Internships

Educational Objectives
The purpose of the Administrative Law Internship program is to offer interested students an opportunity to acquire direct exposure to and experience in the practice of administrative law.

The program supplements the Administrative Law course and is intended as a learning laboratory in which students observe and participate in the basic administrative law functions of a particular state or federal administrative agency (e.g. rule-making and contested case adjudication).

Once a student—with Professor Albert’s approval—chooses a state agency, the prospective supervising attorney is sent a written explanation of the program with all responsibilities enumerated. Professor Albert then communicates with the prospective supervising attorney to ensure the strength and educational integrity of the internship is maintained.

Faculty Supervisor
James Albert, Professor of Law
515-271-2061 james.albert@drake.edu
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Prerequisites
Completion or current enrollment in the Administrative Law course.

Educational Objectives
This internship builds upon the students’ experiences in a prior prosecutor internship and provides opportunities for further development of general and criminal prosecution litigation skills as interns participate in more complex pretrial and post-trial hearings, witness interviews and preparation, misdemeanor trials, and juvenile court proceedings.

Students are given a copy of the internship policies and procedures, which contain the expectations and objectives for the internship, at the beginning of the semester. The supervising professor communicates this information to field-placement supervisors through face-to-face, telephone, and email contacts.

Faculty Supervisor
Steve Foritano, Practitioner in Residence
515-271-4687 steve.foritano@drake.edu

Prerequisites
Students must qualify under Iowa Supreme Court Rule 31.15 for in-court student practice before participating in the program. Rule 31.15 requires students to be part of a law school approved program and have completed one-half of their law school credits.

Because Evidence is a required course in students' second year, virtually all participating students have completed Evidence before embarking on an internship.

Students must also have taken either the Polk County Prosecutor Internship or the Prosecutor Internship (outside Polk County) in order to be eligible to take the Advanced Prosecutor Internship.

Educational Objectives
This internship builds upon the students’ experiences in a prior prosecutor internship and provides opportunities for further development of general and criminal prosecution litigation skills as interns participate in more complex pretrial and post-trial hearings, witness interviews and preparation, misdemeanor trials, and juvenile court proceedings.

Students are given a copy of the internship policies and procedures, which contain the expectations and objectives for the internship, at the beginning of the semester. The supervising professor communicates this information to field-placement supervisors through face-to-face, telephone, and email contacts.

Faculty Supervisor
Steve Foritano, Practitioner in Residence
515-271-4687 Steve.foritano@drake.edu

Prerequisites
Students must qualify under Iowa Supreme Court Rule 31.15 for in-court student practice before participating in the program. Rule 31.15 requires students to be part of a law school approved program and have completed one-half of their law school credits.

Because Evidence is a required course in students' second year, virtually all participating students have completed Evidence before embarking on an internship.

Students must also have taken either the Polk County Prosecutor Internship or the Prosecutor Internship (outside Polk County) in order to be eligible to take the Advanced Prosecutor Internship.

Educational Objectives
The Joan & Lyle Middleton Center for Children’s Rights seeks to serve as a training center and repository of information and ideas, as well as to provide guidance and advocacy for statutory and procedural changes and advances on subjects related to child welfare and juvenile justice.

The objective of this internship is to give students the opportunity to enhance and develop their knowledge of substantive law and theory and kindle a commitment to inquiry that will enable graduates to continue learning through self-teaching (through inquiry, analysis, and reflection) throughout their careers.

Interns hone their legal research and writing skills as they research and digest substantive law, research the legislative or societal intent, and then reduce it to layman’s terms for informational pamphlets or brochures, prepare teaching modules for training law students, judges, and/or juvenile justice practitioners, or develop statutory or rule changes.

The majority of center intern projects address juvenile justice and child welfare issues that often require a unique appreciation for combining the use of legal and nonlegal approaches.

Students will develop an ability to empathize with and understand the physical, emotional, and psychological aspects of a child’s or family’s circumstances and, at the same time, begin to identify statutes and rules that may prevent the child, family, or court from establishing a permanent safe outcome.

This internship should uniquely cause students to consider the ethical, professional, and moral consequences of his or her approaches to child welfare problem solving. Students will also become keenly aware of how their own values impact their analysis and consequent resolution of issues addressed in relation to various child welfare situations and institutions.

Many of the projects require an analysis of the legal and social issues that relate to child welfare. Students are required to analyze and evaluate existing law or juvenile justice systems, rules, and statutes and to draw appropriate conclusions.

