Behind the scenes at the Maricopa County Attorney's Office is an intricate system of bureaus, divisions, and employees all working together to support victims' rights and hold criminals accountable. Among these are college and law students getting hands-on experience with subject matter experts in their field of choice. The Maricopa County Attorney's Office serves as a resource for those interested in learning about the criminal justice system and provides opportunities for those looking to build a public service career in the world of law. MCAO offers two internships, a Victim Services program, and a Law Student/Certified Limited Practice Student program.

Karen's Experience

Karen became interested in working with MCAO after working with the Arizona Judiciary for several years. "I observed attorneys appear in court and became fascinated with the law. So I entered law school in hopes of becoming a prosecutor and scheduled my last semester of law school for an internship at a prosecutorial agency."

During her time with MCAO, Karen has gained experience writing responses to defendant motions to modify release conditions, and in cases where the motion goes to oral argument, she's had the opportunity to defend her response in court. Karen has also learned about how a case is charged by reviewing police reports with referenced charges and improved her writing and analytical skills by helping with research projects. "This internship solidified my aspirations to become a prosecutor and specialize in sex crimes." Karen hopes to complete a one-year clerkship with the Arizona Court of Appeals before returning to work at MCAO.

Meet Suzanne

Suzanne had always been interested in criminal law and, after completing an internship with the Legal Defender's Office, decided to continue pursuing criminal law at MCAO. Suzanne has had the opportunity to assist with drafting responses to defendant motions, conducting legal research as well as listening to jail calls.

"This work is meaningful to me because Maricopa County is my home. The majority of my family and friends reside here, and I want to help to ensure that they are safe and that others feel safe living here." For Suzanne, this internship has confirmed, "that prosecution is where I belong, and this is the office where I want to work."

Join us next semester! Visit our Internship FAQ page to learn more about these programs.