Student Practice ACT Externship; Rising L Law Students

What Success Looks Like In This Job

Joining our Student Practice Act Internship program is the first step towards a career as a prosecutor with the 17th Judicial District Attorney's Office. Our program offers great experience to grow your skills. We pride ourselves in our dedication to training and preparing Student Practice Act Interns for their future service to the community.

Under the supervision of licensed deputy district attorneys, interns handle a docket of either or both traffic and misdemeanor cases. This includes initial and ongoing case review (including to ensure provability and to ensure information is properly made available to the defense), follow-up with law enforcement agencies, negotiations with defense counsel, meeting with witnesses and victims, motions and trial. Deputies spend a considerable amount of time in court and professional judgment is critical.

This includes, but is not limited to trying cases and establishing that elements of a crime have been proven beyond a reasonable doubt. Trials consist of jury selection, opening statements, direct and cross examination of witnesses, and closing arguments. Interns are expected to demonstrate appropriate demeanor and professionalism in court. Interns research and respond to a wide variety of defense motions, including motions for the suppression of evidence.

This also involves preparing motions on behalf of the People.

Education:

Candidates are required to currently be attending law school and must be qualified to practice under the student practice act prior to starting the 3L Student Practice Act Internship. See C.R.C.P. Rule 205.7.

• Ability to advocate legal and factual scenarios in a clear and persuasive manner to judges and jurors.
• Ability to rapidly assess cases for strengths versus weaknesses and aggravators versus mitigators to determine just and ethical dispositions that are within policies promulgated by the District Attorney.
• Ability to recognize situations warranting potential policy/procedure exceptions, and the ability to effectively advocate for alternative resolutions. Ability to react quickly and appropriately in court to defense objections, oral motions, court inquiries and rulings, and presentations/responses from defense attorneys and witnesses.
• This position involves the ability to effectively process and dispose of a high volume of criminal case filings while maintaining a balance of equal justice between victims, the People of the State of Colorado, and affected defendants.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with superiors, co-workers, defense attorneys, pro se defendants, victims, witnesses, judges, court staff, law enforcement and related agencies' personnel, press/media reporters, and the general public; ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, with same.

Adams County and the 17th Judicial District Attorney's Office complies with Colorado’s Job Application Fairness Act (“JAFA”). JAFA prohibits employers from asking individuals to disclose their age, date of birth, or dates of school attendance or graduation on an initial employment application. However, additional application materials such as certifications this information may be required for certain positions; if such additional materials are requested, applicants may redact information that identifies the applicant’s age, date of birth, or dates or attendance or graduation.

Employees within this job classification do not qualify for benefits.