Students are also required to develop a sufficient grasp of the issues and, through the development and utilization of critical thinking strategies, evaluate existing law/policies or propose new legislation/policies in support of better outcomes for children in the justice or welfare system.

Because this placement is "in-house," the supervising faculty member develops the methods and objectives of the internship and communicates these to the students in person at the beginning and throughout the internship.

Faculty Supervisor

Nickole Miller, Director of the Joan and Lyle Middleton Center for Children’s Rights; Assistant Professor of Law
(515) 271-1809;
nickole.miller@drake.edu

Prerequisites
Completion of three semesters of law school and faculty/supervisor approval.

Educational Objectives
The purpose of the Iowa Attorney General's Office Internship is to allow students the opportunity to manage appellate cases in criminal law and develop skills in case research, management, strategy, writing, and oral advocacy.

Students will be assigned cases prescreened by the field supervisor and then manage the case through the appellate process with assistance from the field supervisor.

The field supervisor agrees with the case management strategy and has discussed it with the faculty supervisor.

Faculty Supervisor
Steve Foritano, Practitioner in Residence
515-271-4687 steve.foritano@drake.edu

Prerequisites
Students must qualify under Iowa Supreme Court Rule 31.15 for in-court student practice before participating in the program. Rule 31.15 requires students to be part of a law school approved program and have completed one-half of their total law school credits.

Students must have completed both Evidence (LAW 113) and Criminal Procedure I (LAW 236) prior to enrollment in the internship.

Educational Objectives
Students will have the opportunity to work on a variety of disability law projects at Disability Rights Iowa, with a focus on the legal rights of children with disabilities.

Students will interview potential clients, assist with monitoring restraint and seclusion practices at juvenile facilities, and do legal research and writing in support of litigation at DRI.

Faculty Supervisor

Nickole Miller, Director of the Joan and Lyle Middleton Center for Children’s Rights; Assistant Professor of Law
(515) 271-1809; nickole.miller@drake.edu

Educational Objectives
The internship objective is to provide practical experience in the area of environmental law, including skills training and substantive knowledge.

This is communicated to students through the course description and initial meetings with the faculty supervisor and communicated to field supervisors by conversation and an expectations letter.

Faculty Supervisor
Jerry Anderson, Dean; Richard M. and Anita Calkins Distinguished Professor of Law
515-271-2658 jerry.anderson@drake.edu
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Prerequisites
Students need to have taken Environmental Law. Administrative Law is recommended.

Educational Objectives

Students are placed with the Iowa Supreme Court Attorney Disciplinary Board (part of the Office of Professional Regulation). Interns assist with investigation and prosecution of ethics complaints against attorneys, performing fact finding, research, and litigation support at ethics hearings before the Grievance Commission.  Interns also help the Board with special projects and educational programming for Iowa lawyers. 
  
The objectives of the Ethics Internship Program are to enhance students’ understanding of legal ethical rules as they apply to real practice situations; provide students with familiarity with the workings of the grievance and disciplinary system for attorneys; educate students about the bar’s expectations of attorneys once a complaint is made; and provide students with an opportunity to develop professional skills through fact finding on complaints, legal ethics research, and prosecution of ethics complaints. 

Faculty Supervisor
Ellen Yee, Professor of Law
515-271-2040 ellen.yee@drake.edu

Prerequisites
Students must have taken the required Legal Ethics and Professional Responsibility course.

Educational Objectives
The Federal Public Defender’s Internship Program provides law students with an opportunity to apply substantive law to the defense of federal criminal charges.

The program develops skills in problem solving and critical thinking and guides students toward exercise of these skills in an ethical and professional manner. Students will assist the Federal Public Defender's Office by doing projects requiring legal research, legal analysis, and legal writing.

The objectives and methods of the internship were developed jointly by Drake faculty and the federal public defender. Copies of this are provided the Federal Public Defender's Office as needed. Students are informed of the objectives and methods of the internship during an interview with the faculty supervisor at the beginning of the semester.

Faculty Supervisor
Robert Rigg, Professor of Law
515-271-3928 robert.rigg@drake.edu
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Prerequisites
Students apply for the internship by submitting a resume through the faculty advisor. Students are interviewed by the faculty advisor and the Federal Public Defender’s Office.

Selection of the student(s) is based on factors including:

• Research and writing ability as demonstrated by a writing sample. Consideration is given to a student’s participation in moot court, law review, or journal.
• Completion of 30 hours of class work and a minimum GPA of 2.0.
• References from faculty, attorneys, and judges.

