2026 Suffolk Courts Summer Internship Program
Position Types: Judicial Interns, Associate Interns
Employer: New York Unified Court System, 10th Judicial District-Suffolk County
Pay | Hours: Unpaid Program | Part-Time Hours
Term: June 1, 2026 to July 10, 2026 (Judicial Interns may apply for extension)
Contact: Joseph Benedetto, suffolkinterns@nycourts.gov
Description:
The 10th Judicial District, Suffolk County (“Suffolk Courts”) is one of 13 judicial districts across the State of New York. The Suffolk Courts have 13 courthouses throughout the county with over 100 judges, referees, and magistrates, and over 1,000 nonjudicial employees. In a calendar year,
the Suffolk Courts hear around 150,000 cases including matters in the criminal, civil, family, and surrogate courts. Additionally, the Suffolk Courts employ a variety of specialty “problem solving courts” that employ innovative and tailored methods to address the underlying issues that bring people into the justice system (e.g., Drug Court, Mental Health Court, Veterans Court,
etc.). The Suffolk Courts operate some of the busiest civil, criminal, and family court parts within New York State.
The Summer Internship Program of the Suffolk Courts offers motivated students an educational experience that introduces them to the workings of the Unified Court System and generally acclimates them to the legal system. The program offers two separate tracks for students:
Judicial Interns: Law students accepted into the program serve as “Judicial Interns,” and will be independently assigned to work in the chambers of a sitting judge. Similar to a traditional clerkship, Judicial Interns will have the opportunity to work closely alongside a judge and the judge’s staff. The intern will be expected to employ research, writing, and analytical skills while assisting their judge in handling the court’s daily calendar of cases. The Judicial Intern will report to their assigned judge’s chambers for the duration of the internship and will be expected to create a part-time schedule that best fits the needs of both the student and their assigned judge.
Associate Interns: Undergraduate students serve as “Associate Interns.” They will be assigned to a staff of court attorneys and are expected to attend the program and participate in scheduled or assigned activities each day from 9:45 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. with a built-in lunch break. Associate Interns will be provided a robust program schedule that will offer special opportunities to visit and observe all of Suffolk County’s unique court parts. Students will be immersed in the day-to-day operations of the courts and will learn firsthand about the important roles of many different court employees.
Interns from both tracks will be invited to attend functions scheduled in the Program’s Events Calendar. As part of the Events Calendar, students will participate in a variety of tours, trainings, and lectures. Examples of events include tours of a crime lab, local jail, federal courthouse, and police station, as well as lectures from members of the legal community, panel discussions with judges, and career seminars presented by various members of the court’s staff.
Locations:
Judicial Interns may be assigned to a judge sitting in one of the following Suffolk County courthouses:
- John P. Cohalan Jr. Court Complex, 400 Carleton Ave., Central Islip, NY 11722 • Arthur M. Cromarty Court Complex, 210 Center Dr., Riverhead, NY 11901 • Hon. Alan D. Oshrin Supreme Court Building, 1 Court St., Riverhead, NY 11901 • Suffolk County Surrogate’s Court, 320 Center Dr., Riverhead, NY 11901
Associate Interns will be assigned to regularly report to the John P. Cohalan Jr. Court Complex at 400 Carleton Avenue in Central Islip.
Qualifications:
Priority consideration will be given to completed applications received on or before Friday, February 27, 2026. All applications received thereafter will be accepted on a rolling basis subject to available space.
Students should have an interest in working in the public sector and should also demonstrate a strong background in academics and civics. For law students, preference will be given to those with experience in research and writing, membership in a moot court association, or involvement in other notable law-related activity.
How to Apply:
Interested students may apply by submitting an email to Joseph Benedetto at suffolkinterns@nycourts.gov with an attached cover letter, resume, and writing sample limited to 5 pages in length. Students should state in the cover letter their career goals and interest in any specific area(s) of law or public service. The deadline to apply is Friday, April 3, 2026.
Compensation:
This is an unpaid internship (positions are eligible for Federal Work Study Grant funding).
*For more information about the Suffolk Courts and the New York State Unified Court System, please visit:
https://ww2.nycourts.gov/courts/10jd/suffolk/index.shtml
