Legal Internships at LWV- Voting Rights, Litigation, and Advocacy

The League of Women Voters of the United States (LWVUS) is a nonpartisan, grassroots membership organization dedicated to empowering citizens and ensuring an effective democracy. Founded in 1920 as an outgrowth of the struggle to win voting rights for women, the League has more than 300,000 members and supporters and is organized in every state. The League continues to lead efforts in the voting rights arena to remove barriers to registering to vote and casting a ballot through public education, state and federal policy reform, and litigation in state and federal courts.  

The LWVUS litigation team supports state and local Leagues in state and federal legal advocacy on issues relating to voter access/voter protection, money in politics, redistricting, reproductive justice, LGBTQ+ rights, criminal legal reform, women’s equality, and others. The litigation team also coordinates with other LWVUS staff to ensure that its legal advocacy is aligned with the League’s legislative priorities, mission, vision, and values.  

Position Description

We are seeking legal interns to work with the litigation team, within the Advocacy and Litigation department of our Washington, DC office on a variety of voting rights and social justice issues. Interns may choose to work remotely.  

Under the supervision of the Legal Director, the legal intern’s work plan will include a mixture of assignments that support the League’s litigation, legal advocacy, and policy work. 

Legal interns support the litigation team in developing and active litigation by preparing legal memoranda, attending meetings with League leaders and co-counsel, drafting blogs, and more. Legal interns may also support the League’s policy work, but the focus of the internship will be on the League’s litigation and legal advocacy.   

Application Deadlines & Start Dates 

Spring Legal Internship/Externship

Application open: October 1 

Deadline to apply: Applicants encouraged to apply by November 1, but position will be open until filled. 

Start/End dates: January through April or May, depending on school schedules 

Credit: Internships will qualify for academic credit through the student’s school where available. 

Summer Legal Internship 

Application open: September 1  

Deadline to apply: Applicants encouraged to apply by October 15, but position will be open until filled.  

Start/End dates: May or June through July or August (10 weeks minimum) 

Funding: Summer interns are paid at $18.55/hour for 35 hours per week. 

Fall Legal Internship/Externship 

Application Open: March 1  

Deadline to apply: Applicants encouraged to apply by April 1, but position will be open until filled. 

Start/End dates: Aug. through Oct./Nov., depending on school schedules 

Credit: Internships will qualify for academic credit through the student’s school where available. 

Qualifications

For semester internships, current 2L or 3L at an accredited university.  

For summer internships, rising 3L at an accredited university preferred; rising 2Ls considered.  

Remote internships are available, and students from outside the DC area are encouraged to apply.  

Demonstrable legal research, analysis, and writing skills; initiative, imagination, and versatility; and a passion for our issues and commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. 

How to Apply

Email [email protected] with "[Year] [Term] Legal Internship/Externship" in the subject line and attach the following as one PDF: 

• cover letter 

• current résumé with GPA; 

• current law school transcript (unofficial is okay); 

• legal writing sample (no more than 10 pages); 

• list of three references. 

Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

The League of Women Voters of the United States is committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace based on equal opportunity. The League is committed to hiring staff that reflects this country's full range of racial, ethnic, cultural, sexual orientation, and socioeconomic identity; a workplace where true diversity is fostered, and different perspectives are valued and freely exchanged.

We actively seek and encourage women, minorities, persons with disabilities, immigrants, including DACA recipients, and individuals from traditionally underrepresented communities, to apply.

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La Liga de Mujeres Votantes de los Estados Unidos está comprometida con un lugar de trabajo diverso e inclusivo basado en la igualdad de oportunidades. La Liga se compromete a contratar personal que refleje la gama completa de la raza, etnia, cultura, orientación sexual y la identidad socioeconómica de este país; un lugar de trabajo donde se fomenta la verdadera diversidad y se valoran e intercambian libremente diferentes perspectivas.

Buscamos y alentamos activamente a las mujeres, las minorías, las personas con discapacidades, los inmigrantes, incluyendo los beneficiarios de DACA y las personas de comunidades tradicionalmente subrepresentadas, a aplicar.