Educational Objectives
The objective is to provide an introduction to the state (appellate) and federal (trial and appellate) judicial decision-making process.

Before the internship starts, the faculty supervisor has a face-to-face meeting with the student and at least a phone conversation with the judge (separately) and provides both with a written memorandum concerning the educational objectives and methods.

Faculty Supervisor
Suzie Pritchett, Director of Clinics and Experiencial Learning; Professor of Law
515-271-3391 suzan.pritchett@drake.edu

Prerequisites
Completion of 45 credits, a minimum GPA of 3.25, and demonstrated commitment to scholarship. Must also receive a faculty recommendation and approval of the associate dean and Judicial Internship Director.

This internship accommodates students who wish to arrange an intern experience that does not fit another pre-defined placement. Such internships are limited to public interest, nonprofit, and government institutions.

Students must find a faculty member willing to act as the faculty supervisor, and the proposal must be approved in advance by the associate dean.

The faculty member sets the precise terms with regard to reports, papers, and hours, but they will fall within the range of other internships.

Educational Objectives
The internship is designed so that students can apply the book learning from their courses directly to investigate actual claims.

Students will typically screen eight to ten cases and write up a proposed disposition.

Students can only enroll with the permission of the instructor, who communicates the Law School’s and the Iowa Civil Rights Commission’s (ICRC) expectations as to both the quantity and quality of the work.

Faculty Supervisor
Mark Kende, Director of the Drake Constitutional Law Center, James Madison Chair in Constitutional Law, and Professor of Law
515-271-3354 mark.kende@drake.edu 
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Prerequisites
None

Educational Objectives
The Iowa Public Information Board is a nine-member board appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Iowa Senate. It is an independent agency of state government. The mission of the IPIB is to enforce Iowa's Open Meetings and Public Records laws.

The internship entails working directly with the board's deputy director on research, writing, and investigative projects in support of the board's activities. The intern will also attend board meetings and hearings.

Faculty Supervisor
Anthony Gaughan, Kern Family Chair in Law and Professor of Law
(515) 271-2060  anthony.gaughan@drake.edu
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Educational Objectives
The objective is to provide an introduction to the judiciary and judicial decision-making process.

The faculty supervisor has separate face-to-face meetings with the student and with the judge before the beginning of the internship and provides both with a written memorandum concerning the educational objectives and methods.

Faculty Supervisor 
Suzie Pritchett, Director of Clinics and Experiencial Learning; Professor of Law
515-271-3391 suzan.pritchett@drake.edu

Prerequisites
Completion of the first year of study and a minimum GPA of 2.3.

Educational Objectives
The objectives of the Juvenile Court Internship are to educate students in juvenile law and procedure, to help them understand how judges decide these types of cases, to expose students to the realities of the people who find themselves subject to juvenile court jurisdiction, to teach students good practice in this area of the law, to help students understand ethical issues, and to encourage students to think about juvenile law policy and reform.

These goals are communicated to students during the first meeting with the supervising professor. Judge Cohen is familiar with these objectives through many years of work on the internship with the supervising professor.

Faculty Supervisor

Nickole Miller, Director of the Joan and Lyle Middleton Center for Children’s Rights; Assistant Professor of Law
(515) 271-1809; nickole.miller@drake.edu

Prerequisites
There are no prerequisites for this class, although students who have not taken Children & the Law are required to attend a special orientation session with the supervising professor to learn some of the basics of juvenile law and procedure.

Educational Objectives
The objectives of the Juvenile Law Internship are to educate students in juvenile law and procedure, to teach students how to negotiate and how to prosecute juvenile court matters including hearings, to expose students to the realities of the people who find themselves subject to juvenile court jurisdiction, to teach students about the work of social workers and other experts employed by the system and how to work with these professionals, to teach students good practice in this area of the law, to help students understand ethical issues, and to encourage students to think about juvenile law policy and reform.

These goals are communicated to students during the first meeting with the supervising professor. The professor meets with the field supervisor at the beginning of each placement to discuss the student’s needs and the objectives of the internship.

Faculty Supervisor

Nickole Miller, Director of the Joan and Lyle Middleton Center for Children’s Rights; Assistant Professor of Law
(515) 271-1809; nickole.miller@drake.edu

Prerequisites
Children & the Law and Trial Advocacy are prerequisites for this course. In addition, the supervising professor and the field supervisor screen students.

