Fall 2025 - Public Policy Law Extern, Reshaping Prosecution (American University & Howard University)

Who we are:

The Vera Institute of Justice is powered by hundreds of advocates, researchers, and policy experts working to transform the criminal legal and immigration systems until they’re fair for all. Founded in 1961 to advocate for alternatives to money bail in New York City, Vera is now a national organization that partners with impacted communities and government leaders for change. We develop just, antiracist solutions so that money doesn’t determine freedom; fewer people are in jails, prisons, and immigration detention; and everyone is treated with dignity. For more information, visit vera.org.

Vera has a staff of 240 people, is headquartered in Brooklyn, New York and has offices in Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, and New Orleans. We are an equal opportunity employer with a commitment to diversity in the workplace. We expect our staff to embody respect, independence, collaboration, commitment, anti-racism, and equity—both in our outward-facing work and the internal culture of our workplace. We value a range of experiences in people’s educational backgrounds and encourage people who have been directly impacted by the criminal justice system to apply.

Who you are:

The Reshaping Prosecution Program is dedicated to transforming what it means to be a prosecutor by focusing on the dignity of all people impacted by the criminal justice system. Prosecutors play a critical, but often hidden, role in mass incarceration as one of the most powerful actors in the criminal justice system. They decide who to charge with a crime, what crime to charge, whether to detain someone in jail pending trial, and what sentence to recommend if there is a conviction. Yet, despite this immense power, prosecutors have largely not been the focus of criminal justice reform efforts until recently. Our team helps prosecutors across the country work to end mass incarceration, pursue racial equity, and be more transparent with the communities they serve. 

This position will focus on Reshaping Prosecutions projects including technical assistance to District Attorney offices and community-based organizations across the country. Under the supervision of a licensed attorney, the legal extern will learn participate in substantive law, legal work, ethics, professionalism, developing professional identity and receive feedback and engage in reflective journals to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the work at their placement. Externs will learn how to conduct community and policy landscape research, develop community outreach strategies, manage advocacy efforts, and draft written content for a wide audience. 

For examples of our work in the criminal legal system click here.

What you'll do:

• Externs will work collaboratively with attorney site leads on both our current partnerships with prosecutors and community-based organizations to build equitable diversion programs (Motion for Justice or MFJ) and our past partners (Collaborative Justice Network or CJN, our sustainability arm). Work will include legal research relating to diversion programming, including legal eligibility and statutory interpretation of diversion statutes. Students will have experiential learning opportunities through collaboration with our prosecutor partners in launching diversion programs and creating reform centered policies. They will gain a broad understanding of prosecutorial discretion, exploring topics such as case screening, charging, due process considerations, and constitutional issues in criminal cases. Externships provide students with an opportunity to learn about legal practice by working on legal matters directly with attorneys, observing day-to-day law-related activities, receiving close supervision and feedback from attorneys, and interacting with clients or other practitioners in the legal field. 
• The externship experience gives the student a unique opportunity to understand the complexities of legal practice and develop their own professional identity. 
• The attorney supervisor will assist the extern in developing insights into legal practice, understanding the concepts underlying their legal work, and to expose the student to decision making processes our organization and of our prosecutor partners.
• Supervisors can also provide personal guidance that will help the extern in launching their own legal career. 
• The extern will be provided with multiple opportunities for performance of various legal skills and may not be limited to observation. Students will be given the opportunity to integrate doctrine, theory, skills, and legal ethics as they are engaged in performance of one or more professional skills. 
• During weekly or biweekly meetings, the extern and their supervising attorney will develop work plans for following weeks, discuss activities of the organization, evaluate the extern’s performance from the previous week, and analyze successes and problems that arise in the course of the externship. 

What qualifications are we looking for?

Required: 

• Currently enrolled in law school and successfully completed two semesters of law school study (2L or higher) or enrolled in Masters of Public Policy program at American University or Howard University.
• Successful completion of a course in Legal Reasoning, Research & Writing; 
• Enrolled in a course component or seminar to gain credits for externship. Selection of placement must be approved by program. 
• Demonstrated ability to work with advocates, government officials, criminal legal system personnel, practitioners, and people who are directly impacted by the criminal legal system. 
• Must be available to report to our DC office in Dupont Circle 2-3 days a week, up to 20 hours a week. 
• (Howard University Students) Students may not participate in an externship and a clinic simultaneously

Preferred: 

• Education or work experience in public policy, curriculum development and/or teaching, social work, political science, criminal justice, or related field.  
• Lived experience as a person directly impacted by the criminal legal system.  
• Strong interest in racial justice advocacy.  
• Successful completion of a course in Legal Reasoning, Research & Writing. 
• Prior experience in a prosecutor or public defender’s office. 

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities you'll bring: 

• Strong organizational skills.  
• Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite.  

Technical knowledge we need you to be prepared to use:

• Microsoft Office Suite 

Location:

Please note this role will report to our Washington, DC office. Vera interns and employees adhere to a hybrid schedule and are in-office on an alternating schedule. Full-time positions generally amount to 10 days per month. Part-time positions generally amount to 5 days per month.

Schedule:

The extern should be available to work up to 20 hours per week during the Fall. The dates will be between August 12th and December 13th, with some flexibility to accommodate personal and academic schedules.

Compensation:

Applicants will receive academic credit for the externship. Vera will gladly assist in working with the school or program to make arrangements and meet requirements.

How to apply:

Please submit a resume and a cover letter packet. In your cover letter packet, please include the following:

• Cover letter that addresses your interest in working in justice reform and race equity 
• Writing sample (no more than 5 pages, of previously adapted near original writing or only lightly-edited work) 
• Transcript (law school or grad school) 

Transcripts may be sent to ta_team@vera.org if unable to include in the packet.

Applications may also be faxed to:

ATTN: People Resources / Fall 2024 - Law Extern, Reshaping Prosecution
Vera Institute of Justice
34 35th St, Suite 4-2A, Brooklyn, NY 11232
Fax: (212) 941-9407
Please use only one method (online, mail or fax) of submission.
No phone calls, please. Only applicants selected for interviews will be contacted.

In order to ensure a healthy and safe work environment, Vera Institute of Justice is requiring all employees to be fully vaccinated and provide proof of their COVID-19 vaccine before their start date. Employees who cannot receive the vaccine because of a disability/medical contraindication or sincerely-held religious belief may request an accommodation (e.g., an exemption) to this requirement.

Vera is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without unlawful discrimination based on race, color, creed, national origin, sex, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, military status, prior record of arrest or conviction, citizenship status, current employment status, or caregiver status. 

Vera works to advance justice, particularly racial justice, in an increasingly multicultural country and globally connected world. We value diverse experiences, including with regard to educational background and justice system contact, and depend on a diverse staff to carry out our mission. 

For more information about Vera, please visit www.vera.org