Internship, Clerkship and Volunteer Opportunities

The CDP internships provide undergraduate, graduate, law students and others with hands-on training in all areas of capital litigation and advocacy.

Interns assist staff attorneys and staff mitigators/investigators in all aspects of our work. Depending on what needs to be done in our cases at a given time, interns should expect to do several of the following tasks while they are at CDP:

locate, obtain, organize and process relevant records and other documents

conduct legal research and draft pleadings

read and digest transcripts

gather and analyze statistical data

conduct social science and other research

monitor court proceedings

participate in case strategy sessions

visit and interview clients

locate and interview witnesses

assist in locating and preparing expert witnesses

 

As many of CDP’s clients are in prisons or jails outside of New Orleans, our interns are often asked to travel with attorneys, investigators, and other interns throughout Louisiana.

During the summer, CDP provides interns with a multiple-day orientation and training program. Interns gain substantive background knowledge on CDP’s work, including the legal and procedural aspects of death penalty trial and appellate processes. Additional training sessions include brown-bag lunchtime talks with senior staff from the CDP and other organizations throughout the summer. The CDP’s small staff size ensures that interns receive regular supervision and support. Upon completion of their assignments interns review their findings with the attorneys and develop follow up action plans.

Students enrolled in semester long programs may receive academic credit from their schools, while those in our summer long program often receive work study or other financial support from their schools. Although CDP pays for business related travel expenses, we are generally unable to provide financial assistance to our interns.

The CDP is an affirmative action, equal opportunity employer. CDP does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, religious creed, national original, ancestry, disability, or sexual orientation. CDP encourages applications from minorities, women and other groups that are underrepresented in the legal profession.

a. Summer law clerk positions for law students

b. Reprieve internship positions

c. Summer internships for undergraduates

d. Law student externship program

e. Undergraduate externship program

If you are interested please send cover letter and resume to intern@capitald.org