Summer Internship

Paid Legal Internship — Texas RioGrande Public Defender

Location: Rural jurisdictions across South and West Texas
Position Type: Internship (Summer / Academic Year)
Practice Areas: Criminal Defense, Trial Advocacy, Public Interest Law

About the Texas RioGrande Public Defender (TRGPD)

Texas RioGrande Public Defender (TRGPD) serves eleven (11) rural Texas counties. Currently, TRGPD has public defender offices in Beeville, Victoria, and Eagle Pass. Each of these offices provides indigent defense for one or more of the counties near the office locations. TRGPD attorneys are frontline advocates who have engaged in the movement to transform the criminal justice system and challenge the injustices faced by indigent defendants in rural south Texas for over a decade. TRGPD provides complete, vertical representation from intake to resolution. Except for cases involving a conflict of interest or the death penalty, TRGPD represents persons accused of crimes from initial arrest to final appeal. TRGPD delivers client-centered services to address unique needs and limited resources available to clients residing in rural and border communities. Special initiatives within the program include advice on the immigration consequences of a criminal conviction, mental health advocacy, assistance with applying for government aid and/or housing, and assistance with substance abuse as alternative solutions to incarceration. With caseload controls, staff investigators, mental health and substance abuse caseworkers, and a litigation budget, TRGPD is deeply committed to zealous, high-quality representation in rural South Texas. We offer the advantage of having robust staff support with a 1-1 attorney-to-support staff ratio, and the flexibility and willingness to support employee growth.  

Position Overview

Legal interns with the Texas RioGrande Public Defender will assist staff attorneys with all aspects of casework—from client intake through trial. This position offers a rare opportunity to gain substantial courtroom and client experience early in one’s legal career while contributing to meaningful public defense work.

Interns will be an integral part of the defense team, working directly with attorneys, investigators, and mitigation specialists to advance our clients’ interests in and out of court.

Key Responsibilities

• Conduct legal research and drafting of motions, memoranda, and case summaries.
• Participate in client interviews, jail visits, and case preparation meetings.
• Observe and, where appropriate, assist with court appearances, hearings, and trials.
• Support attorneys in fact investigation, discovery review, and trial strategy development.
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary team members to ensure holistic, client-centered representation.

Qualifications

• Current law student (1L, 2L, or 3L) in good academic standing.
• Strong commitment to public interest law and serving disadvantaged populations.
• Excellent legal research, writing, and oral communication skills.
• Demonstrated initiative, teamwork, and ability to thrive in a dynamic environment.
• Willingness to travel and work in rural jurisdictions where the need is greatest.
• Spanish proficiency is a plus but not required.

Compensation

TRGPD will provide a $4,000 stipend for a full summer of work and $2,000 for a half summer.

Why Join TRGPD

At TRGPD, interns gain unparalleled exposure to criminal defense practice in real-world settings—learning not only the law but the humanity behind it. Our program emphasizes mentorship, litigation experience, and professional development in service of communities too often left behind.