Job Title: Internship Program, Fall
Job Responsibilities:
Interns participating in the Florida Attorney General's Internship Program have the opportunity to gain practical legal experience and engage in meaningful work that supports the completion of their degree. The program offers a variety of responsibilities depending on the division or unit in which the intern is placed. Some of the key divisions and units include:
1. Antitrust: Interns will assist in the enforcement of state and federal antitrust laws through civil investigations and litigation. They will help review proposed mergers and acquisitions and provide antitrust counsel for the state and its agencies.
2. Consumer Protection: Interns in this division will engage in civil enforcement of the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act. They will investigate business practices, litigate in state and federal courts, and work on obtaining settlements or judgments.
3. Criminal and Capital Appeals: Interns will support the representation and defense of state prosecutions in all criminal appeals in various courts. They will assist in legal research and preparation for death penalty litigation.
4. Civil Litigation: Interns will represent the state, its agencies, officers, and employees at both trial and appellate levels. They will handle civil actions such as administrative, bankruptcy, corrections, eminent domain, employment, forfeitures, foreclosures, state programs, and tort litigation.
5. Complex Litigation Bureau: Interns will work on high-impact cases involving constitutional challenges and first-time statutory interpretation. They will provide legal analysis on matters with significant impact and work under tight deadlines.
6. Civil Legal Services: Interns will provide legal services required by state agencies, including representation in administrative hearings and courts, and general counsel services.
7. Medicaid Fraud Control Unit: Interns will investigate and prosecute fraud involving providers defrauding the state's Medicaid program. They will also investigate patient abuse and neglect in facilities receiving Medicaid payments.
8. Statewide Prosecution: Interns will assist in prosecuting crimes impacting multiple judicial circuits, focusing on organized criminal activity and coordinating with law enforcement.
9. Cyber Fraud Enforcement Unit: Interns will combat cybercrimes related to fraud and identity theft by working with law enforcement and prosecuting internet-facilitated crimes.
10. Office of the Solicitor General: Interns will handle sensitive and complex litigation, supervise civil and criminal appeals, and advise the Attorney General on significant legal matters.
Education and Experience Information:
The internship program is open to law students enrolled in an accredited ABA law school. The program offers unpaid internships for academic credit or through participation in law school-sponsored programs such as Pro Bono Programs, Law School sponsored clinics, and Law School Paid Stipend programs. Documentation of enrollment and eligibility for academic credit or participation in a school-sponsored program is required.
Applicants must be able to intern a minimum of 20 hours per week or as prescribed by their college or school. The number and location of internship opportunities depend on agency needs and availability.
Application materials required include:
- Application for Internship
- Résumé
- Letter from Advisor or University confirming enrollment and eligibility for academic credit or participation in a school-sponsored program
- Official Transcript (unofficial accepted initially, official required if chosen)
- Writing sample (for 2nd and 3rd-year law students, to be provided during the interview if selected)
Salary Information:
The internship position is unpaid. Interns will not receive compensation or benefits, except for Worker's Compensation benefits, for any work performed on a voluntary unpaid basis.
Legal Terminology and Important Requirements:
- Interns must acknowledge their understanding that the internship is unpaid and voluntary.
- A preliminary background screening, including a criminal background check, is required.
- Interns must report any adult criminal history information, regardless of whether records have been sealed or expunged.
- A "Yes" answer to the background questions will not necessarily bar applicants from internship opportunities; considerations include the nature, severity, and date of the offense in relation to the position.
- Interns must consent to the release of information for purposes related to internship opportunities within the Office of the Attorney General.
- All statements and documentation must be true and accurate, as any misrepresentation may result in disqualification from the program.
