Job Description
Overview THE NEIGHBORHOOD DEFENDER SERVICE is building a community-based, client-centered, holistic public defense office in Wayne County and we invite you to join our team as we represent our clients with excellence. Building on 30 years of experience of providing high quality representation, we are expanding our efforts to bring the same caliber of representation to the communities of Wayne County. We are seeking a team of highly organized, self-driven, and resilient individuals dedicated to our mission. The Criminal Defense Practice at NDS Detroit will represent residents of Wayne County who are charged with felony crimes and cannot afford to hire a lawyer. Clients are represented by teams composed of lawyers, investigators, social workers, client advocates, and team administrators. NDS adheres to a client-centered approach to representation that emphasizes a heightened responsiveness to clients' needs prior to arrest, while a case is pending, and after the
case concludes. NDS is committed to addressing the comprehensive legal and social service needs of clients while treating each client with dignity and respect.
Our Detroit office is currently accepting applications for law student internships for the summer of 2026. Interns gain experience assisting attorneys in preliminary examinations, motions hearings, and trials. Interns are assigned to a team and work with other team members, social workers and investigators in the holistic model. Graduates of our internship program often work as public defenders after law school, either at NDS or as an advocate of holistic defense elsewhere.
Responsibilities 1. Legal research as well as legal writing including memorandums, briefs, and mitigation work.
2. Discovery and file review.
3. Shadowing attorneys in court, during investigation, and at client meetings.
4. Conducting appropriate court hearings and client interviews with supervision.
5. Attending and participating in various training and office events.
Qualifications The ideal candidate
- Is in good standing at an ABA accredited Law School having completed at least their first year. Rising 3Ls are strongly encouraged to apply.
- Is self-motivated and dedicated.
- Is passionate about issues in criminal and racial justice.
- Applicants with previous criminal defense or criminal justice experience are encouraged to apply.
- Bi-lingual (Spanish or Arabic) individuals are encouraged to apply.
How to Apply: Interested applicants should submit a cover letter and resume as one document, preferably PDF. For more information about NDS, please visit our website at
The Neighborhood Defender Service is committed to creating a diverse environment that reflects the community we serve. NDS is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status. NDS values and specifically seeks applicants who are people with incarcerated loved ones, formerly incarcerated people, people of color, women, queer, transgender, gender non- conforming, and gender fluid people.
Job Tags
Summer work, Internship, Summer internship, Work at office,