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Law Clerk Internship Program 2024/2025

The District of Columbia’s Office of Police Complaints (OPC) is seeking several enthusiastic and dedicated law school students to work as law clerks. OPC is an independent government agency that receives, investigates, and resolves citizen complaints of police misconduct filed against Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers. OPC provides an independent and impartial forum for the processing of police misconduct complaints and promotes the highest attainable standard of integrity, professionalism, and accountability in the District’s police department.

Law clerks work alongside experienced staff on a variety of projects. The primary duties of law school interns are to (1) conduct legal research and write legal memoranda on issues related to police misconduct and the operations of the agency; (2) conduct best practices research and draft proposals for police reform; and (3) work with MPD, attorneys, advocacy groups, and local and federal agencies on issues affecting police accountability.

Fall/Spring clerks must be currently enrolled law students and commit to 12 hours minimum per week to be considered for this program. Fall/Spring internships are unpaid but can be done in conjunction with a course for academic credit. 

Summer clerks are paid and must commit to working 40 hours per week for 10 weeks to be considered for the program and must complete their second year of law school before starting the internship.

Applicants should have strong interpersonal skills and be able to work with diverse populations. Courses in government, public policy, civil rights, and criminal justice are viewed favorably, as are foreign language skills especially Spanish. Law clerks also should have strong legal research, analysis, and writing skills, and be familiar with electronic legal research databases.

Applications should include a brief cover letter, résumé, transcript, and writing sample.

APPLICATION DEADLINES ARE:

Fall 2024 - August 23, 2024

Spring 2025 - December 13, 2024

Summer 2025 - March 28, 2025 (will accept applications earlier)

Applicants must apply for the law student academic internships on OPC’s website at https://policecomplaints.dc.gov/page/office-police-complaints-opc-internship-application-form

For more information about OPC and the internship program, please contact internship.dcpc@dc.gov or visit OPC’s website at https://policecomplaints.dc.gov/page/internship-program.