The Midwest Center for Justice

    �Twenty years have passed since this Court declared that the death penalty must be imposed fairly, and with reasonable consistency, or not at all, . . . and, despite the effort of the States and courts to devise legal formulas and procedural rules to meet this daunting challenge, the death penalty remains fraught with arbitrariness, discrimination, caprice, and mistake.�

    --Justice Harry Blackmun, dissenting in Callins v. Collins
About Us Summer Clerk Program Our Cases Contact

    Summer Clerk Program

    Summer clerks are usually assigned to one or two cases and are expected to be active members of the team. Clerks will often have the opportunity to meet their clients and participate in the factual and legal investigation of the case.  In addition, clerks will research a variety of legal issues and participate in drafting motions, pleadings, briefs and possibly clemency applications.  Some travel may be required at our agency�s expense. 

    We accept first or second year law students.  Qualifications should include:

    • A genuine interest in criminal work and willingness to question the validity and appropriateness of the death penalty

    • Strong research and writing skills

    • Willingness to commit to a 10-12 week program

    Unfortunately we cannot offer summer law clerks a salary.  However, we will work with students to help them obtain a public interest fellowship or grant through their law school or other program.  Clerks will be reimbursed for any expenses due to such costs as travel and the like involved in the case.

    Training

    Summer law clerks will usually be invited to attend at least one full day conference on death penalty litigation during their time at the Midwest Center for Justice. We will send our intern to this conference and pay all expenses.

    In addition, summer law clerk training at the Midwest Center for Justice consists of orientation and general preparation for this work, including articles and materials authored by national legal experts in trial, post-conviction and habeas death penalty litigation, and leading experts in various forensic and mitigation fields.  The Center�s attorneys will be available to discuss this material and help the intern integrate these ideas into the cases as the summer progresses.

    Interns will also be reading selected cases and assigned client�s records, including the trial and sentencing court proceedings, and reviewing original trial/sentencing mitigation evidence.  The importance of this material will be discussed with the Center attorneys, focusing on the stage of current litigation, the issues to be developed, and the research preliminary to drafting arguments on issues for briefs, pleadings, and motions. The intern will also participate in phone conversations, meetings and work with experts on assigned cases.

    Supervision

    Supervision will be provided directly to the intern by the Center attorneys who are working on the cases assigned to the intern.  Supervision will take the form of active but guided participation in death penalty appeals through clarifying goals, issues and general directions.  In addition, attorneys will help the intern to anticipate barriers/difficulties, to think creatively, and to refine research and writing skills by striving for excellence while instilling confidence to achieve stated goals.  The intern can expect that we will work together to accomplish these tasks and that we will encourage seeking us out to ask questions and clarify tasks or issues.

    How to Apply

    Applications should include:

    • Cover letter detailing your interest in criminal defense/capital litigation

    • Resume

    Applications should be sent to:


      Carol R. Heise
      Midwest Center for Justice, Ltd.
      P.O. Box 6528
      Evanston, IL 60204

    If you have any questions about the office or the summer program, please call Carol Heise or Alan Freedman at (847) 492-1563.

    The Midwest Center for Justice is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer.  We do not discriminate based on gender, race, ethnic origin, religion, age, disability or sexual orientation.