Summer Intern - 2026

Job Description

Job Description

Salary : Unpaid

California Appellate Project is committed to cultivating a new generation of criminal defense attorneys. CAP recruits a small number of students for the summer of 2026. Under the supervision of an experienced post-conviction attorney, interns will help provide documentary support, record collection, investigative review, research, writing, and technical assistance to counsel who are appointed to represent indigent persons incarcerated on Californias death row.

Summer interns at CAP work full-time for at least 10 weeks. During this time CAP provides a week of intense legal training in addition assigning legal projects related to California death penalty cases. Remote Access Internships may be available. Examples of past work assignments that Summer Interns at CAP have completed includes :

• Researching life chronology, family history, and genealogy.Analyzing witness lists and trial testimony; create lists of additional witnesses.
• Researching and assessing the validity of expert testimony presented at trial.
• Summarizing the penalty phase of a trial transcript.
• Collecting and organizing litigation resource materials.
• Evaluating crime scene evidence.
• Reviewing trial testimony, witness statements, and police reports for discrepancies.
• Writing an authoritative article on the media gag rule and outsider access to prisoners on death row.
• Assisting in preparing litigation outlines and chronologies.
• Drafting memorandum on admissibility of evidence of gang affiliation.

CAP is committed to cultivating an environment that embraces and promotes diversity. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. Minorities and women are encouraged to apply. For interested applicants, send us a cover letter, resume, a writing sample, and the names and contact information for 2 references who are familiar with your work. California Appellate Project is committed to cultivating a new generation of criminal defense attorneys. CAP recruits a small number of students for the summer of 2026. We ask internship applicants to relate how their experience, training and work history have prepared them to understand and work well with the clients we serve and their communities.