Internship Opportunities

You do not need an internship in order to get into law school, but internships can be tremendously helpful as you decide whether law school is the right option for you.

If you decide to pursue an internship, conduct your internship search with the following principles in mind:

1. Think broadly. Do not limit yourself to "legal" positions. It can be difficult for college students to obtain positions in legal departments or internships that specifically focus on law. It is much easier to find positions that allow you to observe how the law and lawyers influence our world.
2. Show initiative and creativity. Start with your interests or favorite cause. If a particular organization appeals to you, but does not have a structured internship program, try to create one. You may find that organizations are eager for your help, especially if you are willing to volunteer your services.
3. Think ahead. The time to apply for summer positions is in the winter. Likewise, fall and spring term positions are often filled the semester before the internship begins.
4. Start your search with Georgetown's Hoya Career Connection, which lists both jobs and internships and which can be found here. Employers posting jobs and internships on this site are specifically looking to hire Georgetown students.
5. Utilize all of your resources, including the Internet. Below is a sampling of websites (non-comprehensive) which list internship opportunities.

Sites That List Numerous Internship Opportunities

American Society for Public Administration
Information about a variety of public administration internships at the federal, state, and local levels.

Chicago-Kent College of Law- Legal Jobs Websites Listing
A comprehensive listing of legal job websites.

Good Works
A guide to a national job directory of social change organizations (both legal and non-legal). Search by state.

Idealist
List of worldwide non-profit jobs and internships. This is a good place to learn about international opportunities.

Lawyers Weekly Classifieds

Legal Internships Home Page
A free site that lists internships for law students and undergraduates.

Non-Profit Career Network
List includes job opportunities and many opportunities for volunteer work.

Opportunity NOCs
Non-profit organization classifieds. Search by region or state for jobs and internship opportunities.

Sites That List Specific Internship Opportunities

American Association for the Advancement of Science
This scientific society publishes the magazine Science and has both paid and unpaid internships for students interested in science and public policy.

American Bar Association
The ABA has internships in a variety of legal areas, and several of their positions are open to undergraduate students.

American Cancer Society
Both paid and unpaid internships are available. Some ACS internships involve development. Others address policy review and government relations.

American Civil Liberties Union
Internship opportunities include a volunteer internship for undergraduate students in the ACLU's legal department. Search under "career opportunities".

American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research
Approximately fifty unpaid internship opportunities are available in the fall, winter and summer in the following areas: Economic Policy, Foreign and Defense Studies, Social and Political Studies, Public Relations, The American Enterprise Magazine, Communications, Seminars and Conferences, Publications, Publications Marketing, Information Systems, and Marketing and Accounting.

The American Immigration Law Foundation
AILF was established to promote understanding of immigration law. This nonprofit seeks college students with an interest in public policy to work as interns throughout the year.

The Center for Science in the Public Interest
The Center for Science in the Public Interest is a national consumer organization that focuses on health and nutrition issues. The legal affairs internship is limited to law school students, but other paying internships are open to undergraduate students. 

Center for Voting and Democracy
Full and part time internships are available throughout the year (no application deadlines). Internship areas can include lobbying, voting rights, outreach, and election reform.

Central American Resource Center of Washington DC
CARECEN is a nonprofit that operates legal, social service, and education programs for the Central American/Latino populations in the DC area. Interns are supervised by the Legal Director.

Children's Law Center
The CLC helps at-risk children in the District of Columbia find safe, permanent homes and access to education, health care, and social services. Unpaid summer internships are available for law students.

Congressional Black Caucus Foundation
Fall, spring, and summer internships available. Summer interns receive a stipend and housing.

District of Columbia Courts
The District of Columbia Courts' Internship Program is open to undergraduate, graduate and law school students interested in law, management, and social services. Internships are available in a variety of divisions, such as small claims, landlord-tenant, paternity and support, and alternative dispute/mediation.

DC Government Office of Corporation Counsel
Undergraduates and law students work closely with attorneys to address the legal business of the District of Columbia, including all lawsuits initiated by or against the District. Fall, spring, and summer internships are available. 

DC Public Defender Service
Volunteer legal internship program for undergraduate students throughout the school year and during the summer.

EMILY's List
EMILY's List works to elect pro-choice, female Democrats to federal, state, and local offices. Interns receive a stipend. 

Environmental Law Institute
ELI has legal internships for law students but allows undergraduates to apply for a research internship. The Research and Policy Division works with local and regional partners, in the United States and worldwide, to strengthen environmental laws.

