Summer (2027) Appeals Intern

Arapahoe County Government; Centennial (CO); On-site; USD 24,000 - 34,000; Part time

Job summary

Arapahoe County Government invites law students to join its Appellate Internship Program in Centennial. Interns conduct legal research, draft briefs, and work on real criminal cases under the supervision of the Appeals Unit.

The program trains for a future career in criminal prosecution, mentoring interns to return as 3L students and potentially become deputy district attorneys after graduation. This is a temporary internship designed for early law school students.

Qualifications

• Must currently attend law school and have completed first year.
• No prior internship required.

Responsibilities

• Conduct legal research on criminal law issues with supervision.
• Review trial court records and draft briefs.
• Brief issues arising in county and district courts for appellate review.
• Assist with template motions and legal memoranda.

Skills

Public service

Analytical reasoning

Legal research

Legal writing

Interpersonal skills

Education

Law student

Job description

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Job Number:867
Salary: $21/hr
Department/Office: District Attorney
Division: District Attorney's Office
Location: 6450 S. Revere Pkwy, Centennial, CO, 80111
Job Type:Temporary
Posting Date: 10/28/2026
Closing Date: 04/01/2027

The Arapahoe County government serves its communities in ways both obvious and obscure. As the beating heart of local and regional government, we’re here for our neighbors on their best days—and their worst. We share our residents’ goals of preserving our quality of life and strive to be the place we’re proud to call home.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF JOB:

The appellate internship program receives law student applicants who will have completed at least one full year of law school prior to their internship start date. If you are a law student in good standing who will have completed two full years of law school prior to the internship start date, please consider our 3L SPA internship program
We Provide Practical Experience
Our appellate internship program offers law students a unique opportunity to conduct meaningful work on real criminal cases. Our appellate interns work closely with the attorneys in our Appeals Unit, conducting legal research and refining their legal writing skills by drafting corresponding briefs that are submitted to the District Court, Colorado Court of Appeals, and Colorado Supreme Court. Our interns do not need to wait until graduation to begin making a positive impact in their community.
We Train for the Future
Our appellate internship program is designed for law students contemplating a career in criminal prosecution. We train and mentor our appellate interns with the goal of preparing them to return as 3L interns working and trying cases under the Student Practice Act. Our 3L interns are trained and mentored with the goal of returning to our office as deputy district attorneys.

DUTIES:

• Appellate interns conduct research regarding an array of complex issues pertaining to criminal law. With the guidance of our experienced appellate attorneys, interns review trial court records, conduct legal research, and draft corresponding legal briefs.
• Issues arising out of county court (traffic and misdemeanor cases) are briefed in the District Court.
• Issues arising out of the District Court are briefed in the Colorado Court of Appeals and Colorado Supreme Court.
• Appellate interns may also be called upon to assist with the creation of template motions or legal memoranda that are distributed to assist our various prosecution units.

REQUIREMENTS:

Skills, Abilities and Competencies:

• A commitment to public service, and a desire to protect the rights and interests of crime victims.
• Ability to clearly and persuasively analyze legal and factual scenarios.
• Ability to conduct legal research and organize and summarize complex legal issues in a clear and concise manner.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with superiors, co-workers, 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.

Behavioral Competencies (these are required for all positions at ACG):

Accountability

Accessibility

Inclusivity

Integrity

Education and Experience:

• Candidates are required to currently be attending law school and must have completed their first year.
• No experience required.

Supplemental Information

• We accept applications and hire interns for the Appellate Internship Program beginning in a student’s first year in law school for a spot in the Internship Program for the following Summer semester. We continue to accept applications throughout the second year of law school.
• For students attending a law school not in Colorado and who desire to work in Colorado as a prosecutor after graduation, we also accept applications for the summer semester only.

Pre-Employment Additional Requirements:

• Must successfully pass pre-employment testing which includes an acceptable motor vehicle record (MVR) and background check.
• Possession of a valid Class “R” Colorado Driver’s License or the ability to obtain one within two weeks of appointment.
• Security clearance required: will require fingerprinting and a Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) background check

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

• Work is generally confined to a standard office environment and requires no more than normal physical abilities.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

• Spends 90% of the time sitting and 10% of the time either upright or walking.
• Occasionally lifts, carries, pulls or pushes up to 20 lbs.
• Occasionally uses cart, dolly, or other equipment to carry in excess of 20 lbs.
• Occasionally climbs, stoops, kneels, balances, reaches, crawls and crouches while performing office or work duties.
• Verbal and auditory capacity enabling constant interpersonal communication through automated devices, such as telephones, radios, and similar; and in public meetings and personal interactions.
• Constant use of eye, hand and finger coordination enabling the use of automated office machinery or equipment.
• Visual capacity enabling constant use of computer or other work-related equipment.

Definitions:

Occasionally: Activity exists less than 1/3 of the time.
Frequently: Activity exists between 1/3 and 2/3 of the time.
Constantly: Activity exists more than 2/3 of the time.

Arapahoe County does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, genetic information, sexual orientation or any other status protected under the law. It is our intention that all qualified applicants be given equal opportunity in any term, condition, or privilege of employment and that selection decisions are based on job-related factors. Arapahoe County is committed to making employment accessible to persons with disabilities.

In accordance with Senate Bill 23-058, applicants understand that Arapahoe County will not request or require the applicant to include their age, date of birth, or date of attendance/graduation date on the initial application. Applicants understand that Arapahoe County can request or require an individual to provide documentation including copies of certification, transcripts, and other materials created by a third party. The applicant understands that the applicant can redact, if they so choose, information that identifies age, date of birth, or dates of attendance/graduation from an educational institution on those requested/required certification, transcripts and other materials created by a third party.