June 3 through March 1, 2013
Submit applications and required attachments to Mary.Harris@denvergov.org by March 1, 2013
Airport Legal Services
What we do:
Airport Legal Services is the section of the Department of Law with the sole function of providing legal services to the Denver Department of Aviation. The section provides general legal representation, which includes: defending all litigation and claims made against the Department; protecting the Department’s claims in bankruptcy court; drafting airline agreements and all other contracts; handling real estate transactions; and advising on regulatory compliance, bond transactions and other financial matters, construction projects, concession programs, operation and maintenance issues, and environmental programs.
Benefits for Interns:
The Department of Aviation manages, operates and maintains Denver International Airport (DIA), one of the top ten busiest airports in the world, one of the top five busiest in the United States and the largest airfield in the nation. Airport Legal Services is intricately involved with all aspects of DIA, and the goal of the summer intern program is to expose our interns to the legal issues surrounding an international airport. Interns will have the opportunity to attend client meetings, assist in drafting and negotiating contracts, participate in various aspects of litigation and sharpen their research and writing skills by working alongside our attorneys to evaluate and respond to client requests.
Minimum Qualifications:
Law Clerks at DIA most have completed their second year of law school and have an interest in aviation related matters.
Number of internships available: 1
Human Services Legal Services
What we do:
The Human Services section of the Department of Law is responsible for all social service and welfare matters handled by the Denver Department of Human Services. These matters include: adult guardianship and conservatorship, child support enforcement, child welfare, claims and welfare fraud.
Benefits for Interns:
Interns in Human Services Legal Services will have the opportunity to gain legal experience on matters involving Dependency & Neglect, Juvenile Delinquency, Child Support Enforcement and Adult guardianship and conservatorship cases. The student will have significant opportunity to assist with legal research, trial preparation, periodic hearings, and appellate work, as well as administrative law and legislative research.
Minimum Qualifications:
Law clerks in Human Services Legal Services must have completed their first year of law school. Preference is given for students who are eligible to appear before the Magistrate pursuant C.R.S. 1973, Section 12-5-116.2. Application materials should include a resume, writing sample, and cover letter describing the applicant’s area of interest.
Number of internships available: 2
Litigation Section
What we do:
The Litigation section of the Department of Law represents the City and County of Denver in employment law and civil claims matters. The defense of these cases involves a full range of motion practice and briefs, all discovery methods, pretrial court hearings, trials, and appellate practice.
The employment unit defends the City and County of Denver, and City employees, against discrimination lawsuits and discrimination charges filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and Colorado Civil Rights Division. The employment unit also prepares pre-disciplinary letters and represents the City and County of Denver in administrative proceedings before the Civil Service Commission and Career Service Authority defending disciplinary and termination decisions. A subdivision of the employment unit handles workers’ compensation claims.
The civil claims unit defends federal civil rights lawsuits against the City and County of Denver, and City employees, which primarily involve Fourth Amendment search and seizure issues, Eighth Amendment issues about conditions of incarceration, Fourteenth Amendment due process issues, and First Amendment issues. The unit also defends negligence lawsuits involving a wide range of claims arising from auto accidents, premises liability, assault, battery, outrageous conduct, false imprisonment, negligent hiring, training and supervision of employees, and negligence per se claims.
Benefits for Interns:
Depending on what is scheduled, interns will have the opportunity to attend client meetings, depositions, court appearances, hearings, and possibly trials and appellate arguments. Interns will also get hands-on experience assisting in researching and drafting pleadings, motions, briefs, or EEOC position statements, responding to discovery and discovery disputes, and participating in various aspects of litigation.
Minimum Qualifications:
Law Clerks in the Litigation section must have completed their first year of law school and have an interest in litigating employment law and/or civil claims cases. Candidates must submit a cover letter, resume, and short writing sample in order to be considered.
Number of internships available: Employment – 2
Civil Claims – 4
Municipal Operations Section
What we do:
The Municipal Operations Section represents the City in land acquisition and other real estate matters, permits and development matters, zoning, planning, public works and parks and recreation. It also represents the City’s Treasurer, Assessor and Department of Revenue on sales, use and property tax issues. The section drafts and processes City contracts and agreements for approximately 37 City agencies and entities, and provides legal advice to City agencies and officials on environmental issues, the prevailing wage ordinance, the Small Businesses Enterprise ordinance, Open Records Act issues, and construction claims. In addition it advises on all financial matters, including bonds, certificates of participation, tax increment financings and special districts.
Benefits for Interns:
Assignments range from assisting and observing attorneys to conducting legal research and preparing memoranda, drafting simple motions, contracts, and documents, and attending court, administrative hearings, City Council, and meetings. Interns will receive guidance directly from the staff attorney as to how to best accommodate and accomplish a work assignment. Our preference is to have students observe as many attorneys and attend as many different types of proceedings as possible, rather than shadow a single attorney. The philosophy is to provide interns with a broad and varied outlook of a number of individual attorneys to help interns discover their own interests and style of practice. We hope to provide a practical, “hands on” education and to allow the interns to develop written work product for their use. With respect to negotiation, litigation/advocacy and legal presentation/public speaking, we make every attempt to send our interns with attorneys to hearings, trials, City Council, and staff meetings to observe as many of our attorneys as possible.
Minimum Qualifications:
Law clerks in the Municipal Operations section must have completed their first year of law school. If you are interested, submit a resumé, cover letter, writing sample and transcript.
Number of internships available: 5
Prosecution and Code Enforcement Section
What we do:
The Prosecution and Code Enforcement Section (PACE) of the Denver City Attorney’s Office prosecutes some State Petty Offenses and all Municipal Ordinance violations including Traffic, General Violations which include dog cases, fire code violations, building code violations and common carrier violations, Juvenile Violations, Domestic Violence, Assault, Petty Theft and Quality of Life crimes. PACE also handles civil matters relating to Nuisance Abatement, Excise and Licensing matters and Probate matters.
Benefits for Interns:
Interns with PACE will assist attorneys in preparation of trial matters and will participate in court and jury trials. They will also interact with witnesses, police officers and court personnel. Interns will leave the office having completed all aspects of a criminal prosecution.
Minimum Qualifications:
Law Clerks in the Prosecution and Code Enforcement section must have completed 2 years of law school and have a strong interest in prosecution. Must qualify under C.R.S. § 12-5-116.2, the Student Practice Act.
Number of internships available: 2