3L Law Student Summer Internship – 2Ls also invited to apply
Cheboygan County Office of Assigned Counsel for Indigent Defense
Location
Cheboygan County is one of the lower peninsula’s northernmost counties and borders the Straits of Mackinac and Lake Huron. This position will work at the Cheboygan County Office of Assigned Counsel for Indigent Defense located at the Cheboygan County Courthouse at 870 S. Main St in downtown Cheboygan, Michigan. Due to the interpersonal nature of this work and supervision requirements, remote work opportunities are limited but available.
About the Cheboygan County Office of Assigned Counsel for Indigent Defense
The Cheboygan County Office of Assigned Counsel for Indigent Defense represents indigent defendants charged with criminal offenses in Cheboygan County. The Office of Assigned Counsel provides legal representation services for the majority of all criminal offenses committed in Cheboygan County that range from minor misdemeanor offenses to capital cases, which are punishable by a life sentence.
This position will work in a busy, fast-paced environment under the direction of the Managed Assigned Counsel Administrator and Chief Defender, Dr. Amber L. Libby. Dr. Libby and the Office Manager work fulltime in the office and are occasionally joined in the office by three private practice attorneys on contract to provide indigent services as well.
Law Intern Responsibilities
This position will work directly with clients under the guidance of a supervising attorney. The nature of this internship will reflect the typical scope of work for rural public defense attorneys, in that the intern will engage in every stage of the criminal legal process with clients instead of specializing in one particular stage. The responsibilities for this position include but are not limited to the completion of arraignments, supporting investigations through the review of transcripts, conducting client interviews and legal research, drafting motions and appeals, and advocating for clients in District Court and Circuit Court. This position may have the opportunity to sit second chair during a trial depending on case circumstances.
Qualifications
Ideal applicants will be rising 3Ls who will have two years of law school experience prior to the start of this internship in late May 2025, although rising 2Ls are also encouraged to apply. Recent law school graduates are welcome to apply but must have a graduation date of less than one year from the last day of the internship (early August 2025) to qualify.
Applicants must possess a valid driver’s license and their own vehicle to commute to the courthouse. Cheboygan County does not have sufficient public transportation infrastructure to support individuals who lack reliable and daily access to a personal vehicle.
Interested applicants should have a basic understanding of the criminal legal system and a passion for providing outstanding defense services to indigent clients.
Pay and Hours
This position will work Monday – Thursdays with the exception of holidays recognized by Cheboygan County. The rate of pay is approximately $15.62 per hour (32 hours per week) for 10 weeks for a total $5,000 living stipend. A housing stipend of up to $15,000 is available on a reimbursement-style basis. Please note that both the housing and living stipend are treated as taxable income.
How to Apply
To apply for this position, please send your resume and a cover letter to Dr. Amber L. Libby at ooac@cheboygancounty.net.
Funding for this position is pending approval by the Michigan Indigent Defense Commission. Information is subject to change.