Litigation Practice Externships

ACLU Foundation of Oklahoma

The ACLU of Oklahoma has a proud history of advocating in Oklahoma for the rights of institutionalized persons; educators; students; persons who speak out against governmental abuse; women; and minorities of religious, ethnic, or racial character.

Catholic Charities Immigration Legal Services

The Immigration Legal Services Program at Catholic Charities exists to provide information and legal services to low-income individuals and families who face obstacles to family unity and/or diminished personal, social, and economic opportunities as a result of their immigration status. Externs will assist Immigration Legal Services Program attorneys at Catholic Charities in providing information and legal services to low-income individuals and families who face obstacles to family unity and/or diminished personal, social, and economic opportunities as a result of their immigration status.

Prerequisites: An extern must have completed the required curriculum.

CAIR Oklahoma

Civil Rights/Legal Intern

The Legal Intern will work primarily with the Civil Rights Director to assist with client management, legal research and writing, and developing other special projects as required by the Civil Rights Department. Interns will also assist in seminars and workshops and will be expected to attend and work at all volunteer events. This internship will also require a research project on a topic of the student’s own choosing, to be completed by the end of the term. This position is ideal for law students who wish to gain experience in the nonprofit field and who are interested in working with civil rights and human rights issues.

Responsibilities:

  • Client management from intake to resolution. Interns will often be primary points of contact for clients as we assist in resolution of their complaint.
  • Legal Research and Writing. Interns will be expected to develop proficiency in both formal legal and non-legal writing styles and in putting together concise reports.
  • Special research and project management. While the primary focus of the legal internship will be on legal work, the interns will also be needed to help develop educational and promotional material and to assist in marketing the work of the civil rights department. We will ensure that the majority of the work assigned to the legal intern will be related to the practice of law.
  • Personal research project. Each intern will be asked to select a topic of interest relevant to the CAIR mission for more in-depth research and writing.

Early Settlement Program – Central

Providing all citizens of Oklahoma with convenient access to fair, effective, inexpensive and expeditious dispute resolution proceedings. Early Settlement operates under the authority of the Oklahoma Dispute Resolution Act 12 O.S. 1801 et seq. and according to the Rules and Procedures for the Dispute Resolution Act.

Prerequisites: Early Settlement program provides small claims volunteer mediators for Oklahoma County on a daily basis. All small claims dockets are held at in the morning. Externs must be available at least two (2) or more mornings per week to conduct mediations.

Federal Public Defender for the Western District of Oklahoma

The office is the only Capital Habeas Unit in Oklahoma. The office is appointed to represent clients in capital cases across the state as they conclude state review and reach the level of federal review. The office researches, investigates, and prepares capital habeas petitions and pursues the cases on appeal in the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Illinois State’s Attorney – St. Clair County

The St. Clair County State’s Attorney’s Office seeks justice for the People of St. Clair County. They do this by upholding the highest ethical standards while vigorously prosecuting the guilty, protecting the innocent, advocating for victims, safeguarding the rights of all citizens, and working with law enforcement and community leaders to strengthen the communities we serve.

Indiana District Attorney – Porter County

The Office of the Porter County Prosecuting Attorney is established by the Indiana Constitution at Article VIII, Sec. 16, which prescribes a term of four years with no term limitations. The territorial jurisdiction of the Office is the 67th Judicial Circuit, which includes all of Porter County. The Prosecuting Attorney must be a resident of Porter County, and must be licensed to practice law in the State of Indiana.

Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma

Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma is a nonprofit law firm serving low-income and elderly Oklahomans who have civil legal problems. Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma seeks to ensure basic needs for clients, especially those involving: freedom from harm and violence; access to housing; freedom from hunger; access to health care; income maintenance for survival.

Prerequisites: A Legal Intern’s License is recommended but not required. A student must have completed Civil Procedure, Evidence, and Legal Profession. Completion of any of the following is beneficial but not mandatory: Consumer Law, Debtor-Creditor Law, Elder Law, Family Law, or Juvenile Law.

Oklahoma Attorney General’s Office

The Oklahoma Attorney General’s Office was established in 1907. The office is divided into 11 units, each responsible for different areas of law. Externs can be placed with the following units:

  • Consumer Protection Unit (CPU), the Office of the Attorney General is committed to ensuring a safe and fair marketplace in Oklahoma.
  • Conservation Unit
  • Criminal Appeal unit represents the state in the criminal appeals process to ensure that the decisions rendered by judges and juries are upheld in the appellate courts.
  • Litigation Section defends and prosecutes the state’s civil matters. The section also works to recover monies wrongfully taken from the state and supports litigation on behalf of the state in every county and jurisdiction.
  • Medicaid Fraud Control Unit investigates and prosecutes Medicaid fraud, as well as abuse, neglect, and exploitation of patient funds in long term board and care facilities.

