Each summer, CDPL hosts full-time law student interns. Our interns consistently remark on the diversity of opportunities, the rigorous intellectual environment, and the collegiality of our office. In recent summers, interns have visited clients, traveled across the state interviewing witnesses and jurors, worked on clemency cases, assisted with research and writing of direct appeal and post-conviction claims, attended capital trials, and assisted at evidentiary hearings.
We eagerly recruit both 1Ls and 2Ls to fill our summer intern positions. Because of the nature of the work our students perform, we typically do not allow split summers and we prefer that all interns begin work on the same date. We ask each intern to commit to a 10-week program, usually beginning the first work day of June. Most summers, CDPL is able to offer interns monetary compensation for their work through the Weston Fenhagen Fellowship.
CDPL was my first internship in law school, and I am incredibly grateful for this invaluable learning experience. I had the privilege of observing and assisting counsel throughout a felony trial, where I analyzed jury data from state public records and researched case theories. For post-conviction cases, I reviewed trial transcripts and identified patterns of jury discrimination within the jury selection process. Subsequently, I testified on my findings at a post-conviction evidentiary hearing.
The most meaningful part of this internship was connecting with clients—listening to their stories of their life before incarceration and their harrowing experiences on death row. I am also fortunate to have met my lifelong mentors here. Their commitment to client-centered advocacy and tireless efforts to abolish the death penalty inspired me and ultimately shaped my decision to pursue a career in public defense.
— Grace Kang, Northeastern University School of Law, 2024
At the Center for Death Penalty Litigation, I was exposed to criminal defense work in the most meaningful way possible. As an undergraduate with limited experience, I was warmly welcomed into a highly skilled team of attorneys and law students who encouraged my growth. From conducting juror investigations to assisting with post-conviction claims, I had the unique opportunity to engage in the exciting, hands-on work that is typically reserved for more advanced interns. Meeting with clients and learning their stories was the most rewarding aspect of this experience and continues to shape my perspective. This opportunity challenged me to confront a complex reality often overlooked and marginalized, and I am better for it. Thank you, CDPL!
— Amani Diallo, Brown University 2027
Experiencing CDPL’s internship program the summer after my 1L year set the standard for the rest of my internships during law school. At CDPL, attorneys and mitigation specialists are committed to building thought partnerships with interns, providing a careful balance between training through observation and hands-on practice of post-conviction work. Beyond being a great place to learn, CDPL stands out in its steadfast articulation of the death penalty’s racist and classist roots and consequences. Pairing client-centered representation with a clear-eyed vision of the society that has failed Black, brown, and working class people, CDPL prepares interns for the various fundamentals of human rights lawyering.
— Sunny Osment, UNC Law School 2025
APPLICATIONS FOR SUMMER 2025 ARE NOW OPEN.
Summer Internship Application Form
To apply for a summer internship, fill out the online form and use the buttons below to upload the following documents in PDF format:
Cover letter clearly articulating the applicant’s interest in death penalty defense or criminal defense work
Current resume
Phone number and email address for one professional reference
If you are a law student seeking to volunteer at CDPL during the school year, please apply on our Volunteers page.
CDPL complies with the letter and spirit of all federal, state, and local employment discrimination laws and does not discriminate based on race, age, sex, religion, national origin, marital status, family responsibility, gender identity, sexual orientation, veteran status, or disability.
