Description
The Brennan Center for Justice at New York University School of Law is a nonpartisan public policy and law institute that focuses on the fundamental issues of democracy and justice. Our work ranges from voting rights to campaign finance reform, from reducing mass incarceration to Constitutional protection in the fight against terrorism. A singular institution – part think tank, part public interest law firm, part advocacy group – the Brennan Center combines scholarship, legislative and legal advocacy, and communications to win meaningful, measurable change in the public sector.
We seek law students to work alongside staff in our New York and Washington offices on the Brennan Center’s policy advocacy, research, and litigation initiatives. Activities may include legal and policy analysis; legislative drafting at federal, state, and local levels; administrative and legislative advocacy; public education and scholarship; 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. The internship starts at the end of May 2017 and lasts for approximately 10 weeks. We may accommodate a limited number of split summers.
Qualifications: Excellent legal research, analysis, and writing skills; initiative, imagination, and versatility; and a passion for our issues.
***We will be hiring one legal intern to work with our Liberty and National Security Program and one intern to work with the Director of our DC office on a variety of Brennan Center issues.
Liberty and National Security Program (Washington, DC based)
The Brennan Center’s Liberty and National Security (LNS) Program fights to preserve constitutional values in the post-9/11 world. Our work centers on innovative policy recommendations, litigation, and public advocacy to ensure that our nation’s commitment to national security comports with the rule of law and our fundamental freedoms.
We are currently focused on protecting privacy rights in the digital age (e.g., legal challenges to various forms of warrantless electronic surveillance), on racial and religious profiling by law enforcement agencies (e.g., “Countering Violent Extremism” (CVE) programs and police surveillance of American Muslim communities), and on combating excessive government secrecy (e.g., overclassification of documents and “secret law”).
Washington, DC Office
We are seeking a legal intern for hire to work with the Director & Counsel of our Washington, DC office on a variety of Brennan Center issues. Under the supervision of the Director & Counsel, the intern will undertake legal and legislative research; attend congressional briefings and hearings; and contribute to the advocacy goals of the Washington office, which includes opportunities to participate in coalition engagement within the federal legislative process. The internship will entail a research and advocacy focus on issues within the scope of the Brennan Center’s justice and democracy work.
How to Apply: Interested students should upload, where it says “attach resume,” a single PDF or Microsoft Word document containing all of the following:
(1) a cover letter explaining which particular programs or projects they are interested in joining: Liberty & National Security (DC), or Director of DC Office –policy issues;
(2) a current law school transcript (1Ls may send the transcript separately, as soon as it is available);
(3) a legal writing sample;
(4) a current resume; and
(5) contact information for three references.
If you upload these items separately, please also paste your cover letter into the appropriate box.
Applications should be submitted through this website. However if you have difficulties with the online system, please email all of your application materials to brennancenterjobs@nyu.edu with "Summer Legal Internship- DC" in the subject line.
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. We encourage interested students to apply early, as the position will be filled once qualified candidates are found.
The Brennan Center, an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer, is strongly committed to diversity and welcomes applicants of all races, ethnicities, genders, and sexual orientations, gender identity and expression, including people who have been previously incarcerated.
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