Internships

Every year we train and place 20-30 interns with capital defenders in the US.  These interns provide an invaluable resource for the over-worked lawyers and carry out work that would simply not get done without them. 

This covers everything from photocopying and summarising documents to legal research, interviewing people connected to the case or visiting the defendant on death row.

"Amicus has sent scores and scores of interns to fight the death penalty all over the U.S.  The assistance of interns in the various death penalty offices around the country has been immeasurable.  In short, the charity has saved lives."

Nick Trenticosta, Centre for Equal Justice, Louisiana

Becoming an intern in an office literally dealing with matters of life and death is a challenging and rewarding experience.  It is not something to be undertaken lightly.  Many of our interns have described their time in the US as life-changing.  As one put it: 

"Meeting and working for the men on death row is an experience I am never going to forget.  It was hard but I would do it again in a heartbeat.  The lawyers I worked with were friendly and supportive and I came to admire them very much.  The legal system in the US is shocking in its denial of people's basic rights to due process.  I am proud to have played a small part in putting that right".

Some of the personal requirements of an intern can be specified - knowledge of the law pertaining to capital punishment and an understanding of societal differences in the USA, for example.  We also look for qualities that are less easily quantified: an ability to think on your feet, resilience, an abundance of common sense and an ability to read people of a difference culture, to name but a few.

Amicus has built a solid relationship with a network of law offices desperate for committed interns to help with the fight to protect the legal rights of those facing capital punishment.  The offices are understaffed and under resourced.  Since its formation Amicus has helped interns provide thousands of hours of research, interviewing and other vital tasks as they seek to save the lives of their clients.

If you think an internship might be for you, read on. 

Amicus places interns across the USA but the majority of offices are in the deep south. The programme has no deadlines. Applications are accepted and interviews scheduled throughout the year. The minimum commitment is three months and interns are self-funding. Amicus can offer advice on ways of raising money based on the successful strategies of previous interns. If you are interested in applying you might find it useful to talk to someone who has completed an internship. Please contact the Amicus office and we will be happy to put you in touch with someone who can talk to you about their experiences.

Download the application form to apply for an internship.  For further information contact Piers Bannister.