Ethics and Public Policy Center
This organization was established to clarify and reinforce the bond between the Judeo-Christian moral tradition and the public debate over domestic and foreign policy issues. EPPC accepts interns throughout the year and has no formal deadlines for internship applications. Interns must describe their interest in a specific EPPC project.

Federal Communications Commission
The FCC Office of the Inspector General, which runs investigations and recommends policies to prevent and detect fraud and abuse in agency programs and operations, offers a few unpaid internships during the fall and spring and occasionally a paid internship during the summer.

The Federalist Society for Law and Public Policy Studies
This conservative/libertarian organization focuses on legal and public policy issues. Unpaid internships are available. Among other things, interns assist with the Annual National Lawyers Convention.

Georgetown University Law Center, Investigative Internship Program
GULC offers a wonderful opportunity for student investigators to work closely with clinic attorneys in all aspects of criminal pre-trial preparation. Ten unpaid internships are available for the fall and spring semesters and during the summer. 

HALT An Organization of Americans for Legal Reform 
HALT is a nonprofit organization that seeks to simplify, reduce costs, and improve access to the civil justice system. Fall, spring, and summer interns can receive a stipend.

Human Rights Campaign
HRC works for equal rights for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender communities. Search the site for information about a number of internships, all with a stipend.

Karamah: Muslim Women Lawyers for Human Rights
This organization focuses on research and advocacy in matters pertaining to Muslim women and human rights in Islam, as well as civil rights and other related rights under the US Constitution. Internships are open to both undergraduates and law school students.

Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law
The Lawyers' Committee is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization formed to involve the private bar in the provision of legal services to victims of racial discrimination. Site describes internship opportunities for college, graduate, or law students.

Leadership Conference on Civil Rights/Education Fund
This internship program is designed for students interested in public service and civil rights policy, lobbying, and the legislative process.

Legal Momentum
Information about paid internships and volunteer opportunities for students with a demonstrated interest in women's issues, the law, education and/or public policy.

National Asian Pacific American Legal Consortium
NAPALC works to advance the human and civil rights of Asian Americans through advocacy, public policy, public education, and litigation.  It offers a competitive summer internship program for both law students and undergraduates.

National Association for Law Placement (NALP)
NALP is a resource for research and information on career services, legal recruitment and hiring, lawyers' professional development, and the careers of law school graduates.

National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty
NCADP provides information, advocates for public policy, and mobilizes and supports individuals and institutions that reject capital punishment. Volunteer interns can work on the international program, the youth program, or the legislative program at the NCADP.

National Partnership for Women and Families
This nonprofit promotes fairness in the workplace, access to health care, and other policies that help working parents. Internships include law clerk positions as well as a several advocacy internships concerning topics such as communication, work and family, and health care.

People for the American Way
Search for a variety of internships at this organization that opposes the "religious right agenda".

Public Citizen
This consumer advocacy organization, founded by Ralph Nader, uses interns in its Congress Watch lobbying efforts.

Sierra Club
The Sierra Club Legislative Office sponsors internships throughout the year. Other opportunities include political, media, field, and "issue" internships.

Student Press Law Center
SPLC works to nurture and protect freedoms of speech and press for students. Fall, spring, and summer internships are available to undergraduate students with some journalism experience and an interest in media law.

Supreme Court of the United States
Information about the Supreme Court's judicial intern program.

US Conference of Catholic Bishops
Interns are part of the Catholic Campaign for Human Development, which is the domestic anti-poverty social justice program of the US Catholic Bishops. Interns receive a stipend.

US Department of Justice
Information about a variety of jobs and internships for both law students and undergraduates.

US Department of State
Fall, spring, and summer internships for students interested in foreign affairs. Both paid and unpaid positions available. Most are in DC, but some are overseas.

US Department of Transportation, Office of General Council
Volunteer Legal Internship Listings with the OGC, U.S. Dept. of Transportation.

US House of Representatives, Committee on the Judiciary
The Committee on the Judiciary sponsors an internship program for both undergraduate and law students. This is an opportunity to experience the workings of a congressional committee first hand. Fall, spring, and summer internships are available with both the Majority and Minority committees.

The White House
Observe government officials and gain practical knowledge about the daily operations of the White House. Internships are available in many offices, such as Cabinet Affairs, Legislative Affairs, Political Affairs, Photo Office, Office of Counsel to the President, Office of the Vice-President, and the Office of Presidential Correspondence.

Whitman Walker Clinic
The legal internship is limited to law students, but other internships are open to college students at this organization, which is dedicated to serving the gay and lesbian community, especially those suffering with HIV/AIDS.