Innocence & Justice Louisiana’s Internship and Externship Programs provide undergraduates and law students with hands-on experience in innocence and post-conviction work. 

Our interns/externs work to address the root causes of wrongful convictions and unjust sentences by assisting attorneys and investigators with the investigation and litigation of individual cases and contributing to policy work that seeks to dismantle systemic racism and inequity.

Interns work closely with the legal and non-legal staff of Innocence & Justice Louisiana and are exposed to a variety of experiences. Students may conduct legal research and draft memoranda, pleadings, and briefs for litigation. The substantive issues primarily involve criminal law, criminal procedure, constitutional law, habeas corpus law, and appellate practice and procedure. Students may also work directly with clients, conduct investigations on cases, monitor court proceedings, and assist in the development of publications, reports, and educational resources for policymakers and the public.

Legal Internship Programs

Summer Legal / Undergraduate Internship: an 8-10 week, 40-hour per week, summer program for undergraduate, graduate, and law students. Students begin with a multi-day orientation and training program and are assigned supervisors based on abilities and interests. The summer program includes bi-weekly brown bag lunches, activities with other non-profit organizations, and field trips. Past events have included trips to the Whitney Plantation, Legacy Museum at Montgomery, Alabama, baseball games, and other activities.

The deadline to apply for summer legal/undergrad internships is March 14, 2027, but earlier applications are encouraged because they are reviewed on a rolling basis.

Spring / Fall Externship: a semester-long program for undergraduate, graduate, and law students able to work 10-20 hours per week. The part-time externship is flexible and can be done for pro bono service or class credits. We are no longer accepting applications for fall 2026; however, we are accepting applications for spring 2027. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Qualifications and Materials
We accept applications from all levels of undergraduate, graduate, and law students and international applicants. Successful applicants will have a demonstrated interest in some aspect of our work (post-conviction law, indigent defense, investigation, criminal justice reform, and/or criminal law), but no specific coursework or experience is required.

How to Apply for Legal Internships
Submit the following documents in a SINGLE PDF file:

• Cover letter explaining your interest in the position
• Current résumé, including GPA
• Writing sample, no more than 10 pages, that demonstrates analytic, writing, and editing ability
• Name your application file with your full name and position applied for (i.e. Jane Doe_Summer Law Clerkship; John Roe_ Fall Undergraduate Externship)
• Email application as an attachment to Intern@justicelouisiana.org.

Once we have reviewed and evaluated applications, selected applicants will be contacted to interview. Please do not call to inquire about your application status.

Innocence & Justice Louisiana is always looking for volunteers to help us in the office in New Orleans and at our events held across Louisiana. To join our volunteer community, please email info@JusticeLouisiana.org. We are fortunate to receive many inquiries from the public wanting to volunteer with us. If there is a volunteer project that matches your skills and interests, we will contact you.