IRC internships give interns the opportunity to work directly with humanitarian immigrants to support them in accomplishing tasks needed to live successfully in the U.S. We offer 13 unique internships that provide a wide variety of opportunities to gain direct exposure to the humanitarian sector.

The IRC was founded at the behest of Albert Einstein in 1933 to assist people fleeing from persecution. Since then, the IRC has grown and works all over the world providing humanitarian support. In Silver Spring, the IRC works with newcomers to help them get situated and become self-sufficient members of their new community.  

I’ve listed the titles and a description of each internship that is recruiting below. You can find the full description by going to the IRC Careers page and filtering by City (Silver Spring) and Employee Category (Intern). Prospective interns will use the same link to apply.

·       Anti-Trafficking: The Anti-Trafficking Intern will work in close coordination with the case management teams to serve survivors of human trafficking who are struggling to navigate various systems to access resources and services.

·       Walk-In Casework: This team provides 8 months of case management to humanitarian immigrants. The services include providing monthly cash assistance, ensuring that clients apply for public benefits such as Medicaid, ensuring that clients apply for social security and enroll in health insurance and ESL classes. 

·       Economic Development:  The Economic Empowerment program assists refugees to become economically self-sufficient by providing career development training and financial coaching. This program assists clients in obtaining education, apprenticeships, jobs, financial coaching and microloans to promote self-sufficiency. The intern will work closely with the Economic Empowerment team to help promote client economic growth and encourage clients to work towards their long-term goals.  

·       Community Engagement: The aim of community engagement is to establish strong, mutually beneficial connections between the community and the IRC in Silver Spring order to garner monetary, in-kind and volunteer resources for refugee clients. The community engagement intern supports the administration of the family mentor program.

·       Development: The development team focuses on securing funding for IRC offices; assisting with donor prospecting, research, data collection and grant management activities.

·       Refugee Barrier Reduction: IRC programming assists refugees to become economically self-sufficient and supports acclimatization within the United States by providing access to casework services. This role will support the IRC’s economic empowerment program in effectively reducing the barriers of humanitarian migrants to achieve self-sufficiency in the United States.

·       Refugee Economic Empowerment: The Economic Empowerment program assists refugees to become economically self-sufficient by placing recently arrived refugees in their first job in the United States.

·       Refugee Employment and Skill-Building: The Refugee Employment and Skill-Building Program aims to reduce barriers to self-sufficiency and employment and assist refugees to secure full-time employment. 

·       Operations: IRC’s Operations Team supports operations functions and provides related administrative support, resulting in a well-functioning, compliant environment for staff, clients, and partners. This is a challenging position that requires strong organization, creative problem-solving, personal initiative, and the ability to work well in a multicultural and fast -paced environment.

·       Refugee Walk-in Services: The Intake program is the first point of contact to all “walk-in” clients that visit the IRC in Silver Spring. We provide fast track enrollment in public benefits and referrals to internal and/or external resources and programs as needed. 

·       Extended Case Management: The Extended Case Management (ECM) team provides case management services to up to 400 new clients each year. The team works directly with humanitarian immigrants resettling in the DC Metro area, including Latin American, African, and Middle Eastern individuals; utilizing a holistic 2Gen household approach for the families served, the team addresses both short-term and long-term barriers to support overall well-being in the US.

·       Refugee Health and Social Integration: The refugee health and social integration intern will work in close coordination with the case management teams to serve refugees and other immigrants who are struggling to navigate various systems to access resources and services.

·       Youth Intern Program: The IRC’s Refugee School Impact Programs and Refugee Youth Mentoring Programs work to support the integration and holistic wellbeing of school aged students who hold a humanitarian immigration status. The overall goals of the mentoring and impact programs are to reinforce a sense of belonging and security within schools and surrounding communities, build students’ confidence in their English and academic abilities, and help student develop graduation and career plans tailored to their unique interests and skills.

