LAW OFFICE OF THE PUBLIC DEFENDERCertified Legal Internship Program

Internship Opportunities

The Broward Public Defender’s Office offers two types of internships for law students and undergraduate students: Certified Legal Interns (CLI’s) and non-certified. Both programs afford invaluable experience working alongside Assistant Public Defenders. Unfortunately, we have no paid internships.

NOTE:  We offer internships only to students. We do not accept law school graduates or attorneys as volunteers.

CANDIDATE:Certified Legal Interns

In order to be eligible to become a CLI, a law student must do two things:

Obtain Florida Bar clearance for a CLI which takes approximately 3-6 months.

There are 2 options available:

Option 1-“Student Registration” for Florida Bar Admission:

This filing status begins the processing track for bar admission in Florida. It also provides the registrant clearance that is one of the eligibility requirements for participating in a Certified Legal Internship program. If filed by the earliest deadline provided under rule 2-23.1(a), the filing fee is $75. Students who anticipate pursuing admission to the Florida Bar upon graduation should choose this option.  From the Florida Bar Exam Home page click on “checklists,” and then select “Register as a First Year Student.”

Option 2- “Certified Legal Intern (CLI)” Registration:

This filing status provides CLI clearance only; it does not pursue admission to practice law in Florida. If filed within the first 250 days of beginning law school, the filing fee is $75; if filed after the first 250 days of beginning law school, the filing fee is $150. From the Florida Bar Exam Home page click on “checklists,” and then select “Register for Certified Legal Internship Clearance only.”

Note: Filing a Student Registration (Option 1) or a Certified Legal Intern clearance (Option 2) does not guarantee clearance by the Florida Bar to become a Certified Legal Intern. Detailed information about background will be required as well as “character and fitness” approval by the Florida Board of Bar examiners to become a Certified Legal Intern. Since this process can take a while, it is strongly suggested this application process begins in the first semester of law school.

Be enrolled in a law school practice program

The student must receive clearance from the Florida Bar. To receive clearance, the student must be duly enrolled in a law school practice program in the United States that  is approved by the American Bar Association. Additionally, the student must have completed at least 4 semesters or 6 quarters of legal studies, and have earned no less than 48 semester hours or 72 quarter hours – or the equivalent thereof – of academic credit.  The student will register for the school’s Criminal Law Clinic or Externship, and complete an application for CLI certification with the school’s clinic/externship staff. The Dean of the law school will certify the student, and will contact us for our agreement to supervise and then the clinic/externship staff will submit the CLI application to the Florida Supreme Court for approval.

How to Apply

LAW OFFICE OF THE PUBLIC DEFENDER
Human Resources Department
Broward County Courthouse
201 SE 6th Street, Suite 3872
Third Floor, North Wing
Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33301
E-MAIL
internship@browarddefender.org
TELEPHONE
1-954-831-6111
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Law Office of the Public Defender, Broward County Judicial Complex 201 SE 6th Street, Suite 3872 Third Floor, North Wing Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301
1 954 831 8650

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