Semesters offered:

Type:

Categories:

SITE DESCRIPTION

Legal externs working in the DeKalb County Solicitor-General’s office will be exposed to all aspects of misdemeanor prosecution in DeKalb County.  They will learn the professional, ethical, and procedural aspects of screening, assessing, and prosecuting misdemeanor crimes in DeKalb County, while working with the assistant solicitors-general, investigators, and victim-witness advocates in our office.  The students may assist in case investigation, assessment, charging, motions, and trials.   When the schedule allows, interns may do a jail tour, visit the medical examiner’s office, and participate in various trainings and other attorney meetings.

3L students authorized to practice in a prosecutor’s office will be assigned to a trial division to work under the supervision of the division attorneys and may assist with the following: investigations, witness interviews, securing evidence, charging and accusations, arraignments, bond hearings, plea negotiations, motions hearings, trial preparation, and trials.  Supervised 3Ls may appear in court as student prosecutors in misdemeanor cases at all stages of the prosecution.  Work assignments will vary and depend on the court and the student’s schedule but every effort will be made to give each student under supervision the opportunity to try several cases.

STUDENT QUALIFICATIONS

Prerequisites:

  • Criminal Law
  • Eligibility to practice under the Law School Public Prosecutor Act as a 3L, which requires that the student (1) be in good academic standing (at least 2.2 GPA), (2) have earned at least two-thirds (58 hours) of the J.D. requirements in not fewer than four semesters or six quarters of residence, and (3) be of good moral character

 Preferences:

  • Criminal Procedure
  • Evidence
  • Litigation
  • Constitutional Law
  • Bigger blocks of time that start in the morning allow for more court opportunity.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

  • Students may not work with any organizations which practice criminal law in DeKalb County while participating in this externship.
  • For summer 3L placements, a full-time, full-week schedule is better to allow the extern to get the most court opportunities, so 40 hours per week for at least 7 weeks is preferred. This hour commitment is in excess of the course requirements. Students applying must agree to this additional hour requirement.