All selected interns must undergo and clear a background and reference check in order to intern with the Silver Spring office. We ask that candidates make a $30 donation to help us cover the associated costs. Currently, 87% of our funding goes directly to programming to support our clients, and your help to cover this cost will ensure that no funding is directed away from serving our clients. Instructions will be provided after you have been selected to intern or volunteer. The IRC is not able to sponsor visas.  

The ability to work in-person at least one day per week is required. Internships require a minimum commitment of 15 hours per week. Spring interns are expected to begin their internship by attending an in-person intern orientation on January 26th, 2026, from 9:15AM-3:30PM. The Fall internship terms ends on May 15th, 2026. Please note, the deadline to apply for Spring 2026 internships is January 5, 2026.

Internships with the IRC in Silver Spring are unpaid. Spring 2026 interns may be eligible for per diem reimbursement at the rate of $15/day to offset the costs of food and travel. For information on scholarship opportunities, contact your university or the IRC Silver Spring Community Engagement Coordinator at Michalina.Kulesza@rescue.org.

We currently offer internships during the following semesters: 
Spring: January – May 
Summer: June– August 
Fall: September – December 
Internships are typically posted 2-3 months prior to the anticipated start date. 

Thank you for your attention and please don’t hesitate to reach out with questions.

Sincerely,

Michalina Kulesza, M.P.A (she/her) | Community Engagement Coordinator

International Rescue Committee

8737 Colesville Road Suite 1200, Silver Spring, MD 20910

T + 1 518 965 3400 

Like/follow the IRC in Silver Spring on Facebook.

Meet with me!

United Nations (UN) Spring 2026 internship opportunity with the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is offering a Spring 2026 internship in its Programmes Coordination Division in Bonn, Germany—a rare opportunity to gain hands-on experience with the world’s leading body supporting the Paris Agreement, Kyoto Protocol, and UN Climate Convention.

About the UNFCCC and the Internship

The UNFCCC secretariat facilitates the global political process to address climate change, helping nations implement the commitments made under the Paris Agreement and related frameworks.

As part of the Programmes Coordination Division, the intern will support efforts to ensure strategic coherence across the UNFCCC’s divisions—Adaptation, Means of Implementation, Mitigation, and Transparency—and contribute to work on Just Transition Work Programme (JTWP) pathways for achieving the Paris Agreement goals.

UNFCCC Home Page

Internship Responsibilities

The intern will be involved in various tasks within the Programmes Coordination division described above and will have the opportunity to gain experience in supporting a variety of substantive and operational tasks, from collaboration on analyzing, researching, and producing relevant documents and reports to supporting coordinating and organizing relevant events, data, and information management, as well as engagement activities.

Tasks

• Assist in the preparation of the Senior Director’s outreach activities by providing research
  support and drafting of briefing material or reports as needed.
• Assist meetings, including the preparation of background information and taking notes.
• Assist in the coordination of cross-cutting issues across divisions.
• Assist in the intergovernmental process work on JTWP.
• Assist in the planning and organization of events and meetings.
• Assist in other activities as requested.

Requirements

To apply, you must:

• Be a senior undergraduate or enrolled in a Master’s program.
• Be fluent in English, both in communication and writing skills (knowledge of another UN language is a plus).
• Be studying in a relevant field such as environmental science, economics, law, public policy, public relations, political science/international relations, or related disciplines.

Internship Details

• Location: UNFCCC Headquarters, Bonn, Germany
• Start Date: January 2026
• Duration: 3–6 months (depending on your availability and division needs)
• Work Schedule: Full-time (40 hours/week), in-person
• Compensation: The internship is unpaid, but the UMD Global Fellows program is exploring the possibility of providing a small stipend to help offset expenses.

Apply

Interested students should submit the following to fedglobal@umd.edu by November 14, 2025 (earlier submissions are encouraged):

1. A tailored cover letter outlining your interest in the internship and preferred availability window.
2. Your resume highlighting relevant coursework, skills, and experiences.

If you have questions or would like help refining your materials, stop by the UMD Global/Federal Fellows Office for guidance and feedback.

Summer 2026 Undergraduate Intern, National Prison Project

Remote/Hybrid-Washington D.C.

