Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law - Beus Center for Law and Society Snell & Wilmer Plaza

Truman R. Young Prosecutorial Fellowship

Truman R. Young, Jr., was a former Air Force Academy graduate and decorated combat pilot selected to participate in a series of internships sponsored by the State Bar of Arizona. These internships were designed to encourage highly qualified and motivated law students to become career prosecutors. During his internships and subsequent career as a prosecutor, Young exemplified the qualities that the public expects of its advocates.

On March 13, 1982, Young was killed in a mid-air collision while serving his country, piloting a National Guard airplane. In memory of Young and in tribute to him, his friends, and colleagues in conjunction with the Arizona Prosecuting Attorneys' Advisory Council (APAAC) and the Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law at Arizona State University, established the Truman R. Young, Jr. Prosecutorial Fellowship.

The fellowship is designed to annually offer one third-year law student the opportunity to participate in the type of internship program Young found so rewarding.

The program is sponsored by the Arizona Prosecuting Attorneys’ Advisory Council and administered by the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law.


Program details

The Truman Young Fellow:

  • Receives a tuition scholarship - award based on endowment payout.
  • Works in four prosecuting offices during the one-year fellowship period. The offices include the City of Phoenix Prosecutor’s Office, the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office, the Arizona Attorney General’s Office, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office of Arizona.
  • Participates in the summer session of the Prosecution Clinic.
  • Earns six graded credits for fall and six pass/fail credits in spring.

Requirements for the Fellow

  • Must be a third year law student (rising 3L - beginning of 2L year at time of application) at the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University during the Fellowship year.
  • Arizona Supreme Court Rule 39 Certification eligible
  • Professional Responsibility, Evidence, Civil Procedure and Criminal Law are required courses prior to your summer 3L start of the fellowship.
  • Good standing with the law school (2.0+ GPA)
  • US Citizen
  • Successfully complete the detailed background check for all four prosecuting agencies

Time commitments

  • City of Phoenix Prosecutor’s Office - Summer semester: (last week of May to first week of August); 300 total hours (approx. 30 to 40 hours per week)
  • Maricopa County Attorney’s Office - Fall semester: (last week of August to last week of November); 100 total hours (approx. 10 hours per week)
  • Arizona Attorney General’s Office - Spring semester: (Early January to end of February); 100 total hours (approximately 10-15 hours per week)
  • United States Attorney’s Office - Spring semester: (first week of March to last week of April); 100 total hours (approx. 10-15 hours per week)
  • Attend one APAAC Council Meeting in the year of your fellowship which the Fellow will give a 5 minute speech in front of the APAAC Council on their experience as a Truman Young Fellow.
  • Attend the APAAC Annual Prosecutor Conference (travel and hotel accommodations will be arranged by APAAC)

Course information

  • The fellow participates in the summer session of the Criminal Practice Clinic with Professor Ken Vick.
  • The Clinic’s seminar class meets on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6:30 to 8:55 p.m.

Questions

Please contact Renee Garcia at 602-496-1717.

Application deadlines for 2023-24 Truman Fellow

The application period has closed. Applications were due: August 30, 2022 through September 16th.

Interviews will be at APAAC (3838 N. Central, Ste. 850, Phoenix, AZ 85012) on Monday, September 26, 2022. You should have been notified of your interview time after applying.

Notification to all applicants and chosen fellow: Friday, September 30, 2022.


Apply now