Legal Intern Program:

The Office of the Camden County Prosecutor offers unpaid placement opportunities to law students during the summer, as well as throughout the academic year.

>> Summer Legal Internships

>> Requirements

>> How to Apply

>> Externships/Clinicals

>> Frequently Asked Questions


SUMMER LEGAL INTERNSHIPS:

Our summer legal internship program is designed to maximize the students’ involvement with the criminal justice system in Camden County. The Office hires approximately 15-20 law students who are in their first or second year of school, for a ten-week program beginning shortly after Memorial Day. The program offers:

• substantial opportunity for court appearances for second-year students
• interaction with judges, attorneys, and investigators
• practical legal research and writing experience
• court observation
• lecture series
• field trips

Our Office affords the ideal learning environment, characterized by teamwork and collegiality in the pursuit of justice. Legal interns will find dedicated, supportive, and knowledgeable supervisors to make their summer experience both valuable and enjoyable.

Court Appearances:

Second-year interns are encouraged to handle their own cases in court, from motions to bench trials. In New Jersey, students entering their third year of law school are permitted to appear before a trial court. Under the supervision of an assistant prosecutor, eligible interns can argue municipal court appeals, pleas, sentencings, and violation of probation hearings, as well as defend motions to suppress evidence, and even prosecute bench trials. Supervisors will review the intern’s work, discuss strategies, provide feedback, and make suggestions.

Lecture Series & Field Trips:

The Office of the Camden County Prosecutor is proud to sponsor the Legal Intern Lecture Series, geared to provide exposure to all facets of criminal prosecution. Speakers include Section Chiefs from major units within the Office, Investigators and experts in weapons, crime scene investigations, and narcotics, as well as state and federal judges, and a representative from the Camden County Public Defender’s Office. Each lecture incorporates questions from the interns, encouraging open discussion of issues of concern to criminal practice in Camden County. When possible, interns will also be invited to broaden their experience by attending field trips to locations relevant to the prosecution of criminal cases, including the state and federal courthouses, the Camden County Correctional facility, Riverfront State Prison, as well as to ride along with Investigators on a tour of Camden City from a law enforcement perspective.


REQUIREMENTS:

Second-year law students who wish to make court appearances must have taken criminal procedure and evidence. All applicants will be required to supply a resume, writing sample, and references.

An offer is conditioned upon a candidate successfully passing a comprehensive background investigation.

There is no residency requirement.


HOW TO APPLY:

Interested applicants should apply at any time. Submit a cover letter and resume to:

Cheryl Hendler Cohen
Assistant Prosecutor
Legal Intern Program Director
Office of the Camden County Prosecutor
25 North 5th Street
Camden, New Jersey 08102-1231

EXTERNSHIPS/CLINICALS:

Students may participate in the Legal Internship Program for academic credit throughout the year. Our Office currently provides externships or clinical placements to students from Rutgers-Camden, Widener, and Temple. Contact your school for placement information.


FREQUENTLY-ASKED QUESTIONS:

Q: Is there any way to get paid for this internship?

A: Unfortunately, these are unpaid internships. The Office does participate in work study programs, but does not provide any matching funds. Students are encouraged to explore outside funding, such as public interest grants.

Q: Is there more than one start date?

A: Yes. Students are permitted to choose from two start dates, beginning either shortly after Memorial Day, or the following week, and then completing a ten-week program from that time.

Q: How are students placed within the Office?

A: Students are placed according to their interests, and the needs of the Office. Incoming interns are given the opportunity to express an interest in a particular area of criminal prosecution. Second-year students who wish to make court appearances will be encouraged to select from those Units which provide the most opportunity for court exposure, such as Trial Team, Juvenile, or Motions.

Q: How competitive is the selection process?

A: The Office actively recruits at law schools across the eastern seaboard. The Office interviews on-campus at more than five area law schools, and participates in a variety of job fairs.

The Office of the Camden County Prosecutor
is an Equal Opportunity Employer