About the Role
The ACLU seeks a Summer Undergraduate Intern in the National Prison Project of the ACLU’s National office in Washington D.C. This position may be remote or hybrid.

Qualifying applicants must currently be matriculated undergraduate students and must be based in the U.S. for the entire duration of the internship.

The Team:
The National Prison Project works to ensure that conditions in prisons, jails, juvenile detention centers, and immigration detention facilities comply with the Constitution, domestic law, and international human rights principles. The Project has successfully litigated on behalf of incarcerated people in more than 25 states. It is the only organization litigating conditions of confinement cases nationwide. Our priorities include reducing overcrowding, improving health care, challenging the use of solitary confinement, and increasing oversight and accountability in prisons, jails, and other places of detention. We also work to reverse the policies that have given the United States the highest incarceration rate in the world and led to extreme over-representation of people of color in the incarcerated population.

What You’ll Do:
The intern will have the opportunity to gain valuable experience by working with the National Prison Project team. They will learn about creating change through prison reform litigation and advocacy work.

Your Day to Day:

Assisting with the production and distribution of advocacy materials
Conducting factual research and writing regarding the rights of incarcerated people and legislative movement
Gathering current information related to prison and jail conditions
Documenting and tracking complaints received from incarcerated people and responding with informational materials
Providing campaign and litigation support to supervising attorneys
What You’ll Bring:

Completed first year of an undergraduate degree
A strong interest in the rights of incarcerated people and a commitment to civil rights
Strong organizational skills and the ability to work independently
Excellent research, writing, and communication skills
Strong computer skills, particularly web-based research including proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (i.e. Word, Excel)
Future ACLU’ers Will:

Be committed to advancing the mission of the ACLU
Center and embed the principles of equity, inclusion and belonging in their work by demonstrating commitment to diversity with an approach that respects and values multiple perspectives
Be committed to work collaboratively and respectfully toward resolving obstacles and conflicts
Internship Logistics

Location: Our internship program offers a limited number of remote or hybrid intern positions. This internship can be remote or hybrid and based in our Washington D.C. office.
Time Commitment: Summer internships require a full-time (35 hours/week) commitment.
Internship Duration: Summer internships span 10 consecutive weeks with a start date of May 26 or June 8.
Stipend: A stipend is available for those students who are lawfully authorized to work. Students who receive outside funding are eligible for a partial stipend to bring their total funding up to the level of the ACLU’s stipend amount for the summer. Undergraduate interns receive a stipend amount $20/hour (stipends are taxed)

Summer 2026 Undergraduate Intern, Trone Center for Justice and Equality

Remote/Hybrid-New York City

About the Role

The ACLU seeks a Summer Undergraduate Intern in the Legal Department’s Trone Center for Justice and Equality of the ACLU’s National office in New York City. This position can be remote or hybrid.

Qualifying applicants must currently be matriculated legal students and must be based in the U.S. for the entire duration of the internship.

The Team:

The ACLU’s Trone Center for Justice and Equality focuses on America’s issues around crime, punishment, and racial justice. These three issues are constantly intersecting and the implications for social and economic success in communities of color are hanging in the balance. As a result race and class permeate the entire criminal justice system, and today robust discussions about race in America are bringing issues of racial justice into the spotlight. This is a critical time in the fight to advance racial justice and to truly reform the criminal legal system. The Trone Center contains five Projects/Programs working towards these goals: the Capital Punishment Project, the National Prison Project, the Racial Justice Program, Criminal Law Reform Project, and the John Adams Project.

What You’ll Do:

The Trone Center for Justice and Equality is seeking a law student intern to work on the issues it addresses, including the following: seeking to end excessively harsh criminal justice policies that result in mass incarceration, over-criminalization, and racial injustice; fighting for nationwide reforms to pretrial detention and surveillance, police practices, public defense systems, disproportionate sentencing, and prosecutorial abuses of authority in the name of public safety; challenging the unfairness and arbitrariness of capital punishment while working towards the ultimate goal of abolishing the death penalty; improving conditions for people in prisons, jails, and detention centers and increasing oversight and accountability in places of detention; and confronting racial discrimination in education, housing, fair lending, policing, and the criminal justice system. The intern will be responsible for conducting legal research and writing support to the Center Director and Staff Attorney. The intern will also work on other Center priorities and issue areas as assigned.

