The Office of Public Guardian will be unable to offer internships/externships during the fall of 2023.

Further updates will be made regarding our internship/externship program in November 2023.

The Office of Public Guardian has internships and externships available for graduate and undergraduate students in law, criminal justice, nursing, social work, psychology, counseling, gerontology, business, accounting, public administration, and other similar academic programs.

Internships and externships are typically available for spring, summer and fall semesters, pending staff supervision availability. The Office of Public Guardian will work with students to ensure they meet the requirements of their academic programs. 

Interns/Externs may provide support to Associate Public Guardians who:

• Investigate the financial, psychological, familial, and social histories of individuals served
• Plan and arrange for services, including housing
• Make home and facility visits
• Make decisions about the individual’s medical, surgical and hospitalization needs
• Obtain public and private benefits for which individuals served are eligible
• Ensure the individual’s bills are paid
• Prepare comprehensive personal and financial court reports
• Maintain detailed case records including contact notes, emails, phone calls, etc.
• Attend court hearings as necessary

Interns/Externs may provide support to Legal Counsel who:

• Prepare information on the facts and status of guardianship and conservatorship cases
• Implement legal analysis regarding tax, immigration, property, estate planning, trust, wills, Medicaid, Social Security, Medicare issues
• Research legal precedents, case reports, and other legal documents to collect information for case preparation
• Prepare initial drafts of correspondence, motions, pleadings, orders, affidavits, etc.
• Attend court hearings as necessary

Interns/Externs may also:

• Conduct research into the supports and services available for an individual’s specific need, providing a summary of results and recommendations for follow-up
• Shadow monthly in-person visits, attend planning meetings, and participate in resource coordination
• Review and update medical, financial, and legal case management records
• Participate in legal counsel and case management update meetings
• Attend Guardian/Conservator Education classes and provide support to instructor
• Enter private guardian surveys into the online data base
• Provide updates to the community resources website
• Develop and update community education and recruitment materials 

Application Process

Interested individuals should direct all inquiries to Erin Wiesen, Education and Outreach Coordinator, at Erin.Wiesen@nejudicial.gov. If an internship/externship is available, the Nebraska Judicial Branch’s application, interview, and reference/criminal background checks will be required.

The Office of Public Guardian serves as the guardian and/or conservator of last resort. The OPG is statutorily required to seek out successor guardians to create additional caseload capacity. Sometimes this can be done through the person’s natural supports, but for a variety of reasons, this is not always possible. When that is the case, the OPG seeks out qualified volunteers to build relationships with individuals with the goal of becoming the successor guardian. Successor guardians and/or conservators play a vital role in improving the lives of vulnerable adults in our state who have few supportive relationships in their lives.

Role of a Volunteer Successor Guardian and/or Conservator

A successor guardian and/or conservator has duties and responsibilities to the ward/protected person and the court as defined by the court order. Duties may include some or all of the following:

• Selecting the individual’s place of residence
• Arranging for medical care
• Protecting personal effects
• Giving necessary consents, approvals, or releases
• Arranging for education, & services
• Applying for private or governmental benefits
• Ensuring that anyone required to help support the Ward does so
• Entering into contractual agreements
• Receiving money and applying these funds to housing, medical care, personal effects, education, and other services; and
• Any other area which the court may direct. Neb. Rev. Stat. § 30-2628.

Becoming a successor guardian and/or conservator is ultimately the court’s decision. The Office of Public Guardian will provide information and support to successor guardians and/or conservators in the same manner that it is provided to other private guardians and conservators. Successor Guardianship and/or Conservatorship is a permanent responsibility which can only be terminated through court action.

How do I become a Volunteer Successor Guardian and/or Conservator?

• Application and Interview with Office of Public Guardian staff
• Matching process with a potential ward or protected person and/or current guardian
• Completion of the required background checks
• Successful completion of Guardian/Conservator Education class (fee waiver granted)
• Court appointment

What is the typical time commitment?

Successor guardians enter into a close and committed working relationship with their ward/protected person. The guardian works to foster the personal growth and independence of the individual, and if the ward is in a stable and healthy living situation, guardianship is largely a matter of helping to maintain that health and stability. However, when emergencies or complications arise, the guardian is responsible for making themselves available to oversee and consent to the resolution. The time commitment may increase during periods of emergent need.

Application Process

If you are interested in learning more about becoming a Volunteer Successor Guardian and/or Conservator, visit our Education & Outreach site HERE to submit an interest form.

Court Visitors

County courts regularly make decisions about a person’s potential need for a guardian and/or conservator. In cases where the Office of Public Guardian is nominated, the OPG must also be the last resort. The purpose of a Volunteer Court Visitor is to gather information that the court will then utilize to determine whether a guardianship is necessary, whether less restrictive alternatives are available, and whether the OPG is the last resort:

• Use a screening tool to gather information from and about the potentially incapacitated person.
• Visit the person in their home or current residential setting
• Visit with the person’s family, friends, medical team, and/or providers
• Use the required screening tool to conduct the interviews and to obtain collateral information
• Collect information about how the individual processes information, makes decisions, and identify their overall ability to care for themselves
• Combine the screening tool, interview notes, and collateral documentation into the Court Visitor Report which will help the court decide:
  • Whether the person needs further clinical evaluations
  • Whether there are areas of conflicting information between interviewees
  • Whether the person’s legal rights are being protected
  • What level of decision-making support will be most appropriate for each individual
  • Whether there may be someone in the individual’s personal support network to serve as a guardian in lieu of the Office of Public Guardian

What is the time commitment?

Every case varies, but the average time spent on each case is 15 hours. If the case becomes part of the waiting list or if there are other exigent circumstances, the court may ask you to continue monitoring the person’s circumstances. Court Visitors may request reimbursement for copies, postage, and travel through court communication.

How do I become a Volunteer Court Visitor?

• Application and interview with Office of Public Guardian staff
• Complete the necessary background checks (criminal history, abuse/neglect registry, and sex offender registry)
• Identify which county courts you are able to serve
• Successful completion of Guardian/Conservator Education (fee waiver granted)
• Successful completion of Court Visitor Training

Application Process

If you are interested in learning more about becoming a Volunteer Court Visitor, visit our Education & Outreach site HERE to submit an interest form.

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