1Ls/2Ls: Summer Criminal Defense Internships in East Tennessee
Pre Approved Pro Bono Placement, SUMMER, East TN Locations
FEDERAL DEFENDER SERVICES OF EASTERN TENNESSEE
VOLUNTEER 2026 SUMMER INTERNSHIP
Are you interested in exploring a career in public criminal defense? Are you seeking a summer placement that allows you to design your own experience? Do you value mentors that provide both flexibility and ample support geared toward your needs? Then Federal Defender Services of Eastern Tennessee, Inc. (FDSET) may be the internship you’re looking for.
FDSET is a non-profit funded by a grant from the federal court system. Our clients are indigent persons prosecuted in the Eastern District of Tennessee and death row inmates who are represented in federal capital habeas proceedings. FDSET practices holistic defense lawyering to protect clients’ rights and champion their humanity at every stage of the criminal case and beyond. FDSET seeks to embrace diversities, support equity, and foster an inclusive work environment that promotes commitment, flexibility, and fairness.
Depending on your specific areas of interest, interns may have the opportunity to become familiar with defending federal criminal prosecutions through direct contact with clients, shadowing investigations, attending court proceedings, research and writing, and brainstorming with the defense team. In addition, there may be opportunities for interns to assist with appellate and capital habeas clients. Interns have contact with various stakeholders in the federal criminal justice system, including prosecutors, judges, court staff, and probation officers. Visits to courthouses, jails, prisons, ATF, the medical examiner’s office, and additional places may be part of the experience.
FDSET has offices in Knoxville, Chattanooga, and Greeneville. Volunteer, in-person internships may be available in any of these three offices. 1L and 2L students will be considered, however 2L students are preferred. While in-person internships are recommended to provide the most robust learning experience, partial or full virtual internships may be available under limited circumstances. Please specify in your cover letter if you are interested in a virtual internship. Job-related parking and travel expenses are paid for by FDSET.
If interested, please email a cover letter, resume, two references, and a writing sample by Monday, November 3, 2025 to:
Sharon_Buckingham@fd.org.
Please notate in the subject line of the email: “[Summer 2026 Internship Application] First and Last Name.”
A basic background check (at FDSET expense) is required for all accepted interns.
FDSET VALUES A DIVERSE WORKFORCE AND IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
This information can also be found in Symplicity Post 9290.