Your Day to Day:

• Conduct research and analysis on issues in the criminal justice and racial justice fields
• Draft communications, memos, and presentations
• Documenting and tracking complaints received from incarcerated people and responding with informational materials
• Assist the Legal Operations team in department-wide initiatives, trainings, and compliance
• Support the Trone Center and the work of the Trone Center Director and Special Assistant

What You’ll Bring:

• Completed at least two years of an undergraduate degree
• Demonstrated commitment to the issues on which the Trone Center for Justice and Equality works
• Excellent research, writing, and verbal communication skills
• Excellent interpersonal skills and a proven ability to work independently as well as within a team
• Self-motivated with the ability to take initiative, manage a variety of tasks and see projects through to completion
• Strong computer skills, particularly web-based research including proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (i.e. Word, Excel)

Future ACLU’ers Will:

• Be committed to advancing the mission of the ACLU
• Center and embed the principles of equity, inclusion and belonging in their work by demonstrating commitment to diversity with an approach that respects and values multiple perspectives
• Be committed to work collaboratively and respectfully toward resolving obstacles and conflicts

Internship Logistics

• Location: Our internship program offers a limited number of remote or hybrid intern positions. This internship may be remote or hybrid and based in our New York City office.
• Time Commitment: Summer internships require a full time (35 hour/week) commitment.
• Internship Duration: Summer internships span 10 consecutive weeks with a start date of May 26 or June 8.
• Stipend: A stipend is available for those students who are lawfully authorized to work. Undergraduate interns receive a stipend amount $20/hour (stipends are taxed)

Summer 2026 Undergraduate Intern, National Security Project

Hybrid-New York City

About the Role
The ACLU seeks an Undergraduate Intern in the National Security Project of the ACLU’s National office in New York City. This position is hybrid.

Qualifying applicants must currently be matriculated undergraduate students and must be based in the U.S. for the entire duration of the internship.

The Team:
The National Security Project fights for people and communities harmed by the government in the name of national security. Recognizing the danger of expansive claims of state power, we advocate for a robust system of checks and balances and for policies that comply with the Constitution, civil liberties, and human rights. Through the courts, Congress, and public education, we strive to ensure that people are able to participate fully in civic life and are free from discrimination, unwarranted suspicion and surveillance, unlawful force and detention, and the stigma and other injustices that result from these abuses.

What You’ll Do:
The National Security Project’s Undergraduate Intern will be responsible for a wide range of administrative and substantive tasks to support our litigation and advocacy efforts in the national security context.

Your Day to Day:

• Reviewing and logging government documents in National Security Project online databases
• Organizing and archiving case files
• Conducting factual research

What You’ll Bring:

• Completion of at least three years of an undergraduate degree program prior to the internship start date
• Strong interest in human rights and civil liberties issues
• Excellent research, writing, and communication skills
• Strong computer and web-based research skills
• Strong organizational skills
• Initiative to see projects through to completion
• Preferred: Experience, through personal connection or work experience, working with historically marginalized communities whose civil rights and liberties are harmed by discriminatory or abusive national security policies

Future ACLU’ers Will:

• Be committed to advancing the mission of the ACLU
• Center and embed the principles of equity, inclusion and belonging in their work by demonstrating commitment to diversity with an approach that respects and values multiple perspectives
• Be committed to work collaboratively and respectfully toward resolving obstacles and conflicts

Internship Logistics

• Location: Our internship program offers a limited number of remote or hybrid intern positions. This internship is hybrid and based in our New York City office.
• Time Commitment: Summer internships require a full time (35 hour/week) commitment.
• Internship Duration: Summer internships span 10 consecutive weeks with a start date of May 26 or June 8.
• Stipend: A stipend is available for those students who are lawfully authorized to work. Undergraduate interns receive a stipend amount $20/hour (stipends are taxed)
• Priority Application Deadline: October 19, 2025

While there is a priority deadline, our project is committed to reviewing all applications on a rolling basis until the closing of posting.

