CSAO: Internships


Internships with the Division of Criminal Justice

The Division of Criminal Justice offers an internship program to acquaint law students with Connecticut’s criminal justice system, in particular the role of the prosecutor. The internship program is an important component of the Division of Criminal Justice Affirmative Action initiative and outreach to the community.

An intern may be placed in a Bureau in the Office of the Chief State’s Attorney in Rocky Hill or in any of the approximately fifty Division of Criminal Justice offices around the state -- preferably close to the student’s residence. Subject to interest and availability, intern field trips may be scheduled to the Connecticut State Police Forensic Laboratory, a correctional facility, and the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.

Basic Requirements for an Internship:

  • The applicant must have completed one full year of law school and must be in good standing academically.
  • All students applying for an internship are subject to a background check.
  • A summer intern must commit to a minimum of three days a week for six weeks.
  • Students who are doing a for-credit internship during the academic year must comply with their law schools’ requirements for academic credit and be supervised by a law professor and a prosecutor.
  • Interns must maintain strict confidentiality about the contents of the prosecutors’ files and about cases they hear discussed in the prosecutors’ offices.
  • Interns at all times must dress appropriately, act professionally and show respect for crime victims, witnesses, court personnel, office staff, defendants and their attorneys.
  • Students who wish to appear in court must meet the requirements of Practice Book Section 3-14, et. seq. (Follow this link to read the applicable Practice Book sections - PDF File - Size 36KB - Adobe Acrobat Reader Required. The free Acrobat Reader can be downloaded from www.adobe.com)

    An Intern's Duties

    Depending on a student’s aptitude, level of legal education, and designated office, and in compliance with Connecticut Practice Book Rules, the following experiences are available under the supervision of a prosecutor: calling the docket, handling arraignments, preparing and arguing bond motions, performing legal research, writing memos, attending pre-trial conferences and plea negotiations, assisting at jury selection, meeting with witnesses and victims.

    How To Apply

    Interested law students should send a letter of interest with an updated resume and their most recent academic transcript to the State’s Attorney of the Judicial District in which he or she wishes to intern. Addresses for the State’s Attorneys can be found by following this link. If the student is interested in one of the specialized bureaus at the Office of the Chief State’s Attorney, which includes Appellate, Civil Litigation, Elder Services, Statewide Prosecution, Workers’ Compensation Fraud Control, Asset Forfeiture, or the Cold Case Unit, he or she should send his or her paperwork to the attention of Patricia Alston at the Office of the Chief State’s Attorney, 300 Corporate Place, Rocky Hill, CT, 06067.

    For More Information

    Content Last Modified on 8/24/2009 12:51:11 PM