The Missouri Attorney General’s Office Internship Program offers students an exciting opportunity to learn how to practice in many areas of the law, including criminal prosecutions, consumer protection, appellate practice, constitutional law, and litigation.

The AGO Advantage

Interning at the Attorney General’s Office gives you the opportunity to work on cases that directly impact policy and people. The Office offers work experience opportunities beyond what may be offered in a private law office, along with mentorship, leadership, and guidance from experienced and well-respected attorneys in various divisions of the Office.

The Attorney General’s Office has three goals in offering internships to students: providing real-world litigation experience, securing future employment, and offering training for the next generation of public-service attorneys.

1. Providing real-world litigation experience

Internships are designed to give students a preview into what it is like to work as an attorney. Interns are given projects and assignments immediately upon starting the program. These projects are designed to provide real-world work experience and teach skills that can transfer to many areas of practice within the legal field.

Assignments commonly completed by interns in the program include, but are not limited to:

• Writing trial and appellate briefs

• Conducting witness/victim interviews

• Researching questions of law on active cases

• Reviewing active case files and investigations

• Appearing and arguing in court proceedings and taking depositions*

*If an intern is certified under Missouri Supreme Court Rule 13, he or she may be able to personally participate in the proceedings under the supervision of a staff attorney.

Internships also regularly provide networking opportunities with various attorneys, state offices, and judges, as well as opportunities to interact with clients. Interning at the Office includes trips to federal and state courts, tours of prison and crime laboratories, and visits to various state offices, such as the State Capitol.

2. Future Employment:

The Office uses the internship program to cultivate the best and brightest minds for the incoming Class of Assistant Attorney Generals who are dedicated to public service. By hiring students as interns, the Office is able to begin the onboarding process earlier and create a stepping stone for hiring students into full-time positions upon graduation from law school.

Students who have previously interned at the Office are allowed to interview before and during their third-year of law school and may be offered a full-time position, contingent upon graduation and admission to the Missouri Bar.

3. Training the Next Generation:

The Office views the internship program as a way for students to learn more about the law and grow in their legal experience. Because of this, mentorship is highly valued, and feedback from mentors is encouraged. Each intern is assigned to a supervising attorney, who is the intern’s mentor and main point of contact throughout the program. The mentor assigns projects, answers questions, and provides feedback to the intern. Mentors provide guidance, advice, and encouragement throughout each project to help the intern become a well-rounded attorney.

The Office also values feedback from the interns about their experiences. Since the internship program is focused on students’ development and growth, the Office is continually updating and modifying the program to best fit the needs of students. Interns are encouraged to provide feedback on the program throughout their experience and fill out their own evaluation of the program at the end of their internship.

Locations and Divisions Where You Can Work

The Attorney General’s Office is one of the largest legal employers in the State of Missouri. Interns can be placed at any of the Office’s locations in:

• Jefferson City
• St. Louis
• Kansas City (only Civil Sections)
• Springfield (only Civil Sections)
• Cape Girardeau (only Civil Sections)

The main office in Jefferson City is the only office that houses all sections for both the Civil and Criminal Divisions. Each regional office houses various sections, and interns may be placed in any of the following:

Civil Division: Consumer Protection Section, Financial Services Section, Governmental Affairs Section, Labor Section, Litigation Section.

Criminal Division: Cold Case Unit*, Criminal Appeals Section*, Medicaid Fraud Section*,  Public Protection Section (Habeas Unit*, Special Prosecution team, and Sexually Violent Predator Unit), Sexual Assault Kit Initiative.*

Administration/Special Teams: Solicitor General’s Office, Special Litigation Team, Communications Team*, Constituent Services/Policy*, Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force*

* Jefferson City only.

A list of each division outside of Administration and Special Teams can be found here.

How to Apply

The Office’s internship program focuses mostly on law student interns, but certain sections may also host undergraduate interns. The majority of the Office’s internships occur during the summer, but internships/externships are also available during the fall and spring semesters. The internships can be paid and/or used toward achieving school credit.

On-campus interviews are conducted at all four Missouri law schools (University of Missouri – Columbia and Kansas City campuses, Washington University, and St. Louis University) and a variety of other law schools. Please contact your law school’s career development office for more details on upcoming application deadlines and interview dates. The office also collects applications from out-of-state students on its website at: Join Our Team

For other questions about applying for an internship at the Attorney General’s Office, please contact the recruitment team at recruitment@ago.mo.gov. Should you need additional assistance, please call the office’s main line at 573-751-3321.

Student Testimonials

"My summer at the Missouri Attorney General’s Office was extremely valuable to me in my growth and development in litigation practice. I was able to improve my legal writing skillset while substantively drafting real filings in federal and state court throughout Missouri. In addition to the practical experience I received, there were countless opportunities to connect with other interns and attorneys in the office statewide, including members of the administration and the Attorney General himself. I would highly recommend this internship for anyone who wants real-world experience, excellent networking, and a feeling that you really helped state agencies in Missouri after your internship is over."

– Michael Rose, UMKC Class 2026

"The AGO’s summer internship program offers a hands-on, rewarding experience for law students. Interns are trusted with meaningful work that contributes directly to the office’s mission, including legal research, drafting, and even court appearances under supervision. The mentorship is exceptional- attorneys are generous with their time and truly invested in your growth. Beyond the substantive experience, the office culture is welcoming, professional, and collaborative. I left the program feeling more confident in my legal skills and excited about a career in public service. I highly recommend it to anyone looking to learn, grow, and make a real impact."

– William Knowles, Mizzou Law, Summer Intern 2025

"The AGO is the place to be for Rule 13 interns. I started the summer terrified of speaking in the courtroom and left with the confidence I need to start my career as a litigator. This is all thanks to the wonderful mentorship and guidance from the attorneys in the office. They supported me from my first mock to my last appearance. It was thrilling to see my name on a docket for the first time! I recommend the AGO summer internship program to any law student wanting to actually practice law and not get buried under busy work. There is no better place to learn than the heart of the Missouri legal world."

– Paige Pieper, Mizzou Law, Class 2026

"Interning with the AGO was a fantastic opportunity. Working with such a large group of skilled attorneys helped me more completely understand the law and how a good attorney wields it. There are a thousand things going on at any point in time at the AGO,  and talking to the attorneys about their cases gives you such an insight into how to be an attorney. I also had multiple opportunities to appear in court on both sides of the bar, and this was fantastic. From just seeing the day-to-day functions of the court to seeing full-fledged trials with witnesses. You learn so much so quickly from the wonderful attorneys at the AGO. I was in Governmental Affairs, and the variety of cases and projects in GA was unmatched. I was doing something different every week, and I could not have asked for a better summer."

– Benjamin Albertson, Vermont, Summer Intern 2025