Spring 2026 Undergraduate Intern, Cross Divisional Team- National Political Advocacy Department

Hybrid-Washington D.C.

The ACLU seeks an Undergraduate Intern for the Cross-Divisional team of the National Political Advocacy Department of the ACLU’s National office in Washington D.C. This internship is hybrid.

Qualifying applicants must currently be matriculated undergraduate students and must be based in the U.S. for the entire duration of the internship. 

The Team:

The National Political Advocacy Department (NPAD) builds power to achieve an accountable, representative democracy. We have ambitious goals across Reproductive Freedom, Democracy and Voting Rights, Systemic Equality, Immigration, Trans Justice, Criminal Justice and other core issues to protect and expand civil rights and civil liberties, and advance the freedom, equality, ability to prosper, and humanity of all People.

Our department conducts analysis, develops policy, crafts world class campaigns and situates the ACLU to have impact across legislative, administrative, and electoral levers. We are policy experts, lawyers, community organizers, lobbyists, campaign strategists, electoral specialists, program managers and more. We partner across the ACLU to drive national efforts, and support and amplify the priorities of our affiliates. We work to center principles of equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging in our approach.

The Cross-Divisional team is responsible for managing large scale, department wide projects including the ACLU’s Candidate Race and Ballot Initiative work on key issue areas.

What You’ll Do:

The intern will be responsible for supporting the Senior Strategist of Special Projects, with ongoing cross-department programs that include, but are not limited to, large-scale activations, in person convenings, strategic collaboration coordination, and more.

Your Day to Day

• Driving innovation: Work with senior strategist to think and drive innovative solutions to ACLU’s complex political projects.
• Project management support: Aid in project planning, tracking milestones, and editing relevant project documents.
• Event Coordination: Assist in planning, logistics, and on-site/remote management of NPAD events.
• Research and writing: Supporting senior strategist with research, writing, and design to better prepare strategic coordination projects.

What You’ll Bring:

• Proactive Learning: Being proactive in seeking out opportunities to learn and grow is key in a fast-paced environment. Interns should demonstrate curiosity, initiative, and a willingness to take on new challenges. This includes asking for feedback, seeking out resources, and continuously improving their skills.
• Time Management: Prioritizing tasks, managing deadlines, and staying organized are essential. Interns should be able to balance multiple responsibilities efficiently and effectively allocate their time and resources.
• Critical Thinking: Interns should possess strong critical thinking skills to analyze problems, evaluate information, and make effective decisions under pressure. This involves being able to identify patterns and propose innovative solutions.
• Adaptability: The ability to quickly adjust to new situations, tasks, and environments is crucial. This includes being flexible with changing priorities, processes, and methods.

Future ACLU-ers Will:

• Be committed to advancing the mission of the ACLU
• Center and embed the principles of equity, inclusion and belonging in their work by demonstrating commitment to diversity with an approach that respects and values multiple perspectives
• Be committed to work collaboratively and respectfully toward resolving obstacles and conflict

Internship Logistics:

• Location: Our internship program offers a limited number of remote or hybrid intern positions. This internship is full-time and hybrid from our Washington D.C. office.
• Time Commitment: Full-time (35 hours/week)
• Internship Duration: Full-time internships span 10 consecutive weeks. This internship has a start date of: January 12th or January 26th
• Stipend: A stipend is available for students who are lawfully authorized to work. Arrangements can be made with educational institutions for work/study or course credit.
• Below are the stipend rates:
  • $20/hr for undergraduate students or equivalent experience
  • $24/hr for graduate and law students or equivalent experience

Priority Application Deadline: October 31st, 2025

While there is a priority deadline, our project is committed to reviewing all applications on a rolling basis until the closing of posting.

