Summer 2025 Democracy Legal Internship, NY

The Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law is a nonpartisan law and policy institute that seeks to improve the systems of democracy and justice in the United States.

We work to hold our political institutions and laws accountable to the twin American ideals of democracy and equal justice for all.

The Brennan Center’s work ranges from voting rights to campaign finance reform, from ending mass incarceration to preserving Constitutional protections in the fight against terrorism.

Part think tank, part advocacy group, part cutting edge communications hub, we start with rigorous research. We craft innovative policies.

And we fight for them in Congress and the states, in the courts, and in the court of public opinion. The Brennan Center's Democracy Program aims to perfect the ideal of representative self-government by advocating for public policies and institutions that reflect a diverse, engaged, and energetic democracy.

The Program collaborates with grassroots groups, advocacy organizations, and reform-minded government officials to promote policies that eliminate barriers to full and equal political participation.

The Brennan Center’s interns are integral to all aspects of our work, including programmatic and strategic planning. We seek law students to work alongside staff in our New York office on the Brennan Center’s policy advocacy, research, and litigation initiatives.

Activities may include legal, policy, and factual research in support of : administrative and legislative advocacy at federal, state, and local levels;

public education and scholarship; and litigation in trial and appellate courts. We strive to offer a fun and intellectually challenging legal intern experience that supports the vital advocacy offered by the Brennan Center.

• Interns may assist with a variety of activities, including conducting legal research and writing for amicus briefs, policy reports, and other advocacy documents;
• drafting communications to legislators; assisting with writing comments to federal agencies; attending coalition meetings;
• drafting posts for the Brennan Center blog; and more. Assignments will be drawn from the program’s work on voting rights (including the rights of students and people with felony convictions);
• reform of election administration (including voter registration modernization, responses to disinformation, and defensive work against photo ID and other practices likely to suppress the vote or have a disproportionate impact on communities of color);
• campaign finance reform and the empowerment of historically disenfranchised communities; protecting the independence, impartiality, and integrity of the courts;

and eliminating partisan gerrymandering and other manipulations of electoral maps. Note : This internship is in-person at our New York office.

Qualifications : Excellent legal research, analysis, and writing skills; initiative, imagination, and versatility; and a passion for our issues.

The Brennan Center is committed to advancing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the workplace. We continuously work with our staff to find new ways to increase diversity and to build and cultivate an inclusive and equitable work environment, where everyone can be their true self and feel a strong sense of belonging.

As such, we seek to hire interns who have a commitment to and / or experience with Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. This internship is only open to current law students.

Hours : Monday Friday (9 : 00am 5 : 00pm EST) Pay : Stipends are available for students who are unable to secure funding from their law school or elsewhere.

Stipend amounts vary based on class year and how much funding, if any, an applicant has secured from other sources. If offered a position, students must request and complete an application for the stipend.

Duration : May 27 August 5 (10 weeks) Application Deadline : December 6, 2024 The following material is required to apply for our internship : a cover letter explaining why you are interested in Democracy Program policy issues;

a current law school transcript; a legal writing sample; a current resume; and contact information for three references. To Apply : Please visit >

LINK HERE