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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Justice Investigator Intern

💰 $ - $

LegalGovernmentNon-ProfitInternshipCriminal Justice

🎯 Role Definition

The Justice Investigator Intern is a vital, hands-on role designed for individuals passionate about the legal system, civil rights, and social justice. This position functions as an integral part of our investigative and legal teams, providing critical support in the development of cases from intake through resolution. The intern will gain unparalleled exposure to the mechanics of legal investigation, including interviewing witnesses, collecting and analyzing evidence, and drafting foundational legal documents. This role is not just about observing; it's about actively contributing to the pursuit of fairness and accountability within the justice system under the direct mentorship of seasoned investigators and attorneys.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Undergraduate or Graduate programs in Criminal Justice, Law, Political Science, or Sociology.
  • Paralegal certificate programs.
  • Volunteer positions within legal aid or advocacy organizations.

Advancement To:

  • Staff Investigator or Junior Investigator.
  • Paralegal or Senior Paralegal.
  • Policy Analyst or Advocate.

Lateral Moves:

  • Compliance Analyst Intern.
  • Policy Research Associate.

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Conduct thorough and ethically sound interviews with clients, witnesses, family members, and other relevant individuals to gather detailed factual accounts and background information.
  • Assist senior investigators and attorneys in developing comprehensive case strategies by identifying key factual issues, potential evidence, and investigative leads.
  • Locate and retrieve a wide range of official and unofficial documents, including court records, police reports, medical records, and employment histories, through formal requests and database searches.
  • Meticulously review, organize, and summarize large volumes of discovery materials, deposition transcripts, and other case-related documents to identify critical information.
  • Draft clear, concise, and accurate investigative memoranda, declarations, and affidavits based on factual findings for use in legal proceedings.
  • Visit and document incident scenes, client residences, and other relevant locations, including taking precise measurements, photographs, and detailed notes.
  • Create and maintain detailed case files, evidence logs, and witness directories to ensure all information is organized, accessible, and properly preserved.
  • Perform comprehensive background investigations on individuals and entities using public records databases, social media, and other open-source intelligence techniques.
  • Serve subpoenas and other legal documents to witnesses and relevant parties in accordance with legal procedures and deadlines.
  • Collaborate with social workers, mitigation specialists, and subject matter experts to develop a holistic understanding of a client's life history and circumstances.
  • Analyze complex factual patterns and chronologies to identify inconsistencies, corroborating evidence, and avenues for further investigation.
  • Prepare detailed and compelling investigative reports that synthesize all gathered evidence and present a clear narrative of events for the legal team.
  • Maintain strict confidentiality and handle sensitive client information with the utmost discretion and professionalism at all times.
  • Observe court hearings, trials, and other legal proceedings to gain a practical understanding of the litigation process.
  • Assist in the preparation of demonstrative evidence, such as timelines, diagrams, and maps, for use in negotiations, hearings, or trial.
  • Conduct statutory and case law research related to specific factual issues or criminal procedures to support investigative and legal arguments.
  • Communicate updates and findings effectively to the supervising investigator and attorneys in a timely and structured manner.
  • Participate in case review meetings, offering insights and perspectives based on your direct investigative work.
  • Support clients by providing them with case updates, connecting them with resources, and explaining the investigative process in an accessible way.
  • Travel as needed to conduct field interviews, retrieve records, and visit locations relevant to the investigation.

Secondary Functions

  • Support ad-hoc data requests and perform exploratory analysis on case metrics and outcomes.
  • Contribute to the team's knowledge base by documenting new investigative techniques and resource contacts.
  • Collaborate with legal and administrative staff to translate case needs into clear, actionable investigative tasks.
  • Participate in team meetings, training sessions, and strategic planning discussions.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Legal Research: Proficiency in using legal research databases such as Westlaw, LexisNexis, and Pacer for case law and public records retrieval.
  • Investigative Databases: Experience with or ability to quickly learn public and proprietary record-gathering databases (e.g., TLO, Accurint).
  • Case Management Software: Familiarity with case management systems like Clio, MyCase, or similar platforms for tracking case progress and documents.
  • Evidence Handling: Understanding of proper protocols for collecting, preserving, and documenting physical and digital evidence.
  • Interviewing Techniques: Foundational knowledge of conducting structured, open-ended, and trauma-informed interviews.
  • Report Writing: Ability to synthesize complex information into clear, objective, and well-organized written reports and memos.
  • Legal Citation: Basic knowledge of citation formats, such as The Bluebook, for referencing legal documents.
  • Digital Literacy: High proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and Google Workspace for document creation and data organization.

Soft Skills

  • Critical Thinking: Exceptional ability to analyze information, identify logical flaws, and develop creative solutions to complex problems.
  • Empathy & Interpersonal Skills: The capacity to build rapport and trust with diverse individuals, often in stressful situations.
  • Communication: Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to convey complex facts clearly and persuasively.
  • Attention to Detail: Meticulous approach to reviewing documents and recording information to ensure accuracy.
  • Resilience & Composure: Ability to remain calm, professional, and effective while dealing with sensitive, confidential, and potentially distressing subject matter.
  • Integrity & Ethics: A strong commitment to ethical conduct, confidentiality, and the principles of justice.
  • Time Management: Superior organizational skills to manage multiple tasks and competing deadlines effectively in a fast-paced environment.
  • Curiosity & Initiative: A proactive and inquisitive mindset with a drive to uncover facts and pursue leads independently.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • Currently enrolled in or a recent graduate of an accredited college or university.

Preferred Education:

  • Currently enrolled in the second or third year of an ABA-accredited law school (2L or 3L).
  • Currently enrolled in or a recent graduate of a Master's program in a relevant field.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Law (J.D. program)
  • Criminal Justice
  • Political Science
  • Sociology
  • Journalism
  • Public Policy

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 0-1 years. This is an entry-level internship role.

Preferred:

  • Prior volunteer or clinical experience in a public defender's office, legal aid society, innocence project, or a civil rights organization.
  • Experience in a research-intensive role, whether academic or professional.
  • Demonstrated commitment to social, racial, or economic justice.
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