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Legal Internship

Job Status: OPEN 
Posting Date: September 19, 2023
 

Job Description 

The Texas Office of Capital & Forensic Writs (OCFW) is seeking bright and motivated legal interns interested in capital defense to help develop claims on behalf of our clients. Our legal interns will work as part of teams of attorneys, mitigation specialists, and paralegals representing clients sentenced to death or sentenced to terms of incarceration following junk-science-tainted trials.

 

Internships are unpaid, but the OCFW works with applicants to obtain academic credit through their schools, and applicants may seek funding through their schools and other sources. People of color and persons from backgrounds that are underrepresented in the legal profession are especially encouraged to apply. This is an extraordinary opportunity to make a difference in Texas.

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Opportunities

Under the supervision of the intern supervisor and case team leads, legal interns conduct investigation, develop research and writing skills, review and digest transcripts and records, and communicate with clients. They can expect to gain a broader understanding of how post-conviction capital representation works in Texas. 

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Legal interns at OCFW will participate in the following:

  • Performing legal research and writing assignments, including drafting claims for relief.

  • Analyze relevant records and anecdotes to develop information concerning the circumstances of the alleged crime and the client’s life history. The types of records we collect include: medical, psychiatric, trauma history, educational, employment; military, social service, child protective service, genealogical, and criminal and civil records.

  • Investigating religious, gender, sexual orientation, ethnic, racial, cultural and community influences, as well as socio-economic, historical and political factors affecting clients.

  • Digesting records collected into a comprehensive chronology of the client’s life.

  • Assisting with interviewing witnesses, including jurors, experts, the client’s friends, family, teachers, neighbors, coworkers, etc.

  • Communicating with clients.

  • Collaborating with the team to develop themes and theories. 

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Candidate Profile

Preferred Qualifications

  • Clear commitment to the representation of death-sentenced persons, and persons from low-income and other marginalized communities;

  • Attention to detail, organization, and accuracy;

  • Desire to work as part of a team;

  • Strong written and oral communication skills;

  • Ability to operate standard office equipment and software;

  • Enthusiasm for complex research and analyzing voluminous records and data;

  • Bilingual in Spanish and English.

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The Office of Capital & Forensic Writs is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, national origin, sex, religion, age or disability in employment or the provision of services. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, any request for reasonable accommodations needed during the application process should be communicated by the applicant to Joy Right, the Office of Capital & Forensic Writs Senior Accountant, at joy.right@ocfw.texas.gov. 

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