The Michigan Appellate Assigned Counsel System (MAACS), the Private Counsel Division of the State Appellate Defender Office (SADO), is seeking law students committed to public service, racial equity, and social justice for internship and externship opportunities during the summer of 2026
MAACS is responsible for the recruitment, training, and oversight of private attorneys who accept court appointed appeals from the state’s circuit courts. MAACS roster attorneys handle thousands of appellate assignments across the state each year, including direct appeals, motions for relief from judgment, and juvenile lifer re-sentencings.
Working under the supervision of MAACS Roster Support and Performance Manager, Stephanie Farkas, students will work with MAACS roster attorneys on all aspects of appellate representation. Work will include transcript and discovery review, client counseling and investigation of client concerns, document collection, mitigation, legal research, and the drafting of pleadings. Oral advocacy is possible as students may potentially appear in court, consistent with MCR 8.120.
Because Michigan has a unique criminal appellate process which allows for factual development on direct appeal, interns have an opportunity to work in both trial and appellate courts, and to attend trial court hearings and Court of Appeals arguments.
Start and end dates are flexible and will be determined by the school’s academic calendar and program. SADO is a hybrid office and has space in both the Lansing and Detroit offices for interns/externs to work in-person. Interns are encouraged to come into the office to form relationships with each other and the rest of the SADO team. There is also the potential for client visits and court attendance throughout Michigan.
Due to limited resources, the internship opportunities are currently unpaid. Applicants are encouraged to seek funding from their academic institutions or third-party funders.
To apply, submit a single PDF with a letter of interest, resume, and writing sample, to Farkas at sfarkas@sado.org with the subject line “MAACS Summer Internship Application.” The cover letter should indicate why the applicant wants to be part of the MAACS team and work for MAACS clients. All questions can be directed to Farkas. The deadline for applications is Friday, April 3.
MAACS is responsible for the recruitment, training, and oversight of private attorneys who accept court appointed appeals from the state’s circuit courts. MAACS roster attorneys handle thousands of appellate assignments across the state each year, including direct appeals, motions for relief from judgment, and juvenile lifer re-sentencings.
Working under the supervision of MAACS Roster Support and Performance Manager, Stephanie Farkas, students will work with MAACS roster attorneys on all aspects of appellate representation. Work will include transcript and discovery review, client counseling and investigation of client concerns, document collection, mitigation, legal research, and the drafting of pleadings. Oral advocacy is possible as students may potentially appear in court, consistent with MCR 8.120.
Because Michigan has a unique criminal appellate process which allows for factual development on direct appeal, interns have an opportunity to work in both trial and appellate courts, and to attend trial court hearings and Court of Appeals arguments.
Start and end dates are flexible and will be determined by the school’s academic calendar and program. SADO is a hybrid office and has space in both the Lansing and Detroit offices for interns/externs to work in-person. Interns are encouraged to come into the office to form relationships with each other and the rest of the SADO team. There is also the potential for client visits and court attendance throughout Michigan.
Due to limited resources, the internship opportunities are currently unpaid. Applicants are encouraged to seek funding from their academic institutions or third-party funders.
To apply, submit a single PDF with a letter of interest, resume, and writing sample, to Farkas at sfarkas@sado.org with the subject line “MAACS Summer Internship Application.” The cover letter should indicate why the applicant wants to be part of the MAACS team and work for MAACS clients. All questions can be directed to Farkas. The deadline for applications is Friday, April 3.
