What are the responsibilities and job description for the FALL 2026 Volunteer Internship position at CCSAO?
***This application is for a FALL 2026 Internship. The Summer 2026 internship application is CLOSED. In your cover letter, please indicate you are seeking a FALL 2026 internship***
General Description:
The CCSAO Volunteer Internship Program is highly competitive due to the hands-on, challenging, and relevant work experience participants will garner. Interns will be paired with an Assistant States Attorney within one of the several divisions of the Cook County Court System, who will guide and mentor the participant during their time with the office.
The volunteer will be responsible for contributing and assisting with legal research, preparing memos, partnering with counsel regarding case management and procedural requirements. This internship is unpaid and does not include benefits.
The fall volunteer internship session runs from September 8 - December 12; start and end dates are flexible between these dates.
While this role is open to all active students, preference is given to students actively perusing a Juris Doctor.
Application Deadline: August 16, 2026
Duties and Responsibilities:
- Contribute with legal research and prepare memos on pending legal issues
- Draft motions, answers, and other required legal filings
- Aid in the preparation of discovery
- Other duties as assigned by supervising attorney
Minimum Qualification:
- Must be an active student.
- 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 States Attorneys 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 States Attorneys 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.