Legal Intern

READING PARTNERS • New York, NY

2d • $22 - $26 • Remote

About The Position

Reading Partners is seeking motivated and detail-oriented legal interns to assist with organizational governance, compliance, and contract management. Working under the supervision of the Director of Legal and Compliance, the interns will gain valuable hands-on experience in nonprofit law, business development, and policy research. The internship begins in June 2026 and concludes in September 2026. This position is remote but requires candidates to reside within one of Reading Partners’ operating locations: San Francisco Bay Area, CA, Washington, DC, or New York City.

Requirements

• Currently enrolled as a second- or third-year Juris Doctor (J.D.) student at an accredited law school.
• Minimum of one year of legal coursework or equivalent internship experience focused on contracts, compliance, or nonprofit/government law.
• Demonstrated research, writing, and analytical skills sufficient to support legal and policy development.
• Strong organizational and project management abilities, with the capacity to handle multiple priorities and meet deadlines.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook).
• Demonstrate a commitment to fostering an inclusive and collaborative work environment.
• Display a deep belief in our mission and root your work in our core values.
• Ability to prove eligibility to work legally in the U.S. and that you are at least 18 years of age.

Nice To Haves

• Prior experience working in a nonprofit, education, or social impact organization.
• Familiarity with ContractBook, LexisNexis, or similar legal research and contract management tools.
• Coursework or experience related to education policy, corporate governance, or contract law.
• Demonstrated interest in nonprofit management, policy advocacy, or organizational compliance.

Responsibilities

• Conduct legal due diligence regarding prospective partners and vendors.
• Draft, review, and upload contracts to ContractBook, the organization’s contract management platform.
• Develop a ContractBook User Manual to standardize internal processes and improve staff training.
• Assist in crafting and refining governance policies and compliance documents.
• Draft non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) in collaboration with business development and operations teams.
• Conduct legal and policy research and prepare memoranda as needed.
• Strengthen Legal Compliance and Governance: Ensure that Reading Partners’ policies, contracts, and procedures align with nonprofit legal and ethical standards.
• Develop or update at least 3 governance or compliance policies (e.g., conflict of interest, document retention).
• Complete a comprehensive review of all active partner/vendor agreements within the internship period.
• Achieve 100% compliance with internal policy documentation standards in ContractBook.
• Draft one governance summary memo outlining areas for policy improvement or clarification.
• Streamline Contract Management Processes: Improve the efficiency and accuracy of Reading Partners’ contract creation, review, and storage systems.
• Create a ContractBook User Manual to standardize internal contract workflows.
• Upload and organize 100% of existing and new contracts into the ContractBook system by the end of the internship.
• Reduce average contract turnaround time by 20% through standardized templates and workflows.
• Conduct training or documentation sessions with staff to ensure consistent contract entry practices.
• Enhance Collaboration Between Legal, Operations, and Business Development Teams: Strengthen cross-departmental collaboration through effective communication and shared legal tools.
• Draft non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) and other legal documents for at least 3 interdepartmental initiatives.
• Conduct biweekly updates or briefings to share progress and address legal needs across teams.
• Contribute to at least one cross-functional policy improvement project (e.g., partner onboarding, vendor selection).
• Contribute to Legal Research and Knowledge Management: Provide actionable legal and policy research that informs Reading Partners’ strategic and operational decisions.
• Produce 2–3 legal research memoranda on nonprofit or education policy issues.
• Ensure all research memos meet internal quality and citation standards.
• Present key findings to the legal or operations team to support decision-making.
• Compile a summary of legal research insights for future intern onboarding or knowledge continuity.

Benefits

• This position is not eligible for full-time benefits.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time
• Career Level: Intern