Pueblo DA's office hiring law students as prosecutors in response to staff shortages
Colorado 10th Judicial District Attorney Jeff Chostner’s office is addressing its staffing shortages by launching what Chostner calls “the most robust” student prosecutor internship program in the state.
The office has contacted more than 70 law schools nationwide in search of interns. Under the supervision of a licensed attorney, interns will serve as prosecutors for misdemeanor, petty and traffic offense cases under the Student Practice Act. Chostner’s office aims to hire five or six student prosecutors by May or June.
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One intern, Trista Mixon, already works for the office. She is a student at the University of Dayton who plans to graduate with a hybrid law degree in May and take the Colorado Bar Exam in July. She began pursuing a career in law after 12 years in the U.S. Air Force.
“I can’t say I am an attorney because I am not, but I feel like I am doing that work,” she said.
Mixon spends almost every day in the courtroom from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. She has prosecuted about 20 trials under the supervision of attorney Jeff Lindsey. As a student in a hybrid law degree program, she travels to Dayton, Ohio, once per semester to take four days’ worth of in-person classes. However, she spends most evenings in her Pueblo office taking classes on Zoom and completing coursework.
Starting on May 6, the day of her graduation, she will have paid time off until July to study for her bar exam.
The 10th Judicial District Attorney’s office internship program launched on Jan. 1. Pueblo County government put out a call for applicants on March 20 that will remain open until March 28 at 11:59 p.m. on governmentjobs.com.
Prosecutorial staffing shortages have impacted DA offices throughout the country due to the COVID-pandemic. The 10th Judicial District has capacity for 27 attorneys, but currently has 17. While there has been a struggle to find licensed attorneys, Chostner hopes that the internship program will act as a pipeline for future prosecutors.
“We’re only 90 days into it and it’s already bearing fruit,” Chostner said of the program. “I think it will have even more production in the next 12 months.”
To be considered for an internship, individuals must be currently attending an American Bar Association-accredited school, have studied law for at least two years and meet Student Practice Act qualifications.
Student prosecutors have responsibilities like those of deputy district attorneys, including the handling of misdemeanor cases, writing of appeals and research. Student prosecutors must practice under a licensed attorney’s supervision.
“They are not licensed to practice law on their own ... the state statute, the Student Practice Act allows them to get that experience, but only under the supervision and monitoring of a licensed attorney,” Chostner said.
While student prosecutors will handle misdemeanor cases, they are not authorized to handle felony cases. However, they may be authorized to observe certain felony cases.
Student prosecutors are paid as entry-level attorneys — making $5,700 to $8,550 per month. They are given retirement benefits, medical benefits and the option to pay for student housing on the Colorado State University Pueblo campus.
People interested in the internship program can file student prosecutor applications online at county.pueblo.org/human-resources-office/talent-and-people-services/apply-county-job.
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Pueblo Chieftain reporter James Bartolo can be reached by email at JBartolo@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain: Pueblo DA office launches prosecutor internship program
