Legal Intern
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Job Description
About Company:
The Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law is a nonpartisan law and policy institute dedicated to improving democracy and justice in the United States. They strive to hold political institutions and laws accountable to American ideals of democracy and equal justice. The Brennan Center conducts rigorous research, crafts innovative policies, and advocates for them in Congress, state legislatures, courts, and the court of public opinion. Their work spans various areas, including voting rights, campaign finance reform, ending mass incarceration, and preserving constitutional protections in national security policies.
Job Description:
The Brennan Center’s Liberty & National Security (LNS) Program is seeking law student interns to work in their New York office. The LNS Program focuses on preserving constitutional values in the post-9/11 world by advocating for policies that balance national security with the rule of law and fundamental freedoms. Their work addresses policies at the intersection of national security, immigration, and law enforcement, including high-tech surveillance, that may intrude on privacy and First Amendment rights, particularly for Muslim Americans and communities of color. The program emphasizes democratic accountability, pushing back on excessive secrecy and expansive assertions of executive power.
Responsibilities:
Interns will work alongside staff on policy advocacy and research initiatives, contributing to various activities, including:
• Conducting legal research and writing for 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.
• Participating in programmatic and strategic planning.
Details:
• In-person internship at the New York office.
• Hours: Approximately 10 – 15 hours per week.
• Pay: $20.00 per hour.
• Duration: September – December 2025.
• Application Deadline: July 18, 2025.
• Note: Pay will depend on school rules regarding paid internships. If a school doesn’t allow you to do a paid internship for some reason (i.e., receiving credit, etc.), then your internship will not be paid. In addition, if you are participating in a formal school internship program that allows you to work more than our stated hours, we will make a determination based on our needs and further assessment of your school’s program.
Qualifications:
• Excellent legal research, analysis, and writing skills.
• Initiative, imagination, and versatility.
• Passion for the program’s issues.
• Must be a current law student.
