High School Internship Program

The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office Youth Volunteer Internship is an unpaid, in-person volunteer program for high school students who want to see the criminal justice system up close. It is run out of the DA's Recruitment Unit at the Hall of Justice in downtown Los Angeles. High school volunteers mainly handle office support work, such as scanning, copying, filing, answering phones, delivering documents, and putting together reports. Volunteers work weekdays between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. The office runs three sessions each year: Spring (January to May), Summer (June to August), and Fall (September to December).

Applicants must be at least 16 years old when they apply, must be currently enrolled in high school, and need a parent or guardian's consent. Volunteers must commit to at least 16 hours per week. Each session has its own application window, and a window can close early once its spots are filled. To apply, students email the volunteer application, the program agreement, a parental consent form, the background investigation forms, a resume, and a photo ID; forms must be signed by hand before they are scanned. Applicants then complete a LiveScan fingerprint check, with a parent present if they are under 18, followed by a background check and a pre-screening interview. Processing usually takes four to six weeks or longer.