The Cook County Public Defender’s Office is recruiting interns for the Spring semester. Ideally, and for the sake of continuity, they would like interns who would be able to commit to two semesters.
Below, in brief, highlights both the skillset required of the interns and a general overview of duties.
The specific work is "sentencing mitigation." In short, the attorneys and interns make the effort to convince judges and/or the State to sentence clients to non-prison terms (specifically, probation–which is rare), or to prison terms which are close to the statutory minimum.
This is done via "telling the client's story," usually in the form of a written report. Obviously, this entails getting to know that client, members of her/his support system, and the issues that beset the client. Accordingly, they require interns with sound interviewing and people skills, a willingness to visit the clients' supporters in neighborhoods from where their clients hail, and it is imperative that the interns are able to write reasonably well. The vast majority of their clients are confined at the Cook County Jail. Thus, the interns must be willing to meet with those clients, one-on-one.
The interns they have selected in the past have had previous direct experience with their type of client base which is made up of a large percentage of indigent individuals.
The work of "doing mitigation" is not for everyone. It can be emotionally-taxing and unsettling. “Mitigation” often involves working with clients who have been convicted of crimes that may be at odds with your own moral compass. Interns interested in these positions would have to be willing to put their own personal concerns aside to work with assigned clients.
Interested students are encouraged to contact Alvin Hill, Public Defender, Cook County Public Defender’s Office via email at alvin.hill@cookcountyil.gov