Educational Objectives
The objectives of the Juvenile Law Appellate Internship are to educate students in juvenile law and procedure, especially the Child Abuse Registry and termination of parental rights; to teach them to write better, especially in the appellate context; to expose students to the realities of the people who find themselves subject to juvenile court jurisdiction; to teach students about the work of social workers and other experts employed by the system and how to work with these professionals; to teach students good practice in this area of the law; to teach students how to conduct administrative hearings; to help students understand ethical issues; and to encourage students to think about juvenile law policy and reform.

These goals are communicated to students during the first meeting with the supervising professor. Katherine Miller-Todd, the field supervisor on this internship, is familiar with these objectives through many years of work on the internship with the supervising professor.

Faculty Supervisor

Nickole Miller, Director of the Joan and Lyle Middleton Center for Children’s Rights; Assistant Professor of Law
(515) 271-1809; nickole.miller@drake.edu

Prerequisites
There are no prerequisites for this class, although students who have not taken Children & the Law are required to attend a special orientation session with the supervising professor to learn some of the basics of juvenile law and registry, administrative, and appellate procedure.

Educational Objectives
The internship gives students the opportunity to observe and participate in the Iowa legislative process by assigning them to work for a member of the Iowa General Assembly during the legislative session.

The experience allows them to observe the legislative process and better understand the function of parties, leadership, committees, and other significant aspects of lawmaking. The experience lets them appreciate the role of legal advice and lawyers in legislative drafting.

Before beginning the internship, each student receives a memo detailing the educational activities expected to occur during the internship. A similar letter is given to each supervising legislator.

Faculty Supervisors
Julie Smith, Director of the Legislative Practice Center; Assistant Professor of Law
julie.smith@drake.edu

Prerequisites
Students are required to complete the 2L Legislation course.

Educational Objectives
The objective of the internship is to enable the student to apply the knowledge and tools gathered during the prerequisites of Legislation, Legislative Practice, and the Legislative Internship.

Communication regarding the internship is made through the fall semester Legislative Practice class, which all internship students are required to complete.

Director of the Legislative Practice Center Julie Smith teaches the Legislative Practice course and supervises this internship. Smith and the students prepare for the next legislative session, which occurs in the spring, through class discussion and one-on-one meetings outside of class. Smith spends an additional 15-20 hours in the fall setting up the spring internships to ensure an effective experience for students.

Faculty Supervisor
Julie Smith, Director of the Legislative Practice Center; Assistant Professor of Law
julie.smith@drake.edu

Prerequisites
Students must have completed the Legislation course, Legislator Internship, and Legislative Practice course.

Educational Objectives
This internship familiarizes students with the prosecutorial system and provides opportunities for the development of general and criminal prosecution litigation skills as interns participate in pretrial and post-trial hearings, witness interviews and preparation, misdemeanor trials, and juvenile court proceedings.

Students are given a copy of the internship policies and procedures, which contain the expectations and objectives for the internship, at the beginning of the semester. The supervising professor communicates this information to field-placement supervisors through face-to-face, telephone, and email contacts.

Faculty Supervisor
Steve Foritano, Practitioner in Residence
(515) 271-4687  steve.foritano@drake.edu

Prerequisites
Students must have completed Evidence (LAW 113) and Criminal Procedure I (LAW 236).

Educational Objectives
The objectives are to familiarize students with the prosecutorial system and provide opportunities for the development of general and criminal prosecution litigation skills as students participate in pretrial and post-trial hearings, witness interviews and preparation, misdemeanor trials, and juvenile court proceedings.

Students are given a copy of the internship policies and procedures, which contain the expectations and objectives for the internship, at the beginning of the semester. The supervising professor communicates this information to field-placement supervisors through face-to-face, telephone, and email contacts.

Faculty Supervisor
Steven Foritano, Practitioner in Residence
(515) 271-4687  steven.foritano@drake.edu

Prerequisites
Students must have three semesters completed, including Evidence (LAW 113), and Criminal Procedure I (LAW 236). May not be taken concurrently with LAW 501, 628, 612, 502, or 502.

Educational Objectives
The purpose of the Securities Law Internship is to offer interested students an opportunity to acquire direct exposure to legal issues in state securities regulation.

Students serve as interns with securities attorneys in the Securities and Regulated Industries Bureau (formerly the Iowa Securities Bureau) of the Iowa Insurance Division. The internship immerses students in the administrative law processes through which state regulators enforce the Iowa blue sky law, including development of regulations for the protection of investors and enforcement actions against issuers and broker-dealers.

Students participate in such varied activities as administrative decisions, enforcement actions, and development of public policy. These purposes are outlined in the Securities Internship course description, a copy of which is provided to students and field-placement supervisors at the Securities and Regulated Industries Bureau.

