Summer 2026 Justice Legal Internship

New York, NY

Internship

Student (College)

The Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law is a nonpartisan law and policy institute that seeks to improve the systems of democracy and justice in the United States. We work to hold our political institutions and laws accountable to the twin American ideals of democracy and equal justice for all. The Brennan Center’s work ranges from voting rights to campaign finance reform, from ending mass incarceration to preserving Constitutional protections in the fight against terrorism. Part think tank, part advocacy group, part cutting edge communications hub, we start with rigorous research. We craft innovative policies. And we fight for them – in Congress and the states, in the courts, and in the court of public opinion. 

The Brennan Center’s Justice Program seeks to secure our nation’s promise of “equal justice for all” by creating a rational, effective, and fair justice system. Its priority focus is to reduce mass incarceration while keeping down crime.

Note: This internship is in-person at our New York office.

The Brennan Center’s interns are integral to all aspects of our work, including programmatic and strategic planning. We seek law students to work alongside staff in our New York office on the Brennan Center’s policy advocacy. Activities may include legal and policy analysis; legislative drafting at federal, state, and local levels; administrative and legislative advocacy; public education and scholarship.  

Students receive one-on-one supervision of their legal work by lawyers on our staff. Legal interns are not compensated by the Brennan Center for their internships, but we can help accommodate coursework requirements upon request. 

Qualifications: Excellent legal research, analysis, and writing skills; initiative, imagination, and versatility; and a passion for our issues. 

We are committed to considering a wide range of candidates, including those with diverse experiences and backgrounds.

If you're uncertain about meeting 100% of our qualifications, we encourage you to apply anyway. Therefore, please consider submitting your application. In your cover letter, please share your interest in the position and what you hope to contribute to the role.  

This internship is only open to law students in Summer 2026.

Hours: Monday – Friday (9:00am – 5:00pm EST)

Pay: Stipends are available for students who are unable to secure funding from their law school or elsewhere. Stipend amounts vary based on class year and how much funding, if any, an applicant has secured from other sources. If offered a position, students must request and complete an application for the stipend. 

Duration: June – August 2026 (10 weeks) 

Application Deadline: January 2, 2026

Note: The Brennan Center will follow the rules of your school regarding internships. Therefore, 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.

The following material is required to apply for our internship: 

a cover letter explaining interest in Justice Program issues;

a current law school transcript;

a legal writing sample;

a current resume; and

contact information for three supervisor references

To Apply:
Please visit >>LINK HERE<< and upload all of the required materials (see above). Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. We encourage interested students to apply early, as the positions will be filled once qualified candidates are found. No phone calls, please. 

If you have difficulty with the online system, you may send your application by e-mail to: [email protected] with “Justice Legal Summer Internship” in the subject line, after registering in the online system. Applying through our website is strongly preferred. 

Note: The Brennan Center is committed to public health and to the safety and wellbeing of our colleagues and visitors. As such, we have adopted a policy requiring 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 committed to a workplace based on equal opportunity and a strong belief in the increased effectiveness that comes from a diverse workforce. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, ethnicity, gender identity, socioeconomic identity, sexual orientation, national origin, previous incarceration, disability, military veteran/status, or any other basis prohibited by applicable law. To this end, we welcome all qualified applicants to apply.

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This is an in person internship.

If you are applying for the fall or spring, you will be completing approximately 10 – 15 hours in office per week. If you are applying for the summer, you will be working a full time schedule, Monday – Thursday from 9am – 5pm and Fridays from 9am – 2pm. Your schedules for Fall/Spring/Summer will be coordinated with your manager.

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