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Internships/Careers
The Bucks County District Attorney’s Office features the premier summer internship program in the Philadelphia area for law students. Every summer the office hires second-year law students to work as Certified Legal Interns as well as first-year law students. The Summer Internship Program runs for ten weeks, typically from the end of May to the beginning of August. The interns are reimbursed for their work through their respective law school’s work-study program.
Over the past few years, the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office Summer Internship Program has accepted students from law schools throughout the area, including the following:
- American University
- Duquesne University School of Law
- Pennsylvania State University Dickinson School of Law
- Rutgers University School of Law
- Seton Hall University School of Law
- Temple University James E Beasley School of Law
- University of Pennsylvania Law School
- University of Pittsburgh School of Law
- Villanova University School of Law
- Widener University School of Law
Full-Time Positions
When hiring for full-time positions, the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office has always made it a practice to first consider those applicants that worked in the Summer Internship Program. At the current time, many of the Assistant District Attorney’s employed by the District Attorney’s Office began their careers in the Summer Internship Program.
Applications for full-time positions are accepted on a rolling basis. If interested in applying, please send a cover letter and resume to Deputy District Attorney A.J. Garabedian at ajgarabedian@buckscounty.org.
Apply for Internship
Students seeking to apply for the Summer Internship Program should submit their application directly to Assistant District Attorney Julia K. Wilkins at jkwilkins@buckscounty.org between the November and February months before the summer they wish to work. The application should include a cover letter, resume, writing sample, and law school transcript. Interested students should also review the criteria listed to ensure they meet the necessary qualifications.
Second-Year Law School Students
Intern Responsibilities
Interns have two primary responsibilities. First, interns conduct preliminary hearings for criminal cases before local District Justices. Second, interns work closely with attorneys in the office on researching and writing appellate briefs. In addition to those responsibilities, interns will have ample opportunity to observe court proceedings for criminal cases currently being prosecuted in the Court of Common Pleas. Interns will also have the opportunity to visit various facilities in Bucks County, including the Bucks County Correctional Facility, the Police Training Center, local police departments, and laboratories utilized by the DA’s Office.
Applicant Requirements
All applicants for the second-year law school internship must have the following:
- The access to a vehicle for daily use
- Completed two full years of law school prior to the start of the internship
- The desire to obtain intensive courtroom experience as a prosecutor
- Excellent grades
- Secured Certified Legal Internship status through the Pennsylvania Supreme Court (see your law school career planning office for details)
First-Year Law School Students
Intern Responsibilities
This person works closely with all of the prosecutors in the office on research projects for cases currently being prosecuted, as well as on appeals pending in the state and federal appellate courts. This is an extremely unique position that allows a first-year law student to gain an excellent understanding of what it takes to be a prosecutor. This intern is also well positioned to apply for the second-year law student internship program the following summer. In addition to those responsibilities, interns will have ample opportunity to observe court proceedings for criminal cases currently being prosecuted in the Court of Common Pleas. Interns will also have the opportunity to visit various facilities in Bucks County, including the Bucks County Correctional Facility, the Police Training Center, local police departments, and laboratories utilized by the District Attorney's Office.
Applicant Requirements
All applicants for the first-year law student internship must have the following:
- The access to a vehicle for daily use
- Completed one full year of law school prior to the start of the internship
- The desire to pursue a career with the District Attorney’s Office
- Excellent grades
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Julia K. Wilkins
Assistant District Attorney