Georgetown Law Investigative Internship Program

History of the Investigative Internship Program
Recognizing the need for high quality representation for indigent criminal defendants, the Criminal Justice Clinic was founded in 1960. Their goal is to ensure that persons charged with criminal offenses have access to top-notch legal services. They provide them with energetic, innovative and dedicated attorneys. As part of the Criminal Justice Clinic, the Investigative Internship Program was founded in 1985 and continues today as an integral part of the success of their clinical program. Investigators work closely with clinic attorneys in all aspects of pre-trial preparation. In exchange for the interns' assistance, they offer a hands-on educational and working environment.

Duties of the Investigative Intern
A thorough investigation of a criminal case is a prerequisite to a good defense. A defense investigator's job is to ascertain the strengths and weaknesses of the government's case and to provide a basis for the defense theory. In many cases handled by the Clinic, the prosecutor is not required to disclose facts that are critical to the case or will not provide the information in a format or time period that is useful. Pre-trial defense investigation is therefore necessary to properly advise the client, make strategic decisions about the case, and to prepare for trial.

The investigative responsibilities of interns include the locating and interviewing of witnesses (not an easy prospect given that witnesses are often very difficult to find and are not obligated to speak with investigators or lawyers), taking statements from prosecution witnesses, and writing investigative memoranda summarizing investigative results.

Interns also conduct comprehensive criminal background checks. Aside from the work directly related to the witnesses, interns ascertain what written records and documentation are relevant to the case and use subpoenas to gather the necessary paperwork. Photographing crime scenes, measuring and diagramming scenes and creating maps and charts as demonstrative evidence for trial are also common investigative tasks.

Lastly, interns are responsible for assisting the attorney in immediate trial preparation and resolving problems while the attorney is in trial. Interns coordinate defense witnesses, making sure that they are subpoenaed and able to get to the courthouse. Investigators also have to testify in some cases.

Investigative interns are involved in all aspects of case preparation including providing strategic recommendations. Attorneys are encouraged to include their interns on consultations, plea negotiations, client meetings and strategy sessions.

Structure of the Internship Program
Each fall, spring, and summer semester, the Investigative Internship Program has 8 positions available. All undergraduate students, recent graduates and graduate students are eligible. (More information on qualifications can be found in the section covering the selection process.)

During the first week of the program, interns are trained in investigative strategies and techniques, legal concepts, and the application of the law in criminal cases. The training week has relatively set hours - each day begins by 10:00 a.m. and ends at approximately 5:00 p.m. At the conclusion of the training week, each intern is assigned an investigative partner and two attorneys.

Once the assignments have been made, interns begin investigating cases. They are assisted by comprehensive investigative directions and daily guidance from both their attorneys and the Investigations Supervisor. Interns work on a variety of cases--some are newly acquired and others have been partially investigated. Most interns are able to participate in all phases of pre-trial development, and to gain a deep understanding of the criminal justice process.

Duration of the Internship
All interns are required to commit a minimum of 15 weeks during the spring and fall semester terms or 12 weeks during the summer term. Because many students who participate in the program are undergraduate students enrolled in a college on a semester schedule, the commencement and conclusion dates are consistent with those schedules. Interns may sometimes be permitted to take off days over the course of the term, but applicants should not make plans that create significant conflicts during the internship.

The beginning and ending dates for each term are noted in the application information page. Each summer and fall term, there is only one starting date. For the spring term, there are two training weeks; the second week was added to accommodate the schedules of students coming to Washington D.C. through organized programs that do not begin until the end of January. All other interns are expected to begin during the first training session. The ending date is also noted in the application page. Interns may not complete the internship earlier than this date; however, the internship can be extended by several weeks. Since the time between ending and beginning terms is often difficult for clinic attorneys, it is helpful if interns can stay a week or two beyond the ending date. Applicants who are able to extend their stay at the Clinic should note it on the materials they submit.

Application Deadlines and Notification Dates
The priority application deadline for each term is noted below. It is important to note, however, that some decisions for the fall and spring terms are made on a rolling basis, so it is advisable to apply early. Occasionally, positions may still be available after the final application deadline - contact the Investigations Supervisor to inquire about availability. Applicants will receive a decision on their application no later than the notification date listed below.

In the event that an application deadline falls on a non-business day, applications will be accepted until 5:00 p.m. of the first business day following the deadline date. If the deadline falls on a business day, applications are due by 5:00 p.m. that day. If positions are filled or a candidate does not learn of the internship until after the deadline has passed, referrals are sometimes available to similar programs. Contact the Investigations Supervisor for more information.

Term	Priority Application Deadline	Notification Date
Fall	1st Round: March 15 Supplemental Round: July 1	For 1st Round: April 1 For 2nd Round: July 15
Spring	December 1	December 15
Summer	April 1	April 15

Selection Process

Minimum Qualifications
The internship is open to students at accredited four-year colleges, college graduates, or graduate students. With respect to undergraduate students, juniors and seniors are preferred, but freshmen and sophomores are sometimes accepted. Participants from a variety of academic majors are generally accepted, and all majors are eligible. Previous exposure to or experience in the fields of law, criminal justice, or public service is helpful but is not required.

Applicants should be able to demonstrate that they can devote a sufficient amount of time to this internship. (See time requirements for explanation.) The Clinic needs interns who can make their investigative responsibilities a significant priority. Interns must also be able to demonstrate strong communication skills in the application process. The ability to easily communicate with persons of differing backgrounds, values and cultures, and to document work in written form that is appropriate for use in court, is crucial to investigative work.

Process of Selecting Interns
Each applicant will be evaluated based upon the persuasiveness and the quality of thought reflected in the essay questions, the strength of input from references, and the overall quality of past work and academic performance. Applicants who feel that they are lacking in a specific area should not be discouraged from applying - the strength of applicants is assessed by looking at qualifications collectively. No prerequisite course work or prior related experience is necessary, but some understanding of the criminal justice system is helpful.

The Investigations Supervisor will attempt to conduct telephone interviews with each applicant during the evaluation period. Applicants should assume, however, that there will be no phone interview and should submit everything they wish to be considered either with the application or in a supplemental mailing. Letters of recommendation and IIP recommendation forms are not required but are sometimes helpful. If an applicant wishes to submit such letters, they may be included in the application packet or mailed separately. For full consideration, any additional materials should be submitted by the application deadline.

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Contact:     Rebecca O’Brien, Investigations Supervisor
                 Criminal Justice Clinic
                 Georgetown University Law Center
                 111 F. St. N.W.
                 Washington, D.C. 20001
                 Clinic Phone: 202-662-9589
                 Clinic Fax: 202-662-9681
                 Email: obrienra@law.georgetown.edu
                 Website: http://www.law.georgetown.edu/clinics/cjc/iip.html