PAO Welcomes Its Summer Legal Interns and Externs

Each summer, the PAO welcomes dozens of legal interns and externs who spend their summer learning about criminal and civil legal issues and getting valuable work experience.   Under Rule 9 of the Admission to Practice Rules, students who have completed their second year of law school, along with certain key course requirements, are authorized to practice law on a limited basis under the supervision of a licensed practicing attorney.   Rule 9 Legal Interns are assigned to District  and Juvenile Court, where they spend the summer trying misdemeanor cases.   For the Rule 9 Interns, it is a guaranteed opportunity to get valuable courtroom experience.  For the PAO, it is often a wonderful rite of passage.   The vast majority of our DPAs were former Rule 9 Interns.

Legal externs are students who have completed their first year of law school and either work at the PAO in exchange for law school course credit or volunteer their time.   This experience offers externs the opportunity to learn about criminal and civil law, conduct legal research on criminal law issues, and to observe trials.   For our DPAs, it is a welcome source of additional help and an opportunity to introduce law students to an exciting practice area.   The PAO is grateful for this year's class of externs and Rule 9 Interns.  It is a privilege to launch the legal careers of so many future lawyers.

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