Course Description: Federal Public Defender Internship
- Taught by Susan Klein and Horatio Aldredge
- 2 credits (pass/fail) per semester
- Students are encouraged to commit to both fall and spring semesters, but one semester applications will also be considered.
- Students should expect to spend one day per week at the Federal Public Defender’s Office in downtown Austin.
- Students must intern in person at their placement; only incidental remote work is permitted.
- This program is open to students who have completed their first two semesters.
This internship program offers students the opportunity to apply for for-credit internship positions with the Austin Federal Public Defender’s Office. Students will assist in the defense of federal criminal cases under the supervision of Supervisory Assistant Federal Public Defender Horatio R. Aldredge, 504 Lavaca St., Suite 960, Austin, TX 78701-2860. While the internship requires a 10 hour per week commitment, not all those hours must be completed at the Fed. Public Defender’s office – many can be done at school or at home. Students should expect to spend one day per week at the office or in federal court.
Students earn 2 credits (pass/fail) for the fall semester and, if they enroll in the spring, they earn another 2 credits (pass/fail) for spring semester. Students are encouraged to commit to a full academic year of internship study, but one semester applications will also be considered. This internship program is not available during either summer session.
While not required, students may wish to enroll in Adv. Fed. Crim. Prosecution and Defense, Federal Criminal Law, Criminal Procedure, and Evidence, but these courses are not required.
The application deadline for the fall 2024 term or the full academic year is March 25, 2024.
The application deadline for the spring 2025 term is October 7, 2024. Students should know whether they are accepted before early registration on October 21, and will definitely know before regular registration on November 4, 2024.
To apply, please email a copy of your cover letter, resume and transcript (unofficial is fine) to Prof. Susan Klein at sklein@law.utexas.edu and to Assistant Federal Public Defender Horatio Aldredge at horatio_aldredge@fd.org. Please indicate which semester you are applying for. There is no additional application form.
Students interested in this internship should stop by Prof. Klein’s office at TNH 3.207 during her office hours on Wednesdays from 4:00 – 5:30, or call her at (512) 203-2257. Students may also call Prof. Aldredge at (512) 916-5025. Interviews will be conducted at the Career Services Office or via Zoom.