Interns undergo one week of training in which they learn basic investigative techniques and receive an overview of the criminal justice system, with an emphasis on the laws governing and shaping the conduct of a criminal investigation. Interns indicate their preferences for the type of case they want to work on, although it is not always possible to accommodate all interns with their first choice. Though there is a small amount of clerical work for interns to do, this is by no means a desk job. Interns spend most of their time out of the office visiting and photographing crime scenes, locating and interviewing witnesses, serving subpoenas, acquiring police reports and criminal records, and visiting penal institutions. Interns also work closely with attorneys in writing reports and correspondence and helping the attorneys prepare for trial.
Many former interns marvel at the amount of responsibility given to interns.
From important investigative interviews to trial preparation, an intern's work becomes an integral part of each case. Since conducting investigative interviews is an important part of the work, and because witnesses are often best reached at home, outside of business hours, interns should expect to work some irregular hours. PDS prefers students who can commit to 40 hours per week, but they do accept some part-time interns. Students who intern 20 hours per week at PDS may also be able to hold a part-time job. Having at least part-time access to a car is an important prerequisite for this internship.