Our opportunities
For Summer 2027, we are hiring undergraduate and law students for 40 paid positions across our trial and appellate offices statewide. Internships will run for 10 weeks starting in June and ending in August.
Applications are due by 11:59 p.m. on Dec. 6, 2026.
Law Student Practice Program
This exciting opportunity offers law students a taste of what life could be like as a public defender. Rising 2L and 3L students are given significant responsibility as they work directly with clients and learn from some of the most experienced defense attorneys in the state. Many of our law student interns go on to work at the SPD or other top defense firms in Wisconsin.
Paid and unpaid positions are available at all 40 SPD offices across the state. Students can work part-time during the school year or full-time in the summer.
Read the complete position description for our law student internships.
Paid undergraduate summer internships
- Investigation internship
- Investigation interns work with our talented team of public defender investigators to gather facts and evidence in support of trial attorneys. Interns may gain hands-on experience locating and interviewing witnesses, reviewing bodycam footage, or otherwise helping to build a strong defense for our clients.
- Paralegal internship
- Paralegal interns assist SPD attorneys with essential legal and organizational tasks. A day on the job could mean conducting client intake and interviews, performing legal research, or working with attorneys to prepare for trial.
- Client services internship
- Client services interns help our dedicated team of client services specialists connect clients with the resources they need. These interns will evaluate the social, emotional, and health needs of our clients in order to identify relevant treatment programs and alternatives to sentencing.
Read the complete position description for our undergraduate internships.
Law school clinics
Law students can also get involved with the SPD through clinics at both of Wisconsin’s law schools. For more information, contact the University of Wisconsin Law School’s Public Defender Project or Marquette University Law School’s Public Defender Clinic. Additionally, law students interested in working on criminal appeals cases can apply to UW Law’s Criminal Appeals Project.
Interested in other opportunities?
Other internships may be available in areas such as:
- Information Technology
- Government and Public Affairs
- Budget and Fiscal Services
Contact our HR department to learn more.
What our interns are saying:
“Nothing can teach you how to interact with clients or argue in court like actually doing it. And more than offering real-world experience, SPD is an environment where everybody wants you to succeed.”
Ileaha Anderson, 2025-2026
Madison Trial Office
“I didn’t just shadow – I co-chaired three felony jury trials as an SPD intern, and we won each of them. Witnessing what a dedicated defense can do for our clients has solidified my commitment to becoming a public defender.”
Regan Norton, 2024-2026
Green Bay Trial Office