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Public Defender Interviews
Any 1Ls still looking for a job for the coming summer?
I just interviewed for a position with a public defender's office and it sounds like it would be an incredible way to spend the summer. Days would be packed with client interviews, factual investigation, memo-writing, court-watching, and weekly mock-trials with practicing attorneys and your co-interns. If, like me, you hope to use your J.D. to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comforted, there may be no better way for you to spend your time.
My interviewer suggested that the biggest challenge to working as a public defender is managing the moral or ethical challenge of defending people who are often guilty. As a public defender, your job isn't to find the truth, it's to defend your client. (In fact, often you'll work to suppress what appears to be the "truth" because it's prejudicial to your client's goals.) Obviously, it's not for everyone, but our legal system would crumble without people to defend the accused, who, after all, we must presume innocent until they're proven guilty.
Tip: As with any job, if you're going to interview for a public defender internship, think about how you might convince the interviewer that you understand the unique challenges involved with the job and that you're prepared to meet those challenges. Also, be sure to visit the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers so you can sound like you know a bit more about what you'll be getting into. It might also be good to have a clue about recent high-profile criminal cases in your area and who defended the accused in those cases. Finally, is there a well-known criminal defense attorney you admire? Dropping Johnny Cochran's name might not score too many points, but how about Judy Clarke, "the patron saint of defense lawyers"?
I have another interview this afternoon and obviously I'd love to have more in the near future. Any other tips for such things? Even better: What's the best way to get the interview in the first place?
Posted February 7, 2004 10:17 AM | law school
I was an intern with a public defender during my 1L summer last year, and while it's not what I want to do full-time, it was a great experience.
Posted by: Andrew at February 8, 2004 02:42 PM
I also interned with the Public Defender in San Francisco during my 1L summer. It was a fantastic experience. I initially went with it grudgingly--it was the only job I got--because I wanted to be a prosecutor. The experience changed my perspective. I'm still having my fantasies about being a public defender and actually getting to represent clients on my own and do trials! It's the best of all worlds...
Posted by: Trex at February 9, 2004 04:55 PM
