Spring Volunteer Internship - Child Protection Division - Law Students Only

The Cook County State's Attorney's Office's Child Protection Division is seeking volunteer interns to work in the Juvenile Court Building at 1100 S. Hamilton, Chicago.

The spring internship session runs from Jan 11 - May 21, 2027. Interns may choose to end early based on their schedules. Individual schedules will be coordinated between the intern and their supervising attorney. To receive a thorough experience with the Office, we can only accommodate students who are available to be on-site at the courthouse an average of 15 hours per week, with special flexibility around exams. There is no opportunity for remote work. The building is accessible by public transportation and there is a public parking garage. This volunteer position is unpaid and does not include benefits.

Interns will have the option to continue their internship for the summer session (Jun 7 - Aug 20) at the discretion of the attorney supervisor.

Application Deadline: December 1, 2026

General Description:

Interns with the Child Protection Division will receive experience working with Assistant State’s Attorneys who handle cases involving abuse, neglect, or dependency of children. The division works to find safe and supportive family structures for youth recognizing the uniqueness of each child’s path to success.

This internship is best suited for students who have a special interest in Child Protection and Juvenile Justice. Ideal candidates will be enrolled in, or have completed, a combination of any of the following:

• Family Law
• Juvenile Law
• Child Protection: Abuse & Neglect
• Children’s Law
• Domestic Violence
• Interviewing & Counseling
• Any Family, Child Advocacy, Guardian ad Litem clinics, etc. Note: Due to potential conflicts of interest, students actively enrolled in law clinics are not eligible for an internship.

Responsibilities include:

• Contributing to and assisting with legal research
• Reviewing discovery and assisting with trial work-up
• Preparing memos
• Partnering with counsel regarding case management and procedural requirements.
• Observing court proceedings and, if licensed pursuant to Illinois Supreme Court Rule 711, opportunities to participate in court hearings.

Minimum Qualification:

• Must be an active law student.
• Must have a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher
• Must be in good standing with your school, and not be on any type of academic probation or the like

Physical Requirements:
(a) Sedentary work. Sedentary work involves lifting no more than 10 pounds at a time and occasionally lifting or carrying articles like docket files, ledgers, and small tools. Although a sedentary job is defined as one which involves sitting, a certain amount of walking and standing is often necessary in carrying out job duties. Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required occasionally, and other sedentary criteria are met.

Equal Employment Opportunity:
EEO Message: The Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office (CCSAO) is an equal opportunity employer, which seeks to recruit, develop, and retain the most talented people from a diverse candidate pool. The CCSAO does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, age, physical and mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, and any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. Upon request, the CCSAO will provide reasonable accommodation for qualified individuals due to a disability or pregnancy. The EEOP report can be found on our website at www.cookcountystatesattorney.org.

Reasonable Accommodation

Applicants that are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran may contact the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office Team via email at Hr.Sao@cookcountysao.org and arrange for an accommodation if you are unable or limited in your ability to access job openings or apply for a job on this site as a result of your disability.