Spring 2027 Democracy Legal Internship
About The Position
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 national security policies. 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 seeks 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. We are seeking second and third-year 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; complex factual research; and litigation in trial and appellate courts. The Brennan Center’s interns are integral to all aspects of our work, including programmatic and strategic planning. We strive to offer a fun and intellectually challenging legal intern experience that supports and supplements the vital advocacy offered by the Brennan Center. Assignments will be drawn from work on voting rights; reform of election administration; campaign finance reform and the empowerment of historically disenfranchised communities; protecting the independence, impartiality, and integrity of the courts; promoting independent interpretation of state constitutions and access to state courts; and eliminating partisan gerrymandering and other manipulations of electoral maps. This internship is in-person at our New York City office.
Requirements
- Second and third-year law students
- Excellent legal research, analysis, and writing skills
- Initiative, imagination, and versatility
- A passion for our issues
- A cover letter explaining why you are interested in Democracy policy issues
- A current law school transcript
- A legal writing sample (5-10 pages)
- A current resume
- Contact information for three supervisor references
Responsibilities
- 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 or State Court Report website
- Legal, policy, and factual research in support of administrative and legislative advocacy at federal, state, and local levels
- Public education and scholarship
- Complex factual research
- Litigation in trial and appellate courts
- Programmatic and strategic planning
Stand Out From the Crowd
Upload your resume and get instant feedback on how well it matches this job.
What This Job Offers
Job Type
Part-time
Career Level
Entry Level
Education Level
High school or GED
