Judicial Internships

Ontario Courts of Justice Judical Internships


Judicial Internships are available at the Ontario Courts of Justice in Windsor and Woodstock. Both of these placements focus on Criminal Law. Placements will take place entirely in-person. 


In Windsor Law’s Judicial Internship Program, students are placed with one or more Supervising Judges in one of the Ontario Provincial Courts (Windsor or Woodstock). Six students will be selected for Windsor and two for Woodstock. Judicial Internships provide a unique opportunity to better understand the work of the courts, learn from observing and critically reflecting on legal advocacy, and refine legal research and writing skills under the direct supervision of a Judge. Students interested in future Clerkship opportunities are highly encouraged to consider a Judicial Internship. Please see information on each placement site, below, including who to contact should more information be required. Please note that a background in criminal law is strongly preferred. 

"As a Judicial Intern at the Ontario Court of Justice, I gained a real-world perspective on how the legal principles taught in the classroom are applied in practice. The experience showed me that the more you observe, the more you learn. Nothing compares to seeing the law come alive beyond the pages of a textbook." Brandi Bekyarovich, Class of 2025

 

WINDSOR REGION    WOODSTOCK REGION    NEWMARKET REGION

Background 
In Windsor Law’s Judicial Internship Program, students are placed with one or more Supervising Judges in one of three Provincial Courts in Ontario: Windsor, Newmarket or Woodstock. Students receive three (3) credits for this placement. In Windsor Courts, Students will primarily observe matters in the criminal courts, with occasional opportunities to observe family proceedings. As such, academic and/or practical experience in criminal law are preferred in the Windsor Courts in particular. For other placements, experience in family and civil litigation is helpful. Students must be able to devote a FULL DAY per week to this program. Students travelling to Newmarket and Woodstock are expected to arrange their own travel. Funding may be available to support some of these costs. Please see information on each placement site at Judicial Internships | Faculty of Law

Application Process 
2L and 3L students may apply by submitting an online application form. Applications will be reviewed by the Externship Program Director in consultation with the Justices. Successful applicants will be asked to complete an interview with the Externship Program Director before they are selected for a position. Contact Legal Career Consultant Kristijana Gavrovski via Symplicity for more details on this unique opportunity!

Course Selection 

Students can only enroll in this program with permission. Successful applications are often finalized after registration. In this case, students should enroll in a full credit load, then drop a course if they are selected as a Judicial Intern. Students can work with the Academic Coordinator’s Office to ensure they are enrolled in the proper number of credits for a term. Students may also wish to request a credit overload form, available through the Academic Coordinator’s Office. However, given that students must devote a full day to this program, it is strongly recommended NOT to take courses on overload.  

The following documents should be prepared into one pdf file for your online application by June 27, 2025, by 12:00PM: 

  • A one-page cover letter addressed to Prof. Gemma Smyth, Externship Director, describing why you would like to be selected for a Judicial Internship position. Provide highlights of your experiences and learning that would contribute to the placement.; 

  • Your resume; 

  • Your transcript (an unofficial transcript will suffice); and 

  • A legal writing sample of no more than 10 pages, double-spaced. DO NOT use your Legal Research and Writing memo. DO NOT include co-authored pieces. Writing samples from previous undergraduate or graduate programs, blogs, short piece of writing from Access to Justice Course, and/or reflections for Indigenous Legal Orders are acceptable. Please note the context in which you wrote the selected writing sample.  

  • If you need any accommodations to apply for this program, please email the Externship Office.  

Students will receive three (3) credits for their work. Assessment is based on the student's professionalism and contributions to the work of the Court, including in the form of preparing research memoranda. Assessment will be made by the Supervising Judge, in consultation with the Externship Program Director. Performance will be graded on a Pass/Fail basis.

Gemma Smyth is the Externship Director. 

For further information, please contact externship@uwindsor.ca.

Please fee free to reach out with any questions!

NORTHWEST TERRITORIES 

Thoughts from former Judicial Interns

“The one-on-one weekly interactions with a judge were a very enriching experience. Most of the lessons I learned stemmed from those interactions, where I was provided with practical advice and mentorship.”

Anjali Rajan
Windsor Law, Class of 2017
2016 Judicial Internship

 

“The clerkship was one of the most practical and useful things I did while in law school. Not only did it look good on a resume, but I found it to be a great talking point in interviews. Practically speak, I feel that this program made me better prepared to practice litigation after graduation. I learned about the importance of the pleadings/court documents from a judge’s perspective. It was also great to see the lawyers in our community practicing. Observing counsel in court aided me in learning presentation techniques of my own and about the civility required in our courtrooms.”

Jennifer L. Seufert
B.Sc. (Hons.), J.D.
Windsor Law, Class of 2014
2013 Judicial Internship – Family Law Clerkship

 

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