Prerequisites: An extern must have completed Criminal Law, Criminal Procedure, Civil Procedure and Constitutional Law courses. A Legal Intern’s License is not required.

Oklahoma Bar Association Ethics Counsel*

Through the Office of Ethics Counsel, Oklahoma Bar Association members can obtain informal advice and interpretations of the rules of attorney conduct. The ethics counsel issues opinions to attorneys for their own guidance involving an existing set of facts. The ethics counsel issues both oral and written informal advisory opinions.

Prerequisites: A Legal Intern’s License is recommended but not required. A student must have completed Civil Procedure, Evidence, and Legal Profession.

*Summer Only

Oklahoma Bar Association General Counsel

Under the supervision of the Professional Responsibility Commission, the Office of the General Counsel investigates all matters involving alleged misconduct or incapacity of any lawyer called to the attention of the General Counsel by grievance or otherwise. The office then reports to the Professional Responsibility Commission the results of investigations made by or at the direction of the General Counsel. The Professional Responsibility Commission determines the disposition of grievances or directs the instituting of a formal complaint for alleged misconduct or personal incapacity of an attorney with the Oklahoma Supreme Court. The attorneys in the Office of the General Counsel prosecute all proceedings under the Rules Governing Disciplinary Proceedings and supervise the investigative process.

Prerequisites: A Legal Intern’s License is recommended but not required. A student must have completed Civil Procedure, Evidence, and Legal Profession.

Oklahoma County District Attorneys

The District Attorney, Assistant District Attorney, or Special District Attorney shall:

  • appear in all trial courts and prosecute all actions for crimes committed in their respective district.
  • prosecute or defend in all courts, state and federal, in any county in this state, all civil actions or proceedings in which any county in the district is interested, or a party unless representation for the county is provided.
  • assist the grand jury if required.
  • give opinion and advice to the Board of County Commissioners and other civil officers and boards, upon all matters in which any of the counties of his district are interested, or relating to the duties of such boards or officers in which the state or counties may have an interest.

(a) District 5 – Comanche and Cotton Counties
(b) District 6 – Caddo, Grady, Jefferson and Stephens Counties
(c) District 7 – Oklahoma County
(e) District 9 – Logan and Payne Counties
(f) District 15 – Muskogee County

Oklahoma County Public Defender’s Office

The Public Defender’s Office provides competent, quality legal representation to indigents in Oklahoma County who are charged with all types of criminal offenses, including misdemeanors, felonies, and capital crimes, as well as to our convicted clients who wish to appeal their convictions. The office, pursuant to court appointment, represents deprived children in juvenile and domestic cases, mentally ill persons in civil commitment hearings, and children and adults in other civil proceedings.

The office also represents the interests of the public in making recommendations to judges regarding adoption expenses and protects the interests of children in contested adoptions.

The office can be appointed to represent witnesses in multi-county grand jury cases by order of the Supreme Court of Oklahoma and is statutorily required to notify judges of anyone illegally incarcerated in the Oklahoma County Jail.

Prerequisites: A Legal Intern’s License is strongly recommended. An extern must have completed Criminal Law, Criminal Procedure, Evidence, and Legal Profession with grades of C or better.

Oklahoma Guardian Ad Litem Institute

The Oklahoma Guardian Ad Litem Institute is here to help give children a voice in the family law courtroom involving their care and custody. We serve families who cannot afford to pay for private services.

We provide direct services to children as attorneys for their best interests in family law litigation, as well as education and training to others in the community who also help children during this challenging time in their lives. We help children have a voice in what happens to them in family courts. We want to see not only the children, but also their parents, learn to communicate and heal from the painful process in family law courts.

Oklahoma Indigent Defense System

The Executive Division is charged with the responsibility of managing and operating the agency and implementing the Indigent Defense Act, found in Sections 1355 -1370.1 of Title 22 of the Oklahoma Statutes. By statute, the Executive Director is selected by and serves at the pleasure of the Board.

The Indigent Defense System employs 110 full-time staff members, including some 65 attorneys. The System’s main office is located at 111 N. Peters Ave. in Norman. Satellite offices are located in Clinton, Guymon, Mangum, Okmulgee, and Sapulpa.

