Law Student Intern Summer 2026

The State of Ohio is a drug free workplace which prohibits the use of marijuana (recreational marijuana/non-medical cannabis). Please note this position may be subject to additional restrictions pursuant to the State of Ohio Drug-Free Workplace Policy (HR-39) and as outlined in the posting.

The Office of the Ohio Public Defender (OPD) is seeking Law Student Interns for Summer 2026 to join one of five departments: Appeals & Postconviction Youth Defense Death Penalty Wrongful Conviction Project and Intake & Prison Legal the questionnaire at the end of your application please indicate ALL of the departments that you would like to consider your application. Below are brief summaries of each department as well as universal duties you will perform in any of those contexts.

Appeals & Postconviction

The Appeals and Postconviction Department is seeking law student interns for Summer 2026 to help us provide outstanding advocacy before the trial courts intermediate courts of appeals and Ohio Supreme Court. Our department primarily represents adults who have been convicted at trial on the direct appeal of their conviction. We also represent clients in a variety of postconviction proceedings support trial attorneys in complex cases and train the broader Ohio indigent defense student interns will work directly with attorneys to research and draft internal memoranda and court filings and will have the opportunity to participate in department moots visit our incarcerated clients and attend oral arguments.

Youth Defense

We are seeking a Law Student Intern for Summer 2026 to join our Youth Defense Department. Here you will help us perform post-disposition advocacy and ensure that the constitutional rights of children are fully realized and protected. We steadily work toward a holistic approach to helping youth in the justice system and know the value of our advocacy extends beyond a childs duration of confinement.

Death Penalty

We are seeking a Law Student Intern for Summer 2026 to join our Death Penalty Department in providing zealous empathetic and committed advocacy before various trial and appellate courts throughout the state. Here you will help us represent death-sentenced clients in all stages of post-trial litigation and executive clemency. We emphasize a client-centered team approach to representation and our post-trial litigation may include direct appeal post-conviction and federal habeas corpus litigation.

Wrongful Conviction Project

We are seeking a Law Student Intern for Summer 2026 and the 26-27 academic year to join our Wrongful Conviction Project (WCP).We are seeking energetic team-oriented individuals who demonstrate a commitment to reforming our criminal legal system and a dedication to aiding individuals wrongfully convicted in Ohio. Under the supervision of WCP staff you willreview cases of unrepresented individuals incarcerated in Ohio who advance claims of wrongful conviction. You will work with incarcerated individuals whose cases are reviewed by the Project providing substantial case analysis research and investigation and intensive document review to inform future litigation with the goal of exoneration.

Intake & Prison Legal Services

The Intake and Prison Legal Services department is seeking a motivated current 2L or 3L student with a legal intern certificate who has demonstrated a commitment to public defense work and social justice and who is interested in working with people who are currently incarcerated. Your job duties would include reviewing discovery material for parole and post-release control violation hearings contacting relevant witnesses and gathering relevant evidence observing panel or full board hearings for clients seeking release after decades in prison conducting legal research for violation hearing defenses and in response letters or calls from incarcerated people and their loved ones. Under the supervision of a licensed attorney represent clients at post-release control hearings conduct client interviews engage in factual investigations and review case material and analyze pending cases. Participate in department meetings moot courts roundtables and agency-wide meetings.

As a Law Student Intern with OPD your duties include but are not limited to:

-Conduct legal research on defined or potential issues in cases & present this information orally and through writing

-Draft legal arguments to use in motions and other pleadings

-Conduct factual investigations review and analysis of pending cases

-Accompany staff attorneys to client visits oral arguments or other proceedings

-Participate in department meetings moots roundtables and agency-wide meetings

Your schedule will be 20-40 hours per week Monday-Friday depending on your availability. There may be the opportunity to continue the internship on a reduced weekly schedule into the Fall 2026-Spring 2027 school year.

PLEASE UPLOAD A COVER LETTER RESUME AND WRITING SAMPLE TO YOUR your letter please include the number of hours per week you will be able to work during the summer.

The Office of the Ohio Public Defender complies with federal and state disability laws and makes reasonable accommodations for applicants and employees with disabilities. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process please contact us at or.

The Office of the Ohio Public Defender (OPD) is the state agency responsible for providing legal representation and other services to people accused or convicted of a crime who cannot afford to hire an attorney.

Our Mission: Advocating. Fighting. Helping.
Our Vision: A Fair Justice System.
Our Values: . Service. Community.

We are committed to building a work environment where all team members have a voice and can embrace our differences to innovate service to the public in our pursuit of fairness and justice for all people.

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Ohio is a Disability Inclusion State and strives to be a model employer of individuals with disabilities. The State of Ohio is committed to providing access and inclusion and reasonable accommodation in its services activities programs and employment opportunities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other applicable laws.

Must be currently enrolled in Law School as a rising 2L or later in good academic standing

Job Skills: Attorney/Legal; Active Learning; Attention to Detail; Customer Focus; Proofreading; Reasoning

At the State of Ohio we take care of the team that cares for Ohioans. We provide a variety of quality competitive benefits to eligible full-time and part-time employees*. For a list of all the State of Ohio Benefits visit our Total Rewards website! Our benefits package includes:

• Medical Coverage
• Free Dental Vision and Basic Life Insurance premiums after completion ofeligibility period.
• Paid time off including vacation personal sick leave and 11 paid holidays per year
• Childbirth Adoption and Foster Care leave
• Education and Development Opportunities (Employee Development Funds Public Service Loan Forgiveness and more)
• Public Retirement Systems (such as OPERS STRS SERS and HPRS)&Optional Deferred Compensation (Ohio Deferred Compensation)

*Benefits eligibility is dependent on a number of factors. The Agency Contact listed above will be able to provide specific benefits information for this position.

Intentional omission of relevant information falsification or misrepresentation of information on the application will disqualify the addition such intentional acts are grounds for immediate termination of an employee.

Final candidates selected for this position will be required to undergo a drug applicant with a positive test result will not be offered employment.

Final candidates selected for this position will also be required to undergo a criminal background check and state income tax check. Criminal convictions do not necessarily preclude an applicant from consideration for a position. An individual assessment of an applicants prior criminal convictions will be made before excluding an applicant from consideration.

This position serves at the pleasure and discretion of the State Public Defender. This position serves in a fiduciary relationship to the State Public Defender and will have an unclassified status per Ohio Revised Code 124.11 (A) (29).