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Northern and Southern Districts of Iowa

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Internships

The Federal Public Defender’s Office for the Northern and Southern Districts of Iowa offers unpaid summer and school-year student internship opportunities in our Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Davenport, and Sioux City offices. Internships with the Federal Public Defender provide a unique opportunity to receive hands-on experience in preparing the defense of criminal cases in federal court, in addition to learning substantive federal criminal law and how it operates in practice.

Interns, under the direct supervision of attorneys, conduct legal research, draft memoranda, and assist in drafting and developing motions and appellate briefs. Interns will have the opportunity to assist with case investigation, including reviewing discovery, meeting with clients, assisting with witness interviews, conducting street investigations, helping plan case strategy, and, when possible, trial preparation. We encourage interns to observe court proceedings from initial appearances and detention hearings to motion hearings, plea hearings, trials, and sentencing hearings. We also include interns in staff meetings and strategy sessions.

Applicants should have an interest in criminal law and procedure generally, and indigent defense and direct client representation specifically. Strong research and writing skills are required. Law students of any year may apply for an internship, but preference will be given to second-year and third-year students.

Applications are considered on a rolling basis. Interested students should apply as early as possible for consideration. Applicants should submit a cover letter, resume, and writing sample via email to Mackenzi Nash, at ias_sdia_internships@fd.org (Des Moines, Davenport, and Sioux City offices), or Christopher Nathan, at Christopher_Nathan@fd.org (Cedar Rapids office). The email subject line should include the office location (or locations) for which the student is applying (i.e., Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Davenport, or Sioux City). Applicant inquiries should also include the term for which you are applying (e.g., Summer 2024; Spring 2025) and the amount of time you are able to commit (e.g., 20 hours per week; 40 hours per week). Internships with our office are unpaid, but we are open to working with any fellowship or credit opportunities available through the applicant's law school.

The Federal Public Defender’s Office for the Northern and Southern Districts of Iowa is an equal opportunity employer and we encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply.