Legal Intern

AOPC Department Profile: With offices in Harrisburg, Philadelphia, and Pittsburgh, the Legal Department provides advice and counsel to the PA Supreme Court, the state court administrator, state court judges, and UJS personnel on legal, administrative, and policy matters. AOPC/Legal - comprised of 12 attorneys and 5 paralegals/legal secretaries - includes three primary units. First, the Litigation Unit represents Pennsylvania court entities, judges, and state-paid court personnel in litigation matters, predominately in federal court, often testing state court sovereignty under the federal constitution. They provide advice to prevent litigation whenever possible but do not provide representation in criminal or disciplinary actions. Second, the Transactional Unit negotiates contracts and prepares and reviews documents respecting competitive procurements. They are also responsible for managing AOPC’s leasing portfolio. Third, the Information Technology Unit participates in planning and implementing the statewide case management systems and related programs, ensuring that the systems comply with all applicable laws and legal procedural requirements. They also serve as the primary point of contact with other agencies, organizations, and departments that work with AOPC to obtain information and data from AOPC’s various case management systems. In addition, they review legislation affecting Pennsylvania’s judiciary and guide on issues related to public access to court case records.

The position requires a commitment of 35 hours per week during the summer and 10 hours per week during the academic year. The term of employment will run from May 2025 to May 2026. The selected candidate will work under the supervision of the Supervising Legal Counsel. The position is located in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and it is not a remote job.

Job Duties

• Conducts legal research and analysis related to benchbooks, court policy and other assigned projects.

• Provides written and oral responses to queries regarding court procedures, policies, and status of court cases.

Minimum Qualifications

• Accepting applications from first- and second-year law students enrolled in good standing in an accredited law degree program.

• Working knowledge of legal terminology and procedures.

• Excellent written and oral communication skills.

• Basic knowledge of policies, procedures, and functions of the PA Unified Judicial System.

Additional Requirements

• Working knowledge and competence using standard PC software programs, including Microsoft Office, Lexis, and Westlaw required.

• Satisfactory criminal background check required.

• A resume, law school transcript(s), and writing sample are required.

Click on Apply. To be considered, please attach your resume, law school transcripts, and a writing sample to your application.

Note: you cannot add these documents after submitting your application.

Salary information

Hourly rate: $18.50

Applicants requiring accommodation, for any part of the application and/or interview process, should contact Human Resources at (717) 231-3309 or human.resources@pacourts.us.