Location New York City Full-Time/Part-Time Full-Time Exempt/Non-Exempt Non-Exempt Category Internship About the Organization The Office of the Appellate Defender is the second oldest institutional provider of appellate representation in New York City. For 35 years, OAD has stood as a beacon of hope for people at the intersection of poverty and injustice. Our clients have been convicted of felony offenses in Manhattan and/or the Bronx and have been sentenced to terms of imprisonment and post-release supervision. Despite the circumstances of our clients' offenses, convictions, and sentences, we believe in the humanity and dignity of every human being which informs our client-centered, trauma-informed advocacy. We are a beloved community of colleagues who are dedicated to public defense, access to justice, and racial equity. Description Role: 2025 Summer Honors InternLocation: New YorkHours: 35 hours (Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 5:00pm)Overview of the RoleThe Office of Appellate Defender (OAD) will accept applications from current law students interested in working in either direct appeals or one of our projects. For 2025, we anticipate we can accommodate 3 interns, 2 who will work in Direct Appeals and 1 who will work in the Reinvestigation Project.Direct AppealsAn OAD Summer Honors Intern in direct appeals will:
- Work on a direct appeal under the supervision of an experienced attorney. Under their guidance you will read the entire appellate record, identify appellate issues, and develop a theory of the case;
- Work on discrete research projects in cutting-edge areas of criminal law and procedure;
- Possibly draft a legal brief and present the case at oral argument before the Appellate Division, First Department; and
- Possibly assist our clients in collateral advocacy if it is available.
The Reinvestigation ProjectOAD's Reinvestigation Project identifies and investigates potential wrongful convictions. The Project searches for such wrongful conviction flags as questionable eyewitness identification, possible false confessions, the use of unreliable evidence, police and/or prosecutorial misconduct, and ineffective assistance of counsel.An intern in the reinvestigation unit would:
- Conduct witness investigations;
- Consult with experts;
- Help identify and digest cases with potential claims of wrongful convictions; and
- Assist attorneys with research, writing and litigation of postconviction motions.
Who You AreOAD looks for individuals who:
- Have a profound commitment to public service and understand what it means to work with and for people, whose backgrounds and experiences are different from their own.
- Are enthusiastic about challenging the inequities of the criminal justice system and want to contribute to a work environment that values teamwork, inclusion, and respect.
- Are from a variety of backgrounds which bring different perspectives to best serve our clients, who are predominantly Black and Brown people.
- Have experience in moot court, trial advocacy, debate, public speaking, and clinics or internships.
Duration The internship program is a ten-week program which commences on Monday, June 2, 2025, and ends Friday, August 8, 2025. A student may enroll for less than ten weeks with the approval of OAD.CompensationWe believe in compensating interns for their work. Yet, as a nonprofit with limited resources, we strongly encourage students to seek funding through their law school's public interest resources. If a student is unable to obtain funding from school, OAD will provide a stipend at a rate of $20 per hour. If a student receives funding from school and that funding is less than the total amount OAD would pay over the internship program, OAD will pay the difference. OAD's contribution will not exceed $7000 and will be paid biweekly through OAD's regular payroll system and subject to taxes.Your ApplicationPlease apply with a cover letter, resume, transcript and writing sample (no more than 10 pages) here. Applications without a cover letter will not be considered. Your cover letter must address: (1) why you are interested in working at OAD in direct appeals or the Reinvestigation Project; and (2) what skills or experiences make you a strong candidate.We will be accepting applications until the positions are filled. Applications should be addressed to:Fayola AlibeyDirector of People, Culture, Equity & InclusionOffice of the Appellate Defender11 Park PlaceNew York, NY 10007Applications are not accepted by regular mail or e-mail. Questions may be sent to: ...@oadnyc.org.EOE Statement OAD is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. We provide equal employment opportunities without regard to race, creed, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy, marital status, age, veteran status, disability, or genetic information. This position is currently accepting applications.