Internships

Named for Judge William C. Clifton, Sr., the first African American Special Assistant Attorney General in the Attorney General’s Office, the Clifton Clerkship Program provides first- and second-year law students from historically underrepresented populations with the opportunity to spend the summer working on substantive legal matters while building valuable career experience. Over the 10-week, full-time program, law students will split their time between the Office’s Criminal and Civil Divisions and receive legal assignments in their areas of interest. This program is open to all qualified applicants.



Each selected law student will receive a stipend of approximately $3,000 for the summer clerkship.

The 2024 William C. Clifton Clerkship application period launched on December 1, 2023 and closed on January 31, 2024.

The Summer Legal Intern Program is a 10-week, full-time program for students completing their first and second years of law school. Law students who participate in the competitive, structured program benefit from an exceptional legal experience and invaluable exposure to the demands and rewards of public service. Interns can expect challenging legal research and writing assignments and even courtroom appearances alongside supervising attorneys. The Program provides regular professional development opportunities including trainings, events, and networking activities.

Internships are unpaid and accepted students are encouraged to pursue funding through their law schools or other funding sources. The Attorney General’s Office has a wide-range of responsibilities and, taking into account placement preferences, accepted students are assigned to a particular division within the office. Previous placements have included: Appellate (Civil & Criminal), Civil Rights, Criminal Prosecution (including: General Trial, Special Victims, Juvenile Prosecution, Narcotics and Organized Crime, and Public Integrity), Environmental Litigation, Government Litigation, Healthcare and Insurance, Legal Policy, Open Government, and Public and Consumer Protection.

Applying for the Program

To apply for a position, please submit a cover letter, resume, and writing sample. In the cover letter, please indicate any preferred placements.

Email application materials as PDF files to: internships@riag.ri.gov

We begin accepting applications on August 15 and encourage submission by November 1. Following the NALP recruiting guidelines, first-year law students should not apply before December 1 and submissions are encouraged by January 15. Offers are made on a rolling basis and we respond to all applications.

During the fall and spring semesters, legal interns are accepted on a case-by case basis depending on the needs and requests of the Office’s divisions. These internships are designed for students currently enrolled in law school. Legal interns are typically assigned to a particular division within the office and are expected to work a minimum of 15 hours per week.

To express interest in a legal internship during the fall or spring semester, please submit a resume and cover letter stating your areas of interest and availability to the Internship Program Coordinator at internships@riag.ri.gov.

The Office accepts students for full- and part-time non-legal internships during the summer, as well as the fall and spring semesters. These internships provide students, typically enrolled in college, with the opportunity to learn, network and contribute to the Office’s wide-ranging mission.

To express interest in a non-legal internship please submit a resume and cover letter stating your areas of interest and availability to the Internship Program Coordinator at internships@riag.ri.gov.