TRGPD Clerkships and Internships, Semester Unpaid

Contract, Full-time

No

# TRPD Clerkships and Internships

Texas RioGrande Public Defender (TRPD) is a non-profit organization that provides legal representation for those who are unable to afford it in the service area. TRPD welcomes undergraduate and law students to join their offices across the service area for a semester, internship, externship, or summer. Through these programs, interns and clerks have the opportunity to gain experience in a traditional public defender setting or through the Operation Lone Star Special Project.

## Benefits of a TRPD Clerkship or Internship

TRPD clerkships and internships provide a unique opportunity for students to gain hands-on experience in a public defender setting. Interns and clerks will be exposed to the legal system, learn how to work with clients, and gain an understanding of criminal justice issues. Furthermore, they will be able to work with attorneys and other staff members to learn the processes and procedures involved in public defense.

In addition, interns and clerks will have the opportunity to work with the Operation Lone Star Special Project. This project focuses on providing legal representation to those in rural and border areas who may not have access to traditional public defender services.

## Requirements for a TRPD Clerkship or Internship

TRPD clerkships and internships are unpaid. Applicants who wish to join TRPD for the summer should seek funding through their school or other external sources. Preference is given to those who are fluent in Spanish and have an interest in rural or border placement.

To apply for an internship or clerkship with TRPD, interested individuals must provide the following information:

- Select which best applies to them: undergraduate student or recent graduate seeking internship, law student seeking clerkship, or other
- Indicate which division they would like to work with: traditional PD program or Operation Lone Star Special Project
- List the types of cases or areas of public defense that interest them
- List any tasks they are particularly interested in helping with or particular skills they'd like to develop
- Provide the name of the university where they obtained or will obtain their most recent law degree
- Provide the approximate date of graduation or anticipated graduation date from law school
- Provide the name of their undergraduate school
- Provide the approximate date of graduation from undergraduate school
- Describe their Spanish language proficiency
- Provide a cover letter addressing one or more of the following: a significant legal or social justice experience and its impact on their plan to pursue public interest law, unique challenges clients in the service area may experience in rural or border areas, and any connection, personal or professional, to the service area and the client populations served
- Upload a resume
- Upload a writing sample
- Upload references
- Indicate how they heard about TRPD and/or TRPD clerkships/internships
- Indicate whether they are related to any current employee of TRPD, TRPD's Board of Directors, or other person that is compensated by TRPD for their services

## Conclusion

TRPD clerkships and internships provide a great opportunity for students to gain hands-on experience in a public defender setting. Through these programs, interns and clerks will be exposed to the legal system, learn how to work with clients, and gain an understanding of criminal justice issues. Furthermore, they will have the opportunity to work with the Operation Lone Star Special Project to provide legal representation to those in rural and border areas.

In order to apply for an internship or clerkship with TRPD, interested individuals must provide the information outlined above. TRPD clerkships and internships are unpaid; however, applicants who wish to join TRPD for the summer should seek funding through their school or other external sources.

None

Spanish

Law degree, undergraduate degree

Submit cover letter, resume, writing sample, and references through website

Legal