Student Intern
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The Court is seeking qualified applicants for a one-year term as a Student Intern (“Intern”) in the Central District of California as part of the Model Intern Diversity Pilot Program organized by the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts. The Intern will provide a range of services and will gain exposure to the operation of federal courts while rotating among several court units, including the District Court, Bankruptcy Court, and Probation and Pretrial Services.
Location
The position is primarily located at the District’s Riverside offices.
Time Period
The one-year internship will start on or after June 5, 2023, until on or after May 5, 2024. From June through August, the Intern may work up to 40 hours per week. From September through May, the Intern’s hours will be limited to 15-20 work hours per week or less, to accommodate class and exam schedules.
Internship Responsibilities
Selected candidate(s) will work with judges and their staff to assist the court in chambers and in the Clerk’s Office to:
- Observe a wide variety of hearings and trials in civil, bankruptcy, and criminal cases;
- Organize legal pleadings, briefs, motions, and correspondence for judicial, legal, and administrative staff;
- Sort, classify, copy, distribute, and file court records to assist judicial, legal, and administrative staff;
- Organize and support the court’s community outreach and heritage events;
- Complete a capstone project of interest, such as organizing and executing a community day federal court visit;
- Observe and work with Probation and Pretrial Services Officers who are assigned to Agency-valued programs or divisions, to include: Pretrial Bail Investigations, specialty courts, Workforce Development, and the Residential Reentry Center Liaison program, in addition to in-person community program visits with individuals under supervision;
- Assist with designing social media posts, brochures, pamphlets, posters, signs, flyers, newsletters, reports, and other illustrative graphics and related materials, and updating court web pages to simplify information for the public;
- Shadow court employees in the performance of their duties;
- Observe Clerk’s Office staff reviewing incoming documents to determine conformity to appropriate rules, practices and/or court requirements;
- Observe clerks conducting jury orientation for prospective jurors and assist with crowd control where needed;
- Observe courtroom deputies on how they maintain the orderly flow of proceedings including, but not limited to, setting up courtrooms, scheduling, conducting, and troubleshooting court hearings in person, by video and telephone using platforms such as Zoom, Microsoft Teams and telephonic technology, assuring presence of all necessary participants, managing exhibits, and opening court; and
- Perform other duties as assigned.
Additional competencies/traits/qualifications:
- Strong interest in learning about the legal system and federal court;
- Ability to thrive, adapt, and succeed in a fast-paced environment;
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills;
- Excellent written and verbal skills;
- Ability to conduct research, including accessing electronic databases;
- Exhibits qualities such as strong character and self-sufficiency under challenging circumstances;
- Self-directed and able to work with limited supervision;
- Demonstrates an appreciation for the value of diversity and inclusion in the workplace; and
- Good organizational and planning skills, and be able to demonstrate effective project coordination, facilitation, and implementation based on past work or school experience.
The candidate(s) must:
- Be a United States citizen; a person who owes allegiance to the United States; a person admitted as a refugee or granted asylum who has filed a declaration of intention to become a lawful permanent resident and a citizen when eligible; or a lawful permanent resident who is seeking citizenship;
- Attend an accredited college/university; and
- Be enrolled as a rising junior or senior undergraduate college student in good standing.
Successful candidates are detail-oriented, customer-service oriented, demonstrate a professional and positive demeanor, and appear in attire appropriate for a court environment (business/office-wear). The Intern candidate must strictly adhere to court confidentiality requirements, the Code of Conduct for Judicial Employees, IT Security policy, Social Media policy, and other court policies. The selected candidate will be subject to an FBI background check, via fingerprint analysis as a condition of employment, and may be subject to periodic updates.
Compensation and classification level will be set based on the work experience, qualifications, and salary history of the successful candidate. To qualify, at CL 22, applicants must have a high-school diploma or equivalent.
Application Process
Qualified candidates must submit the following:
- A cover letter
- Cover letter should describe interest in learning about the operations of federal courts, past academic and professional experience, and why applicant believes diversity is important to the court and to the federal judiciary
- Resume
- Three academic, work or character references
Applications should be submitted by email to HRApplications@cacb.uscourts.gov. Attached documents must be in PDF format and the email should reference the position title and vacancy no. in the subject line. Applications may be mailed or submitted in person to the Human Resources Department located at 255 East Temple Street, 10th Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90012.
First generation college students, individuals from historically underrepresented communities, and those with diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply.
Selection Process
Due to the volume of applications received, the court will only communicate with those applicants who will be interviewed. Applicants selected for interviews will be contacted by email. Applicants will be selected for interviews, following an initial screening of their experience and qualifications. Travel and relocation expenses will not be reimbursed.
Diversity is important to the Judiciary. It is an essential component of services that the Judiciary is charged with providing to maintain justice, equality, fairness, respect, and dignity in society. To fulfill its duties, the Judiciary must include all members of society – not just regardless, but also inclusive of race, gender disability, and the many other variables that make up the citizens of our nation. The Judiciary has a duty to promote a fair and sustainable model of inclusive democracy and social justice that surpasses any governmental entity in the history of this nation or of any other nation.
The court reserves the right to modify the conditions of this job announcement, withdraw the job announcement, or fill the position(s) sooner than the closing date, if a closing date is shown, any of which actions may occur without any prior written or other notice. This position is subject to mandatory EFT participation for payment of net pay (i.e., Direct Deposit). Successful applicants selected for interview may be required to respond to a written questionnaire.
The United States Bankruptcy Court is an at-will employer and requires employees to adhere to a Code of Ethics and Conduct which is available to applicants for review upon request. The final candidate will be subject to records check with law enforcement agencies. Verification of employment eligibility according to the Immigration Control and Reform Act of 1986 will be required of all new employees of the Bankruptcy Court. The United States Bankruptcy Court is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The Ninth Circuit EEO Plan is available for review upon request. We appreciate your interest in employment with the United States Bankruptcy Court.