The Judicial Resources Committee of the United States Judicial Conference and Just the Beginning – A Pipeline Organization are pleased to announce the annual Summer Judicial Internship Diversity Project (“SJID Project”). The SJID Project’s goal is to provide highly qualified law students from underrepresented backgrounds in the legal profession with summer judicial internships in the chambers of federal and state appellate judges, federal district judges, and federal bankruptcy and magistrate judges. The SJID Project is national in scope and seeks to place approximately 120 law students as judicial interns across the country.
Interns will have the opportunity to draft bench memoranda, judicial orders, and opinions on a variety of substantive matters, including motions to dismiss, motions for summary judgment, magistrate judge reports, and habeas corpus petitions. Applicants should possess strong research and writing skills and be prepared to handle the rigors of working in a court.
There are two rounds of review to select interns. In the first screening, the reviewers evaluate the application documents and look for minimal typographical errors; demonstrated ability to follow directions; 3.0 grade point average; and any supplemental considerations when a candidate has exhibited a need or ability. Students who do not go beyond the first screening are offered resources to improve their chances of obtaining a judicial internship in the future. During the second screening, the reviewers interview candidates to evaluate their level of preparation, professionalism, and response to substantive questions. Students who pass the first and second round of review are then matched to judges primarily based on the student’s geographic preference and residence. Judges will likely conduct their own interview to select the candidate that is the best fit for their chambers. More information about the review process can be found on page six.
Applicants must commit to two mandatory training workshops and hired interns must complete a legal writing assignment due in April 2024 to prepare them for the internship. Interns will also participate in SJID Project Toolkit, bi-weekly sessions in the summer that will provide resources and support throughout their internship. Candidates must be available to work full-time as an intern for a minimum of seven weeks.
Applicants are strongly encouraged to seek law school or non-profit funding and scholarships. Applicants are also encouraged to seek school credit hours or use the internship hours for pro bono certification. Please contact your law school’s career advisor to explore funding options available to students. JTB will fundraise to provide a small stipend to students who (1) do not receive course credit, (2) do not receive a stipend from a JTB partner listed below, or (3) do not receive a stipend from any other outside source.
JTB has partnered with multiple organizations to help secure funding for interns.
• Federal Magistrate Judges Association (“FMJA”): Six students matched with federal magistrate judges will receive a $2,500 stipend from the FMJA and will be designated as FMJA Fellows. All interns matched with magistrate judges through JTB will have the opportunity to apply for the stipend through the FMJA.
• National Conference of Bankruptcy Judges: Six students matched with federal bankruptcy judges will receive a stipend from the NCBJ (amount TBA) and will be designated as NCBJ Fellows. All interns matched with bankruptcy judges through JTB will have the opportunity to apply for the stipend through the NCBJ.
• International Women’s Insolvency and Restructuring Confederation (“IWIRC”): Six female students matched with bankruptcy judges will receive a stipend from the IWIRC and will be designated IWIRC Fellows. All female interns matched with bankruptcy judges through JTB will have the opportunity to apply for the stipend through the IWIRC.
• American College of Trial Lawyers (“ACTL”): The ACTL will select interns from the SJID project to be part of their mentorship program with ACTL Fellows, prestigious trial attorneys. Select interns will also be funded by the ACTL.
TO APPLY: Click HERE to apply or visit our website, jtb.org.
Paper applications will not be accepted. The application will ask applicants to submit the following materials.
• a cover letter explaining the applicant's interest in participating in the Summer Judicial Internship Diversity Project and the importance of diversity in the legal field. Please address your cover letter to Cristina Figueroa, Program Director 70 W. Madison St. Suite 2900, Chicago IL. 60602.
• a resume.
• a law school transcript, official or unofficial (if first semester 1L grades are unavailable at the time of the deadline, please upload an undergraduate transcript and send your law school grades to sjidproject@jtb.org as they become available).
• a writing sample (no more than 10 pages in length).
• a list of three references (no family members, please).
• a signed Memorandum of Understanding (see page 3). This document stipulates the requirements and expectations of the program.
General application questions can be directed to sjidproject@jtb.org.
Deadline: 11:59 p.m. EST on January 14, 2024, or until capacity is reached. Early submissions are highly encouraged.