Judicial Internships

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For Winter 2024, there are Judicial Internships available at the Ontario Courts of Justice in Windsor and Newmarket. Both of these placements focus on Criminal Law. Placements will take place in-person in the Winter 2024 term. 


In Windsor Law’s Judicial Internship Program, students are placed with one or more Supervising Judges in one of the Provincial Courts across Ontario. 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. 

 

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For Winter 2024, there are Judicial Internships available at the Ontario Courts of Justice in Windsor and Newmarket. Both of these placements focus on Criminal Law. Placements will take place entirely in-person in the Winter 2024 term.

Windsor - Family, Chatham, and Halton will NOT have placements in the Winter 2024 Term.

 

JUDICIAL INTERNSHIP APPLICATION ANNOUNCEMENT

CALL FOR APPLICATIONS – Judicial Internship Program (Windsor and Newmarket), Winter 2024
 
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 Newmarket). Two students will be selected for Windsor and one for Newmarket. 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 note that a background in criminal law is preferred. Please contact Professor Gemma Smyth, or Experiential Learning Program Coordinator Kristijana Gavrovski with questions about this experience: gemma.smyth@uwindsor.ca or kristijana.gavrovski@uwindsor.ca


Applications are due on November 3, 2023, at 12:00 pm

Please combine your documents into a single PDF file when submitting. Cover letters can be addressed to Professor Gemma Smyth.


Apply here:  https://uwindsor.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3JBbztL6zDKtkWi

 

General Application Information 

Applications are collected in the summer for the Fall term and in early Fall for the Winter term. Students will be notified of the application details via email.

2L and 3L students may apply by submitting an online application form. Required documents include a cover letter setting out the student's reasons for seeking an internship and the qualities and experience the student possesses that make them suited for the position. A resume, transcript (an unofficial transcript will suffice), and writing sample must also be provided. Students apply for their preferred Judicial Internship placement and have the opportunity to provide any further information that supports their application. The applications will be assessed in consultation with the Supervising Judges. 

Students might be required to enroll in other Law courses before confirming a Judicial Internship placement. Students are therefore encouraged to enroll in all courses besides the Judicial Internship. If students secure a Judicial Internship placement, they will be given permission and instructions to enroll in the proper course. Students can work with the Academic Coordinator’s Office to ensure 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.

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 Clinical and Experiential Learning Coordinator

Please fee free to reach out with any questions!

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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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