Legal Intern

Making an Exoneree is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to advocating for individuals wrongfully convicted of crimes. The organization achieves its mission primarily through an extraordinary and unprecedented university course in which undergraduate and law students work together across multiple schools to reinvestigate likely wrongful conviction cases. They produce short documentaries and create digital platforms for each case, calling for exonerations and prison releases.

The program originated at Georgetown University, where Marc Howard and Marty Tankleff have taught the course every spring semester since 2018. Over the past seven years, the Georgetown program has covered 30 cases and contributed to 9 prison releases. In the Spring 2023 semester, Princeton University piloted a "Making an Exoneree" course with four additional cases, and it has already resulted in the release of multiple individuals. Now at four universities, 12 people (who have served over 200 years in prison for crimes they didn’t commit) are free through the Making an Exoneree program. Many others are also now represented by counsel and/or are receiving significant media attention.

About the Job

Making an Exoneree is seeking a Legal Intern to support the case review and selection process during Fall 2025. This position is ideal for an undergraduate student at Georgetown interested in wrongful convictions, criminal justice reform, law, or advocacy. This intern will play a key role in managing and organizing incoming correspondence, assisting with case file development, and updating and maintaining the central database (Airtable). This position collaborates closely with the Intake & Case Selection Manager (ICSM), Senior Legal Advisor, and Program Manager, assisting their efforts in identifying and evaluating cases with strong claims of innocence and clear avenues for reinvestigation. 

Key responsibilities include processing and filing mail, organizing incoming correspondence from incarcerated individuals and their families, and ensuring all materials are properly uploaded to case folders and databases. The intern will assist with data entry and case tracking in Airtable, helping to update case statuses and ensure all information is complete and accurate. Additional duties include supporting the ICSM in sending and reviewing intake forms, preparing cases for review, and contributing to preliminary case evaluations by summarizing materials and flagging key details. This includes researching cases online, requesting court documents and police records, contacting family members and advocates, and communicating with attorneys. They will also support the Senior Legal Advisor in setting up legal calls with potential program participants as part of the review process.  
 

Work Location: Hybrid, with an expectation of in-person availability at least three days per week (Washington, D.C).

Rate of Pay: $20 / hour

Estimated Weekly Hours: 20 - 30 hours/week 

Start Date: Mid-August

How to Apply: Please complete the application using this link: https://airtable.com/appJCizGn3F0pmAJq/shr5DSz1bkcoH9juv