Winter 2027 Internship

The Michigan Court of Appeals is now seeking law students for an externship/internship for the winter 2027 term. The Court of Appeals Internship Program offers law students practical experience in appellate law, judicial proceedings, and legal research. Interns gain exposure to the inner workings of the Court and may assist judges and Court staff with case analysis and legal research and writing; interns will also have the opportunity to observe oral argument.

Primary responsibilities may include: • Working collaboratively with judges and judicial staff. • Engaging in discussions with judges and staff about the merits of the cases and providing advice on legal issues, recommended outcomes for individual issues, and disposition of appeals. This duty includes reading appellate briefs, reviewing lower court records, and conducting legal research. • Preparing memoranda in advance of oral argument for assigned cases. This duty includes reviewing the briefs and arguments advanced by the parties, reviewing the lower court record and summarizing important facts and arguments, conducting legal research and reviewing caselaw, providing a legal analysis of each issue raised by the briefs, drafting and editing the memoranda, and discussing the memoranda with a judge or staff before circulation to the judges on the case call panel. • Under the direction of a judge or judicial staff, preparing draft opinions for assigned cases. • Ensuring compliance/consistency of all memoranda and proposed opinions with the Michigan Appellate Opinion Manual. • Reviewing/staying apprised of recent published decisions of the Michigan Court of Appeals, Michigan Supreme Court, and United States Supreme Court and of revisions to statutes and court rules. • Shadowing a judge or other Court staff. • Performing discrete legal research projects. • Assisting with administrative tasks.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: Current Juris Doctor (JD) candidate at an accredited law school and completion of 1L coursework. All interns/externs must pass a criminal background check prior to their start date. WORK LOCATION: Placements may be available in the Court’s Grand Rapids, Lansing, or Detroit offices.

Participating judicial chambers may have different requirements regarding in-person, hybrid, or remote work; please note your in-office availability for each office location in your cover letter. COMPENSATION: This position is unpaid with the possibility of earning course credit. Students are responsible for arranging course credit with their law school’s experiential learning program.

APPLICATIONS OPEN NOW APPLICATION DEADLINE for Winter 2027 is November 13, 2026 AN EQUAL-OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER