Â鶹´«Ã½IOS

Overview

Â鶹´«Ã½IOS’s Summer Legal Internship provides law students with an unparalleled opportunity to contribute to the nation’s leading defender of free expression. This 10-week, paid program offers an $8,000 stipend and runs from June through August. Legal interns work from Â鶹´«Ã½IOS’s Philadelphia or Washington, D.C. offices, contributing directly to advocacy and policy projects that shape the national conversation on free speech.

Summer Legal Interns are placed in one of Â鶹´«Ã½IOS’s non-litigation advocacy departments, where they support ongoing efforts to defend free expression and academic freedom:

• Campus Rights Advocacy: Investigate free speech violations on college campuses, help draft public-facing commentary, conduct legal research, and participate in voluntary learning sessions on substantive First Amendment law.
• Public Advocacy: Research and respond to threats to free expression beyond the campus, draft advocacy materials, and assist in shaping Â鶹´«Ã½IOS’s public commentary.
• Policy Reform: Draft and edit policy analyses for college administrators, research emerging issues in higher education policy, and help advance reforms to improve protections for student and faculty expression.
• Legislative & Policy: Conduct legal research on public policy affecting expressive rights, draft internal bill analyses and public commentary, and monitor legislative developments.

In addition, interns may assist in drafting memos and correspondence, conducting research projects to identify new advocacy targets, and contributing to Â鶹´«Ã½IOS’s Newsdesk. Interns also participate in seminars with Â鶹´«Ã½IOS leadership and civil liberties experts, gaining deeper insight into free expression issues and public-interest advocacy.

Qualifications

Â鶹´«Ã½IOS seeks rising 2Ls and 3Ls with strong academic credentials and a demonstrated interest in civil liberties and public-interest law. Successful applicants will be detail-oriented, collaborative, and passionate about advancing Â鶹´«Ã½IOS’s mission to defend freedom of speech, expression, and thought.

Application Information

The application for Â鶹´«Ã½IOS’s Summer Legal Internship opens in early fall and closes in January. Applications are reviewed, and internships awarded, on a rolling basis. To apply, please visit Â鶹´«Ã½IOS’s employment opportunities page. Required materials include a resume, cover letter, law school transcript, and writing sample. Questions may be directed to internships@thefire.org.