Just the Beginning - A Pipeline Organization

2025 Summer Judicial Internship
Diversity Project Application

Page 1 - Program Information

Disclaimer
DEADLINE: January 10, 2025, at Noon ET OR until capacity has been reached. Early submissions are highly encouraged. You will be allowed to save this application and come back to it at a later time. Only completed applications will be considered.
Summer Judicial Internship Diversity Project
The Judicial Resources Committee and Just the Beginning – A Pipeline Organization is pleased to announce the annual Summer Judicial Internship Diversity Project ("SJID Project") for Summer 2025. 

The SJID Project's goal is to provide highly qualified law students from underrepresented backgrounds in the legal profession with summer judicial internships. Operating nationally since 2011, the SJID Project has placed approximately 1,000 law students in successful internships to date. Judges from around the country have registered to participate in the 2025 SJID Project and are ready to hire a JTB law intern! 

The SJID Project is national in scope and will place law students as judicial interns in federal appellate, district, bankruptcy, magistrate and select state appellate judges’ chambers across the country.  Interns will have the opportunity to draft bench memoranda, judicial orders, and opinions on a variety of substantive matters, including motions to dismiss, motions for summary judgment, magistrate judge reports, and habeas corpus petitions.  Applicants should be J.D. candidates that possess strong research and writing skills and be prepared to handle the rigors of working in judge's chambers.  
 
Applicants who are hired must commit to participating in two mandatory training workshops prior to the beginning of their internship via videoconference. Additionally, applicants must be available to work full-time as an unpaid intern or to find outside funding sources and must commit to working in chambers for a minimum of eight weeks. At present, this is an unpaid internship. Applicants are encouraged to seek law school or non-profit funding. 

Please view the SJID Project Announcement to find further details regarding requirements, scholarships, JTB partners, and more. The program requirements are detailed in the Memorandum of Understanding included in the above announcement. 

A complete application includes this completed application form and the following supporting documents:

Page 2 - Application

Contact Information











Please note that permanent and current addresses will be used to match candidates to judges. We encourage you to add both if you can reside in either location over the summer to improve your chance of being matched. Even if internships are held remotely in the summer of 2024, the JTB team will do our best to ensure that candidates are placed in locations they intend to reside and practice. 






Page 3 - Demographics

Student Demographic Information
The following information will used for demographic purposes only.













Page 4 - Internship Details

Internship Preferences

Please review all available choices carefully. You must select at least one location.



Page 5 - Application Materials

Document Upload
Please carefully review the instructions for submission and upload your completed and correctly titled application materials below.

Please name your PDF documents as follows:
  1. Lastname_Firstname_JTB2025_Cover Letter.pdf
  2. Lastname_Firstname_JTB2025_Resume.pdf
  3. Lastname_Firstname_JTB2025_Writing Sample.pdf
  4. Lastname_Firstname_JTB2025_Transcript.pdf
  5. Lastname_Firstname_JTB2025_References.pdf
  6. Lastname_Firstname_JTB2025_Signed Memorandum.pdf
ALTHOUGH SEVERAL JUDGES MAY RECEIVE YOUR APPLICATION, PLEASE ADDRESS YOUR COVER LETTER TO:  
Just the Beginning - A Pipeline Organization
ATTN: Cristina Figueroa
1 South Dearborn St., 20th Floor 
Chicago, IL 60603

All 6 documents below are required for a complete application. However, if you do not have access to the official copy of your first semester law school transcript at this time, please submit this application form without the law transcript and submit the transcript at the link below when it becomes available: 
Judicial Resources Committee and Just the Beginning - Upload Additional Files. (tfaforms.net).

The document must be .pdf.

The document must be .pdf.

The document must be .pdf.

The document must be .pdf.

The document must be .pdf.

The document must be .pdf.

Page 6 - Signatures and Consent

Privacy Policy
Any information supplied to Just The Beginning – A Pipeline Organization (JTB-APO) by participants, parents, volunteers or others will be used solely to fulfill their program participation and shall not be shared for any reason unless permission is granted by the the participants, parents, volunteers or others to share such information. JTB-APO does not sell or share participants, parents, volunteers or other lists. Participants, parents, volunteers or others who supply JTB-APO with their postal address or email address may be contacted periodically for solicitation purposes and/or with information regarding upcoming events. Participants, parents, volunteers or others may request to be permanently removed from JTB-APO’s mailing list by contacting us via email, phone or postal mail. All requests to be removed from JTB-APO’s mailing list shall be honored. participants, parents, volunteers or others who supply JTB-APO with their telephone number shall only be contacted by telephone regarding their program participation.
Nondiscrimination Policy
The officers, directors, committee members, employees, and persons served by this organization shall be selected entirely on a nondiscriminatory basis with respect to age, sex, race, religion, national origin, and sexual orientation.  It is the policy of JTB-APO not to discriminate on the basis of race, creed, ancestry, marital status, gender, sexual orientation, age, physical disability, veteran’s status, political service or affiliation, color, religion, or national origin.
Special Accommodations
Special accommodations are available for program participants who meet eligibility criteria and sufficiently document their request. Program participants who have a documented disability covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act, as amended, or a scheduling conflict due to a religious Sabbath or a military appointment may request special accommodations.

