Federal Public Defender Office Externship

This full-year externship is available for the 2015-2016 academic year in Rockford, Illinois. It will require a twelve-hour-per-week commitment for three hours of pass/fail credit each semester. A 711 license is not required. Under the supervision on-site by Federal Public Defender Paul Gaziano, the extern will research and write memoranda, motions and briefs for pre-trial and post-conviction issues and sentencing hearings. In addition, he or she will attend and observe various court proceedings.
Clinical Professor Paul Cain will be the faculty supervisor with whom the extern will meet on a regular basis to discuss the externship experience.

In order to apply for this externship, please submit an externship application available on the experiential learning website and the following documents to Paul Cain at pcain@niu.edu by Friday, August 28. Please include the following four items as email attachments in Word or PDF format:

• a cover letter explaining your interest in this position 
• an unofficial transcript 
• a resume, and 
• a writing sample (maximum length 10 pages) 

After reviewing the submitted documents, Professor Cain will screen the applicants to select the final three candidates. He will then send their names and contact information to Federal Public Defender Gaziano, whose office will contact the three candidates to arrange for an interview and make the final selection. If you have any questions about this process or the externship itself, please do not hesitate to contact Professor Cain at pcain@niu.edu or 815-962- 9980.