When conflicts of interest make it impossible for the System to represent an indigent defendant, the case is contracted to private counsel willing to provide legal services at rates established by the System. The Executive Division is responsible for providing conflict counsel and defense services in all capital trial and appeal cases and non-capital appeals. The Non-Capital Trial Division is responsible for providing such counsel in non-capital trial cases.

Oklahoma Lawyers for Children

Oklahoma Lawyers for Children is a team of lawyer and citizen-volunteers working to protect and support children in the foster care system. Specially trained lawyers work for the child to represent them in court and protect their wishes and best interests throughout the duration of their custody. Citizen-volunteers also work for the best interests of the child, conducting interviews to help them make the transition into foster care easier. Other OLFC programs help teens, who may age out of the foster care system, develop skills to prepare them for adulthood.

Prerequisites: An extern must have completed first year classes with a “C” or better. Completion of Family Law, Criminal Law, Evidence, Juvenile Law or Juvenile Process, and Legal Professions are recommended. A Legal Intern’s License is preferred but is not required.

Texas District Attorneys*

District Attorney:

  • Represents the state in prosecuting felony criminal cases.
  • Works with law enforcement officers in the investigation of criminal cases.
  • Presents cases to the grand jury.
  • Represents victims of violence in protective orders and represents the state in removing children from abusive households.

(a) Collin County
(b) Potter County
(c) Tarrant County
(d) Wichita County

*Summer Only

Senior Law Resource Center

Senior Law Resource Center staff attorneys provide affordable legal services to seniors and caregivers in Central Oklahoma. The staff attorneys do make house calls. There are no income or age eligibility requirements. The Senior Law Resource Center does not handle criminal matters, bankruptcy, or general family law issues.

Trinity Legal Clinic of Oklahoma

Trinity Legal Clinic of Oklahoma, Inc. is an Oklahoma not-for-profit corporation organized by attorneys in the Oklahoma City metropolitan area to help answer the call for improving access to justice and addressing the overwhelming need for legal assistance to the poor. Through partnerships with existing community-based organizations, Trinity provides access to legal services for the clients of those organizations who cannot otherwise afford hiring their own attorney.

U.S. Attorneys’ Offices

The mission of the office is to protect and serve the citizens of the district through the ethical, vigorous, fair, and impartial enforcement of the laws of the United States. In doing so, the U.S. Attorney and staff are committed to maintain the highest standards of professionalism and integrity as we strive to defend the national security, protect our citizens, safeguard public funds, improve the safety and quality of life in our communities, and defend the vital interests of the United States. The office handles both civil and criminal cases.

Prerequisites: An extern must have completed Criminal Law, Criminal Procedure, Civil Procedure, and Constitutional Law courses. Completion of an Evidence course is beneficial but not mandatory. Applicants should be in the top one-third of their class. Satisfactory completion of an interview and background check is required. Candidates will be interviewed by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices.

(a) Eastern District of Oklahoma
(b) Northern District of Oklahoma
(c) Western District of Oklahoma

U.S. Air Force Judge Advocate General Corps

Provides a full range of legal services to the U.S. Air Force and its Airmen. You’ll also enter a world of opportunity—one where you can take on immediate responsibility, continue your education in a number of legal specialties, and gain experience working around the globe upholding justice for the people who defend it.

Prerequisites: An extern must have completed Civil Procedure and Legal Research and Writing. A Legal Intern’s License is only required if the student wishes to conduct contested hearings.

U.S. Army Judge Advocate General Corps

Judge Advocates are responsible for offering legal support that involves military operations. They primarily focus on the areas of criminal law, legal assistance, civil/administrative law, labor/employment law, international/operational law, intelligence law, and contract/fiscal law.

Prerequisites: An extern must have completed Civil Procedure and Legal Research and Writing. A Legal Intern’s License is only required if the student wishes to conduct contested hearings.

U.S. Naval Surface Warfare Surface Center

Externs will work with an attorney in the Office of Counsel Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division (Crane, IN) to prepare office actions and drafting provisional patent applications using U.S. Navy inventions.

Wyoming District Attorney*

Generally, law enforcement agencies, not the District Attorney, are responsible for investigating cases. However, the District Attorney must evaluate the evidence provided by law enforcement and may determine that additional investigation is necessary before filing charges. In some instances, the District Attorney may assign an independent investigator to seek additional evidence.

*Summer Only