First Court of Appeals

The First Court of Appeals accepts applications from rising second- and third-year law students for unpaid judicial internship positions. Student interns are welcome at the Court in the spring, summer, and fall sessions.

The First Court's intern program provides an opportunity to improve research and writing skills, while also providing a behind-the-scenes view of how an intermediate court of appeals works. Interns research factual and legal issues, review appellate records, perform substantive citation checks, write memoranda of law, discuss those memoranda with the judges and the Court's attorneys, observe the judges' discussions of issues in cases that are submitted, observe oral argument, and observe postsubmission resolution of legal issues raised in oral argument.

Students are selected to participate in the First Court's program with or without obtaining law-school credit. Noncredit interns must commit to a minimum of 10 hours per week for at least six weeks during the fall and spring sessions, and summer interns typically work 35-40 hours per week. Students accepted into the program will be required to attend an orientation at the start of each session.

Any legal work, paid or unpaid, that an intern wishes to perform during the internship for anyone other than the Court is subject to a conflicts check and must be approved by the Court. Applications are accepted on or before the end of November for the spring session, the end of March for the summer sessions, and the end of July for the fall session. As completed applications are received, they are considered for selection. 

To apply, please submit a single electronic application consisting of (1) a cover letter, (2) a resume, and (3) an unofficial law-school transcript via e-mail to interns@txcourts.gov. Application packets should be e-mailed in PDF format.  If you cannot e-mail your application, the completed package may be mailed to:

Attn: Intern Program
First Court of Appeals
301 Fannin
Houston, TX 77002-2066

Please note that incomplete or inaccurate applications will not be accepted.

Please send any questions to interns@txcourts.gov.