Spring 2026 Liberty and National Security Legal Internship, DC

Washington D.C., DC

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 national security policies. 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 Liberty and National Security (LNS) Program fights to preserve constitutional values in the post-9/11 world. The LNS Program focuses on reining in the abuse of emergency powers by the executive branch and preventing excessive government secrecy. We work to protect fundamental freedoms while keeping Americans safe. That means protecting citizens’ privacy, updating privacy laws to account for new technologies, working to ensure that counterterrorism authorities are narrowly targeted to the terrorist threat, and securing adequate oversight and accountability mechanisms.

Note: This internship is in-person at our Washington D.C. office.

We seek law students to work alongside staff in our Washington DC office on the Brennan Center’s policy advocacy, research, and litigation initiatives. Activities may include legal and policy research and analysis; legislative drafting at federal, state, and local levels; administrative and legislative advocacy; public education; 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.

Interns may assist with a variety of activities, including conducting legal research and writing for amicus briefs, 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; and more.

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. 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 current law students.

Hours: Approximately 10 - 15 hours per week

Pay: $20.45 per hour

Duration: Spring Semester 2026

Application Deadline: November 24, 2025

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 why you are interested in Liberty & National Security (DC) policy 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 "LNS DC Legal 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.

Apply for this position

Required*

Apply with Indeed

First Name*

Last Name*

Email Address*

Phone*

Resume*

We've received your resume. Click here to update it.

Attach resume or Paste resume

Attach resume as .pdf, .doc, .docx, .odt, .txt, or .rtf (limit 5MB) or Paste resume

Paste your resume here or Attach resume file

Where did you learn about this open position? (Select from the alphabetical list below)*

If you selected Other, how did you learn about this job opening?*

Do you currently, or will you in the future, need assistance obtaining legal authorization to work at an organization in the U.S.?*

As it relates to gender identification, please indicate if you would like to make a selection other than “Male, Female, or Decline to Answer” such as Other. If so, please indicate.

Do you identify as a veteran, based on the below titles?
A veteran is someone classified under one or more of the followings titles: A “disabled veteran”, a “recently separated veteran”, an “active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran” or an “Armed forces service medal veteran.”

Please upload your cover letter with information on why you are interested in the role and department.*

What is your preferred name? (first and last)

Please upload current law school transcript.*

Do you have a disability, or did you have a disability in the past?
A disability is a condition that substantially limits one or more of your “major life activities”. If you have or have ever had such a condition, you are a person with a disability.

Please upload legal writing sample (up to 10 pages).*

Please indicate what pronouns you identify with (i.e., He/Him, She/Her, They/Them, etc.)

Please upload contact information for three supervisor references.*

The U.S. Census Bureau is adding a Middle Eastern or North African (MENA) category to the 2030 Census. If you do not identify with the above race/ethnicity categories, do you identify as MENA?

Do you currently or have you ever worked at the Brennan Center for Justice either as an intern, employee, consultant or contractor?*

If you selected "Yes" for the above question, please state your position(s) or what you consulted for the Brennan Center.*

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.

Based on the term (Fall or Spring or Summer), can you be in person for your in office schedule?*

Will you be enrolled in law school for the duration of your internship?*

The following questions are entirely optional.

To comply with government Equal Employment Opportunity and/or Affirmative Action reporting regulations, we are requesting (but NOT requiring) that you enter this personal data. This information will not be used in connection with any employment decisions, and will be used solely as permitted by state and federal law. Your voluntary cooperation would be appreciated. Learn more.

Gender

Race/Ethnicity

Human Check*

Submit Application