Legal and Compliance Intern (Fall 2026)

Teacher Retirement System of Texas•Austin, TX

4d•Onsite

About The Position

This position is a paid, part-time, limited term assignment that offers interns the opportunity to gain substantive hands on experience. Interns enjoy the opportunity to get training and mentoring from experienced professionals in one or more areas. The Legal Intern is responsible for supporting agency operations with the different groups within Legal & Compliance. The incumbent will assist with responding to open records requests; assist with researching and analyzing L&C data; provide department operational support; and assist with special projects. This position will proactively work with the TRS legal & compliance team, and agency employees. This will be a part-time (19 hours), limited-term assignment that will need to report our Austin offices at least two days per week. We are wanting this position to start in the Fall semester of 2026, with the possibility of continuing into the spring semester. Salary will be dependent upon education level: Undergraduate (Junior or Senior) - $19.50/hour Graduate Student - $21.00/hour Law Student - $28.00/hour

Requirements

Currently enrolled in an accredited law school, actively pursuing a Juris Doctor (J.D.); OR
Currently enrolled in and actively attending an accredited college or university as an undergraduate student within 12 months of graduation; OR
Currently enrolled in and actively attending a paralegal program, pursuing paralegal certification.
Applicant will be required to submit a copy of official college transcripts.
None.

Nice To Haves

Letter(s) of recommendation from program professor(s) are strongly encouraged.
Experience using Microsoft Office software.

Responsibilities

Assists with responses to open records requests, the review and analysis of legal orders received by TRS, administrative appeals and other litigation involving the TRS pension plan, and responses to member requests for information and third party subpoenas and discovery requests, including research, document preparation such as organizing, scanning, or redacting content, and paper and electronic file maintenance.
Researches and analyzes issues relating to benefit programs, contracts and procurement matters, investment agreements, ethics and compliance, health law, data privacy and security, intellectual property, employment and immigration, and other matters relevant to a public retirement system; and drafts documents, memoranda, and correspondence.
Assists with implementation of legislation passed by the Texas Legislature, implementation of rules adopted by the TRS board of trustees, and compliance with federal laws affecting benefit programs and investments.
Assists with annual ethics compliance, including tracking ethics compliance submissions by agency employees and contractors, reviewing ethics compliance statements submitted by agency employees and contractors for completeness, and drafting related correspondence.
Works collaboratively on Legal & Compliance’s records management and litigation tracking efforts, including paper and electronic file maintenance, organizing records for purging and reviewing, evaluating statistical data, and producing narrative reports of findings
Assists with the legal operations team.
May assist in researching, compiling, and analyzing data; entering data into spreadsheets, databases, and other automated applications; organizing litigation and administrative appeal files; and preparing complex queries and reports.
May review forms, correspondence, reports, and other documents for completeness and acceptability.
May assist in reviewing and analyzing agency policies, procedures, and forms and recommending changes to improve efficiency and effectiveness.
Assists in completing special projects and performs other work as assigned.
Performs related work as assigned.