Extern

About Our Office:

The District Attorney’s Office serves as the Chief Law Enforcement Office of the county and accepts referrals from more than 100 active police departments including the City of Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, the Allegheny County Police Department and the Allegheny County Sheriff’s Department. The office is also responsible for approving complaints filed by private citizens.

The internship program operates out of our main office, located on the third and fourth floors of the Allegheny County Courthouse, in downtown Pittsburgh, with some positions in our satellite office in Dormont. We employ over 100 attorneys divided into various subdivisions and areas of expertise. Interns will be placed in specific units based on their skills, interests and needs of the office.

Internship Positions are offered in the following units:

• Child Abuse
• City Court (Preliminary Hearings)
• Community Impact (General Trial)
• Crimes Persons
• Critical Case Review/Appeals
• Diversionary Courts (Drug, DUI, Mental Health & Veterans)
• Direct Appeals
• Domestic Violence
• Forfeiture
• Homicide
• Investigations
• Juvenile Court
• Narcotics
• Phoenix (Misdemeanor Court)
• Violent Crimes/Firearms

General Internship Information:

The internship program is administered by Deputy District Attorney Sarah Weikart assisted by Assistant District Attorneys Heather Schultz and Jonathan Niznansky. Any questions not otherwise answered on this page can be directed via e-mail to Sarah Weikart and Lynn Lattimore:

Sarah Weikart, Deputy District Attorney: sweikart@alleghenycountyda.us

Lynn Lattimore, Paralegal: llattimore@alleghenycountyda.us

Summer Internship Program

AVAILABLE POSITIONS:

All students participating in the summer program are expected to be present in the office for 15-20 hours per week. Paid positions require 20 hours of work per week.

Extern

Law students may apply to work in the DA’s Office on a for-credit basis. Credits must be pre-approved before an externship offer will be extended. Pro Bono hours are also permitted if the law school’s program permits pro bono certification.

APPLICATION PROCESS:

All students should provide a copy of their resume, cover letter and school transcript. Law student applicants should indicate in the cover letter whether they are interested in being considered for a paid internship, for-credit externship or if they’d like to be considered for either type of position.

On-Campus Interviews (OCI)

If you are a law student at any of the following institutions and wish to be considered for a summer internship, please apply through your school’s OCI program. Questions should be directed to the school’s office of career services.

Our office currently participates in OCI programs at the following:

• Akron School of Law
• Capital Law School
• Cleveland-Marshall College of Law
• Drexel University School of Law
• Duquesne University School of Law
• Pennsylvania State Law
• The Ohio State University School of Law
• University of Dayton School of Law
• University of Pennsylvania School of Law
• University of Pittsburgh School of Law
• University of Toledo Law School
• Villanova School of Law
• West Virginia University School of Law
• Widener Law School

Non-OCI Applicants

Students attending law school at an institution not included on the OCI List above should submit a resume, school transcript and cover letter via e-mail to Sarah Weikart and Lynn Lattimore by March 6, 2025.

Lynn Lattimore, Paralegal: llattimore@alleghenycountyda.us

Sarah Weikart, Deputy District Attorney: sweikart@alleghenycountyda.us

Approval of credits by the school does not guarantee a position with our office, applicants will still be subject to an interview process.

No preference is given to any school or the process by which an individual applies. Applications received after the deadline will not be considered.

INTERN DUTIES

All Interns:

• Legal research and writing (briefs, memoranda, pre- and post-trial motions, etc.)
• Some clerical duties, copying, redacting, etc.
• Assist attorneys in every aspect of trial and/or hearing preparation
• Accompany attorneys to conduct plea negotiations, jury selection, pre-trial motions and trials (Jury and Non-Jury)

Certified Legal Interns (in addition to above-listed duties)

Information regarding certification can be found on the Pennsylvania Board of Law Examiners’ website

• Appear in court on behalf of the Commonwealth under the direct supervision of an Assistant District Attorney. This may include guilty pleas, suppression motions and non-j