Internships
Summer 2019 interns
The Northwestern District Attorney’s Office offers the opportunity for undergraduate college students and law school students to participate in unpaid internship programs during the fall semester, spring semester, and/or summer. Applicants should be reliable and well-organized students who can successfully balance their studies with their work at the office.
The Northwestern District Attorney's Office is strongly committed to diversity and supports the advancement of women and people of color. We believe the office should reflect the population it serves. People of color, disabled individuals, and members of the LGBTQ community are strongly encouraged to apply.
Undergraduate Students:
"It was an incredibly opportunity to intern in the District Attorney's Office. I was able to work with many people doing a range of projects from preparing intake packets, pulling court lists, preparing conference materials to working closely in the drafting of a UVisa letter to assist with an immigrant application to USCIS"
"I felt very connected to the work being done in the Child Abuse Unit. It was incredibly rewarding to work collaboratively with the Assistant District Attorney, Family Service Advocate and Forensic Interviewer as they passionately worked to seek justice for child victims"
Law Students:
"This internship program is a wonderful opportunity for law students to see directly how a prosecutor makes decisions and works inside of the courtroom. During my time as a 3:03 student attorney I was able to make bail arguements, prepare and submit responses to motions to the Court, prepare witnesses for motion hearings and trial and participate in plea agreements."
"This internship provided me with excellent first-hand experience in both the courtroom and with legal writing skills. My time working in court cemented my decision to become a prosecutor."
Administrative Internship
As an undergraduate intern with the Northwestern District Attorney's Office, students have the opportunity to learn about the criminal justice system firsthand. They work closely with all levels of staff, from assistant district attorneys to support staff, as well as have contact with other court and law enforcement staff. An intern working in one of our offices or units can be expected to assist with any of the following duties:
- Collecting and analyzing statistics
- Doing research and special studies on issues affecting individual cases
- Assembling reports, documents or manuals for distribution
- Performing any related clerical work, as required, including answering telephones, & photocopying
Child Abuse Internship
Interns within the Child Abuse Unit will have the opportunity to learn about the multiple systems involved in the investigation of child abuse and how these systems work together to conduct investigations. They will have the opportunity to attend and observe a S.A.I.N (Sexual Assault Intervention Network) meeting and will observe court proceedings. Interns may assist in compiling trial notebooks for Assistant District Attorneys as well as collect and organize data and statistics relative to the abuse and assualt of children.
Consumer Protection Internship
Interns in the Consumer Protection Unit are directly involved in consumer casework. This consists of fielding consumer calls, assessing problems, conveying information, sending correspondence, referring consumers to other agencies, and working on special projects as they may arise. Interns may also mediate cases between businesses and consumers. Eligible candidates for an internship must have the ability to keep accurate administrative records as well as the ability to maintain the utmost confidentiality in regards to consumer information.
Juvenile Justice Internship
The Northwestern District Attorney's Juvenile Justice Program balances prosecution with prevention services, thereby providing an effective response to juvenile crime in Hampshire and Franklin Counties and the town of Athol. The program offers a comprehensive array of services that address the effects of juvenile delinquency and violence in our schools and communities.
Possible internships include working in Juvenile Court with a Juvenile Diversion Specialist and/or working on specific prevention initiatives. An intern working in one of our Juvenile Justice Unit units can be expected to assist with any of the following duties:
- Assist diversion specialist with processing of diversion referrals
- Assist in contacting families by phone/mail with resource information
- Assist in reaching out to community partners to better understand their services and what they can offer for families/youth
- Assist with school presentations on various topics that cause youth to have contact with the Juvenile Unit
- Assist in compiling Diversion Program statistics
Legal Internship
First-Year Law Students who have completed their first year of law school are assigned where they will be involved primarily in legal research-related assignments in either the Appellate or District Court Units. They may assist in the preparation of felony and misdemeanor prosecutions and be allowed to observe courtroom activities. In addition, these volunteer law clerks may be asked to assist with any of the functions listed above for undergraduate interns, depending on the needs of the office or unit.
Law Students who are in their second or third year of law school and have completed courses in Evidence and Civil Procedure are eligible for certification under SJC Rule 3:03. This certification allows them to make supervised appearances in District Court as a certified law student. Whenever possible students are involved in all facets of criminal case activity, including attending court, conducting routine preliminary hearings and misdemeanor prosecutions as well as being involved in sustained major legal research and writing projects. Certified law students are typically assigned to working closely with assistant district attorneys in one of our offices.
Victim Witness Assistance Internship
The Victim Witness Assistance Unit of our office provides comprehensive advocacy and support to victims and witnesses of crime. Our Victim Advocates work to ensure that crime victims and their families are provided the services and information necessary to be an integral part of the criminal case process. We are looking for compassionate, responsible, and motivated interns to help us achieve our mission of ensuring that victims are treated fairly and that their voices are heard.
(Click here to see the NWDA-produced video about the court process and Victim/Witness Services.)
Application Deadlines
- Spring Semester - by December 1st
- Summer Internship - by March 1st
- Fall Semester - by August 1st
Students wishing to apply for an internship must:
- Complete all fields below
- Upload both a cover letter and resume
- Submit the form
The cover letter and resume must be in the form of PDF or MS Word documents.
If you experience any technical difficulties with this process, please contact Martha Murphy Kane, NWDA Director of Operations, by sending her a message here, or calling (413) 586-9225.
Once all applications have been received, we will contact you at the email address you provided to coordinate a Skype Interview.
(* Indicates a required field)