private. All interns must adhere to strict confidentiality standards.
How to apply?
Fill out the internship application form here.