Ontario Courts of Justice Judical Internships
Judicial Internships are available at the Ontario Courts of Justice in Windsor and Woodstock. Both of these placements focus on Criminal Law. Placements will take place entirely in-person.
In Windsor Law’s Judicial Internship Program, students are placed with one or more Supervising Judges in one of the Ontario Provincial Courts (Windsor or Woodstock). Six students will be selected for Windsor and two for Woodstock. Judicial Internships provide a unique opportunity to better understand the work of the courts, learn from observing and critically reflecting on legal advocacy, and refine legal research and writing skills under the direct supervision of a Judge. Students interested in future Clerkship opportunities are highly encouraged to consider a Judicial Internship. Please see information on each placement site, below, including who to contact should more information be required: Judicial Internships | Faculty of Law (uwindsor.ca). Please note that a background in criminal law is strongly preferred.
WINDSOR REGION WOODSTOCK REGION
Applications are collected in the Summer for the Fall term and in early Fall for the Winter term.
2L and 3L students may apply by submitting an online application form.
The applications will be assessed in consultation with the Supervising Judges.
Students might be required to enroll in other Law courses before confirming a Judicial Internship placement. Students are therefore encouraged to enroll in all courses besides the Judicial Internship. If students secure a Judicial Internship placement, they will be given permission and instructions to enroll in the proper course. Students can work with the Academic Coordinator’s Office to ensure the proper number of credits for a term. Students may also wish to request a credit overload form, available through the Academic Coordinator’s Office.
The following documents should be prepared into one pdf file for your online application:
- A one-page cover letter addressed to Prof. Gemma Smyth, Externship Director, describing why you would like to be selected for a Judicial Internship position. Provide highlights of your experiences and learning that would contribute to an Internship placement. Be sure to include information relevant to the placement. You can find more information on the Judicial Internships website;
- Your resume;
- Your transcript (an unofficial transcript will suffice); and
- A legal writing sample of no more than 10 pages, double-spaced. DO NOT use your Legal Research and Writing memo. DO NOT include co-authored pieces. Writing samples from previous undergraduate or graduate programs, blogs, short piece of writing from Access to Justice Course, and/or reflections for Indigenous Legal Orders are acceptable. Please note the context in which you wrote the selected writing sample.
- If you need any accommodations to apply for this program, please email externship@uwindsor.ca.
Apply via Symplicity
Fall 2025 applications are due in early June.
Students will receive three (3) credits for their work. Assessment is based on the student's professionalism and contributions to the work of the Court, including in the form of preparing research memoranda. Assessment will be made by the Supervising Judge, in consultation with the Externship Program Director. Performance will be graded on a Pass/Fail basis.
Judicial Internship Student Manual
Weekly Submission of Hours
Insurance Form
- Student Declaration of Understanding (complete and return to externship@uwindsor.ca)
Anti-requisite Practice Exception Form
Mental Health & Wellness at Windsor Law
Court Etiquette and Procedures
A special thank you for your generous support
- Workplace Injury Insurance
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Pre-placement Due Diligence Checklist (complete and return to externship@uwindsor.ca)
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Safety Orientation Checklist (complete and return to externship@uwindsor.ca)
Gemma Smyth is the Externship Director.
For further information, please contact externship@uwindsor.ca.
Please fee free to reach out with any questions!
Thoughts from former Judicial Interns
“The one-on-one weekly interactions with a judge were a very enriching experience. Most of the lessons I learned stemmed from those interactions, where I was provided with practical advice and mentorship.”
Anjali Rajan
Windsor Law, Class of 2017
2016 Judicial Internship
“The clerkship was one of the most practical and useful things I did while in law school. Not only did it look good on a resume, but I found it to be a great talking point in interviews. Practically speak, I feel that this program made me better prepared to practice litigation after graduation. I learned about the importance of the pleadings/court documents from a judge’s perspective. It was also great to see the lawyers in our community practicing. Observing counsel in court aided me in learning presentation techniques of my own and about the civility required in our courtrooms.”
Jennifer L. Seufert
B.Sc. (Hons.), J.D.
Windsor Law, Class of 2014
2013 Judicial Internship – Family Law Clerkship