Law Student Externship/Internship

Job Description

Fall 2026 Externship/Internship to Judge Andrew J. Lievense | Michigan Court of Appeals

The Tone:
This is an externship/internship at Michigan Court of Appeals, located in Detroit, MI. The Michigan Court of Appeals is a vital part of the state’s judiciary, hearing appeals from circuit courts and other tribunals throughout the state. This role offers law students a unique opportunity to directly support the judicial process by assisting a judge and their clerks with critical legal research, analysis, and drafting for appellate cases, directly contributing to the court’s function. The position provides direct exposure to the appellate court system and practical application of legal education.

The TL;DR
• Role: Externship/Internship
• Location: In-person, Detroit, MI
• Team: Reports directly to the Judge and his judicial law clerks
• Mission: To support the Judge and law clerks in the analysis, research, and drafting for appellate cases before the Michigan Court of Appeals.
• Tech Stack: Court’s database, online and print research

What You’ll Actually Do
• Collaborate: Work collaboratively with the Judge and law clerks on all assigned tasks and case matters.
• Engage: Discuss the merits of cases, provide advice on legal issues, and recommend outcomes for individual issues and the disposition of appeals.
• Prepare: Draft bench memoranda for cases assigned directly to the Judge in advance of oral arguments.
• Draft: Prepare draft opinions for assigned cases, and under direction, draft concurrences and dissents.
• Review: Ensure compliance and consistency of all circulated and finalized opinions with the Michigan Supreme Court Opinion Manual.

The Must-Haves
• Background: Law student seeking an externship/internship for the Fall 2026 term. Entry-Level. Strong foundation in legal principles, research methodologies, and analysis relevant to appellate practice.
• Experience: Experience reading appellate briefs, reviewing lower court records, and conducting comprehensive legal research using electronic, online, print, and off-site resources.
• Skills: Legal research, legal analysis, legal writing (memoranda, draft opinions), critical thinking, and collaborative communication.