LNS NY Fall Legal Internship
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Job Description
About the 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 work to hold political institutions and laws accountable to the ideals of democracy and equal justice. Their work spans from voting rights to campaign finance reform, ending mass incarceration, and preserving Constitutional protections in national security policies. They combine rigorous research with innovative policy creation and advocacy in Congress, the states, the courts, and the public sphere.
Job Description:
The Brennan Center’s Liberty & National Security (LNS) Program is seeking law students for an in-person internship in their New York office. The LNS Program works to preserve constitutional values in the post-9/11 world, focusing on policy recommendations and public advocacy to ensure national security aligns with the rule of law and fundamental freedoms. Their work centers on ending or reforming policies at the intersection of national security, immigration, and law enforcement, including those relating to high-tech surveillance, that intrude on privacy and First Amendment rights – particularly those of Muslim Americans and communities of color. The program emphasizes democratic accountability by pushing back on excessive secrecy and expansive assertions of executive power.
Intern Responsibilities:
Interns will work alongside staff on policy advocacy and research initiatives, assisting with activities such as:
• 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.
Interns are considered integral to all aspects of the program’s work, including programmatic and strategic planning. The internship offers a fun and intellectually challenging experience to support the Brennan Center’s vital advocacy.
Qualifications:
• Excellent legal research, analysis, and writing skills.
• Initiative, imagination, and versatility.
• A passion for the program’s issues.
• *This internship is only open to current law students.•
The Brennan Center encourages applications from a wide range of candidates, including those with diverse experiences and backgrounds. Candidates uncertain about meeting all qualifications are still encouraged to apply.
Additional Information:
• Hours: Approximately 10 – 15 hours per week
• Pay: $20.00 per hour
• Duration: September – December 2025
• Application Deadline: July 18, 2025
• The Brennan Center will adhere to school rules regarding internships, including paid versus unpaid status based on credit or program requirements.
• The Brennan Center requires all employees working in the New York and Washington, DC offices to be vaccinated against COVID-19, or to meet the legal guidelines for an exemption.
• The Brennan Center for Justice is an equal opportunity employer.
Application Materials Required:
• A cover letter explaining interest in Liberty & National Security (NY) policy issues.
• A current law school transcript.
• A legal writing sample.
• A current resume.
• Contact information for three supervisor references.
