Internship Program Information

The Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office offers various opportunities for undergraduate and law students interested in public service and criminal law to gain valuable, hands-on experience in the criminal justice system. The following includes the descriptions and application submission information for our offered programs:

  • Spring applications will begin October 7, 2026, and will close November 7, 2026.
  • Summer applications will begin January 4, 2027, and will close March 5, 2027.

*Please Note: All Summer UNDERGRADUATE positions applications begin January 4, 2027 – February 4, 2027. No applications after February 4, 2027, will be accepted due to limited positions available.

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.

Paid Intern — Approximately 20 paid interns will be hired for the summer program. These positions are reserved for upper-level law students (rising 3L & 4L) who are able to be certified under PA Bar Admission Ruled 321 & 322.

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.

Undergraduate — Undergraduates who can receive school credit for an internship through our office may be extended offers on a limited basis, credit must be pre-approved by the school. The number of undergraduate intern positions is very limited. The summer program does not offer paid internship positions for undergraduates.

Allegheny County Bar Association (ACBA) Summer Clerkship Program — The DA’s Office participates in this program administered by the ACBA for 1Ls. Questions about this program and the application process should be directed to Chance Wideman, of the ACBA, via email: cwideman@acba.org.

Allegheny County Bar Foundation Law Student Summer Fellowship — The DA’s Office participates in the Bar Foundation’s fellowship program for 2Ls. Questions about this program should be directed to Stephanie Selya, of the Bar Foundation, via email: sselya@acba.org.

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

Undergraduate Applicants

Interested undergraduates should submit a resume, school transcript and cover letter to Lynn & Sarah by the deadlines listed above. Cover letters should indicate that you have been approved to receive credit from your institution for an internship position in the Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office.

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-jury trials.
  • Generally, to become certified under Bar Admission Rules 321 and 322 students are required to have successfully taken and completed an Evidence course and completed an Application for Certification for Formal Participation in Legal Matters by Law Students Under Pa.B.A.R. 321 and 322, along with the completed Dean’s Certification Under Pa.B.A.R. 321 and 322.
  • Eligible students may consider this an opportunity to gain courtroom experience before finishing law school

Fall and Spring Positions

PAID INTERNS

The office has a limited number of paid internship positions that continue throughout the year. These positions are filled as they become available. If interested in a paid internship throughout the year contact Lynn Lattimore and Sarah Weikart to inquire about openings.

Paid interns are required to work in the office for 20 hours per week. Applicants for these positions should consider this time commitment in conjunction with their class schedule before applying. Law students and paralegals are given priority for the paid fall and spring internship positions. 

FOR CREDIT EXTERNS

Law students and undergraduates interested in earning credit towards their coursework with an externship during the school year may apply by submitting a resume, school transcript and cover letter to Lynn and Sarah. The cover letter should indicate approval from the institution to earn credit for time in the Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office, and the semester during which the externship will take place. Approval of credits by the school does not guarantee an externship in our office. These positions are subject to availability and still require an interview.

Duquesne Law Criminal Prosecution Program

The Criminal Prosecution Program at the Duquesne University School of Law is taught on campus and features a practical aspect at the Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office. Deputy District Attorney Jennifer DiGiovanni and Judge David Spurgeon are the instructors for this course. Questions about this program can be directed to Deputy District Attorney Jennifer DiGiovanni at jdigiovanni@alleghenycountyda.us, or Duquesne’s Beth Licciardello at licciardellos@duq.edu.

University of Pittsburgh Students

University of Pittsburgh School of Law students can cross-enroll in the Duquesne Law Criminal Prosecution Program as long as a class capacity allows and with the approval of Vice Dean Jerry Dickinson. Interested students see below for application details:

    1. Contact the Duquesne Law Registrar’s Office, lawreg@duq.edu, to ensure availability within the clinic.
    2. If openings are available, fill out the Pittsburgh Counsel of Higher Education Application Form.
    3. Send the completed form to Vice Dean Jerry Dickinson, Esq, jerry.dickinson@pitt.edu, and to Jaime Horensky, horensky@pitt.edu, and your supervisor for final approval.