In addition, and with respect to each student intern who registers for the internship, the field-placement supervisor executes a program agreement pursuant to which he agrees to supervise the intern and to ensure that the internship experience includes exposure to the broadest possible range of appropriate legal work of the Securities and Regulated Industries Bureau. This legal work may include, but need not be limited to: 1) Attendance at administrative hearings; 2) Preparation of legal memoranda; and 3) Preparation of legal documents.

The purpose of these communications and the program agreement are to ensure that there is work of sufficient quantity and quality for students.

Faculty Supervisor
Erin Lain, Associate Dean and Professor of Law
515-271-2040 erin.lain@drake.edu
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Prerequisites
Permission of the supervising professor, with preference to students with either experience in the securities industry or completion of Securities Law.

Educational Objectives
Students in this internship research and write appellate briefs and argue the case before the Iowa Court of Appeals or the Iowa Supreme Court. Students are supervised by experienced attorneys in the appellate division of the State Public Defenders Office.

Faculty Supervisor
Robert Rigg, Professor of Law
515-271-3928 robert.rigg@drake.edu
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Prerequisites
Completion of first-year curriculum.

Educational Objectives
This internship gives students the opportunity to learn about pretrial and trial preparation and procedure in the context of felony cases.

Students have the opportunity to observe and assist experienced attorneys as they work through the criminal defense process, from initial interviews and research to observing trials. Students can hone research, interviewing, and writing skills, as well as learn the practical side of applying criminal law concepts in a defense context.

Faculty Supervisor
Robert Rigg, Professor of Law
515-271-3928 robert.rigg@drake.edu
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Prerequisites
Completion of first-year curriculum.

Educational Objectives
Student interns learn about administration of the state judicial system through work with the justices of the Iowa Supreme Court in their role supervising the judiciary.

Students will work individually and in groups with the justices of the Iowa Supreme Court developing and evaluating proposals for administrative reform of the judiciary.

Students will write a report and give a presentation to the Iowa Supreme Court Justices.

Faculty Supervisor
Erin Lain, Associate Dean and Professor of Law
515-271-2040 erin.lain@drake.edu
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Prerequisites
Completion of 45 credit hours, a minimum 3.0 GPA, and a demonstrated commitment to scholarship (through participation in a law journal, significant research for faculty for publication, judicial internship, etc.), a strong academic record, a faculty recommendation, and approval of the associate dean.

Educational Objectives
The purpose of the United States Attorney’s Office Internship is to offer students an opportunity to participate in the development, preparation, and litigation of federal criminal or federal government civil actions through working in the Des Moines U.S. Attorney’s Office. The experience immerses students in federal court litigation as well as the prosecutorial process.

Students are given a copy of the internship policies and procedures, which contain the expectations and objectives for the internship, at the beginning of the semester. The supervising professor communicates this information to field-placement supervisors through face-to-face, telephone, and email contacts.

Faculty Supervisor
Steven Foritano, Practitioner in Residence
(515) 271-2824 steven.foritano@drake.edu

Prerequisites
Students must qualify under Iowa Supreme Court Rule 31.15 and the Equivalent Local Rule for the U.S. Court for the Southern District of Iowa for in-court student practice before participating in the program. These rules require students to be part of a law school approved program and have completed one-half of their total law school credits, to be certified by the dean as qualified, and to be supervised by a licensed attorney in the court.

Students must have completed both Evidence (LAW 113) and Criminal Procedure I (LAW 236) prior to enrollment in the internship. Trial Advocacy is listed as a preferred credential but is not absolutely necessary.

All interns must also pass a government background security check to work in the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Educational Objectives
The education goals are to provide students with real-life practical experience in the operation of United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) agencies and implementation of various federal programs relating to agriculture and rural issues.

The agencies involved with the internships include the state or regional offices, located in Des Moines for Rural Development (RD), Farm Services Agency (FSA), Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), and Grain Inspection Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA). Remote and in person opportunities are also available with offices outside Des Moines, including the USDA Office of General Counsel.

The objectives and expectations for the internships are communicated with the students and the supervisors in the advising process, during which students identify possible internships and interview with prospective agencies.

Faculty Supervisor
Jennifer Zwagerman, Director of the Drake Agricultural Law Center and Associate Professor of Law
515-271-4119 jennifer.zwagerman@drake.edu
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Prerequisites
Preference is given to students pursuing the Food and Agricultural Law Certificate and taking classes in that series. Internships are only available after the first year.