The Ninth Judicial Circuit State Attorney’s Office offers non-paying, professional externships for second and third-year law students considering a career in criminal prosecution. Students can participate as Certified Legal Interns (CLI) and volunteer undergraduate and law school interns.

As a CLI, students are exposed to the criminal justice system and the multi-faceted role of prosecution. CLIs will gain real trial practice on-the-record in front of judges under the supervision of an assistant state attorney. Students who work in a CLI capacity may be eligible to be a full-time employee as a post-graduate CLI, while awaiting bar results. Students who have not received CLI certification may be eligible to participate in our volunteer program.

Law students interested in applying for the CLI program must begin the process with their law school’s clinical programs department. Requirements vary by school. However, all law students who are interested in the CLI program must have completed 48 credit hours and 4 semesters of law school instruction to qualify (or the equivalent for schools who run quarterly).

Dates will correlate with your law school semester dates. We welcome out-of-state students and students who are interested in taking the Florida Bar after graduation. Please email Tamra Crane at tcrane@sao9.org for more information regarding this process.