Photo Release Form
In consideration for my being permitted to participate in the Just The Beginning – A Pipeline Organization (JTB-APO) program or activity, I hereby grant permission to JTB-APO and each of its affiliated or subsidiary companies, their successors, agents, and assigns to utilize my name, voice, and likeness (including, but not limited to, photographs and any video/audio recording of my appearance at the program or activity) in any and all manner and media, now known or hereafter developed, throughout the universe in perpetuity without limitation and without additional compensation or consideration, notification, or permission, unless prohibited by applicable law.

I hereby waive any right that I may have to inspect or approve any finished product (including, but not limited to, any blog, newsletters, brochures, videos, slide shows, websites, and/or other materials) or any advertising copy that may be used in connection therewith or the use to which it is applied. I hereby assign all rights, title, and interest I may have in any and all media now known or hereafter developed in which any or all of my appearance, name, voice, and/or likeness have been captured in connection with the program or activity to JTB-APO, along with full rights of assignability. I understand and agree that any photographs and/or video/audio recordings I make at the JTB-APO program or activity shall be used solely for my and his/her/their private, noncommercial use, and that absolutely no sale, transmission, distribution, or commercial use of any such photographs and/or video/audio recordings or descriptions are permitted.
I have read and understand the above:


General Release of Liability
PROGRAM POLICIES AND RULES: I understand and agree that I must abide by the JTB-APO policies and rules and the instructions of the JTB-APO organizers, employees, staff and volunteers at all times, and that my failure to do so will result in my immediate dismissal from the program.

ASSUMPTION OF RISK: I understand that I, and each participant in the JTB-APO program(s), will be engaging in activities that may involve the risk of serious personal injury, illness, permanent disability, dismemberment, and death, and that also involve the risk of severe economic and property loss and damage. I understand that these risks may result from the actions, negligence and failure to act of myself and others (including, but not limited to, other participants in JTB-APO program(s), and the organizers, employees, staff and volunteers, if any) and the condition of any real or personal property, facilities, or equipment used during the program.

I also understand that there may be risks involved in any and all activities which I may participate which are not known to me, JTB-APO, or its organizers, directors, members, employees, staff, counselors, and volunteers, if any, and may not be foreseen or reasonably foreseeable by any of the foregoing entities or persons at this time or at the time of the program. For my participating in a JTB-APO program, these activities and associated risks may include transportation via motorized vehicle (including, but not limited to shuttle, coach, and/or school bus) between different segments of the program during program hours. Permission is granted to JTB-APO to transport me via motorized vehicle between different segments of the JTB-APO program to or from any outside facilities used by JTB-APO during the program. In consideration for being permitted to participate in the JTB-APO program, I assume all of the foregoing risks, including, but not limited to, the risk of any negligence by other participants or by JTB-APO, and its respective owners, partners, directors, officers, employees, and agents, and the risk of injury caused by the condition of any real or personal property, facilities, or equipment used during the program, and accept personal responsibility for any injury (including, but not limited to, personal injury, disability, dismemberment, and death), illness, damage, loss, claim, liability, or expense (including reasonable attorneys’ and professionals’ fees), of any kind or nature, that I may suffer arising out of or in any way connected with the JTB-APO program or my participation in or attendance at the JTB-APO program.

I REPRESENT THAT I HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT. I EXPRESSLY AND VOLUNTARILY ASSUME ANY AND ALL RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH PARTICIPATION IN JTB-APO PROGRAMMING. IN CONSIDERATION FOR BEING PERMITTED TO ATTEND AND PARTICIPATE IN JTB-APO PROGRAMMING AND ANY AND ALL OF THE ACTIVITIES THAT ARE OR MIGHT BE ASSOCIATED WITH JTB-APO I RELEASE AND FURTHER AGREE TO INDEMNIFY, DEFEND AND HOLD HARMLESS JTB-APO, INCLUDING ITS BOARD MEMBERS, MANAGERS, OFFICERS, OWNERS, STAFF, EMPLOYEES, AGENTS, CONTRACTORS, REPRESENTATIVES, VOLUNTEERS, INTERNS AND INSURERS, FROM ANY AND ALL CLAIMS, DEMANDS, ACTIONS, CAUSES OF ACTION, LAWSUITS, EXPENSES OR LOSSES (INCLUDING ATTORNEYS’ FEES) WHATSOEVER THAT COULD BE BROUGHT BY ME, THE PARTICIPANT OR A THIRD PARTY ACTING ON BEHALF OF THE PARTICIPANT OR ME FOR ACTS OR OMISSIONS RELATED IN ANY WAY TO, OR ARISING OUT OF, JTB-APO PROGRAMMING.
I have read and understand the above:


Contact Information