2026 Summer Internship – Enterprise Protective Services, Threat Intelligence

remote type: Hybrid

locations: Charlotte, NC

time type: Full time

end date: November 15, 2025

job requisition id: R37077

Important Application Submission Information

In order to ensure your application is successfully received before the job posting expires, please submit your application by 11:59 PM on Friday, November 14, 2025

The Enterprise Protective Services (EPS), Threat Intelligence, Summer Internship is Duke Energy’s professional development program designed for currently enrolled college students seeking to expand their knowledge and skills in critical infrastructure protection and threat intelligence operations at a major U.S. energy company.

EPS Threat Intelligence Summer Interns will participate in compelling business and security projects while gaining invaluable hands-on experience. They will develop familiarity with the organization and company operations through networking with fellow interns and senior-level employees, while honing skills for practical future application.

Internship Opportunities

Interns in this position will have the opportunity to:

• Conduct open-source intelligence (OSINT) research to identify threats to Duke Energy/U.S. energy sector
• Conduct data collation and processing
• Participate in structured analysis to fully understand security risks
• Create requirements-driven intelligence products to protect critical infrastructure
• Gain exposure to regulatory compliance for critical infrastructure protection

Basic Qualifications

• Currently enrolled in a 4-year degree program with a major in Criminal Justice, National Security, Intelligence, or related field
• Cumulative GPA of at least 2.75

Desired Qualifications

• Cumulative GPA of at least 3.0
• Leadership potential or demonstrated skills through extracurricular activities
• Ability to excel in various roles
• Professional and effective written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to work collaboratively in team settings
• Community service or volunteer experience
• Self-driven, motivated, and proactive approach
• Strong attention to detail
• Excellent critical thinking skills

Working Conditions

• Hybrid work environment – Work will be performed from both remote and onsite locations following the onboarding period. Hybrid employees should live within reasonable commuting distance to Charlotte, NC, University Area
• Minimal to no travel required

Travel Requirements

5-15%

Relocation Assistance Provided (as applicable)

No

Represented/Union Position

No

Visa Sponsored Position

No

Please note that in order to be considered for this position, you must possess all of the basic/required qualifications.

Security Data Analyst Intern

Job Id  R-01328062
Job Type  Full time

Work Schedule: Standard (Mon-Fri)
Environmental Conditions: Office
Location: Waltham, MA – On-Site
Duration: Summer 2026, 10 – 12 weeks

About the Role:
The Global Security team is looking for a diligent and motivated Intern to analyze data, manage information, and visualize trends. This internship allows hands-on experience with security datasets, shaping visualization strategies and assisting in global security protection.

Key Responsibilities:

Data Management & Organization

• Assist in updating and maintaining key datasets, including site profiles, site leader information, incident and investigation logs, risk assessments, and security compliance trackers.
• Help clean, format, and coordinate data for easy ingestion into internal systems (e.g., Airtable, SharePoint).

Analysis & Reporting

• Support the analysis of trends across global sites related to incidents, investigations, risks, and site compliance.
• Contribute to weekly or monthly reports for Global Security leadership.

Visualization & Presentations

• Build charts, graphs, and maps for internal dashboards, leadership presentations, and security briefings.
• Help build user-friendly visuals to translate complex data into clear insights.

GSOC & Operations Support

• Acquire fundamental instruction in GSOC operations and tools.
• Provide support in the operations center during high-impact events or as part of analyst coverage.

What You’ll Learn:

• How global corporate security teams gather, oversee, and respond to security and risk data.
• Hands-on exposure to data analytics within security operations and risk management.
• Exposure to GSOC workflows, security incident handling, and intelligence tools.
• Tools such as Airtable, Power BI, Excel, and more depending on team workflows.

Qualifications:

• Presently enrolled in a Bachelor’s program specializing in Data Analytics, Information Systems, Criminal Justice, Homeland Security, or a related area of study.
• Familiarity with Excel and a strong interest in learning tools like Power BI, Tableau, or GIS platforms.
• Passion for security, data organization, or risk management.
• Strong attention to detail and willingness to learn.
• Effective communication skills and ability to work in a fast-paced, global environment.

Summer 2026 – Racial Justice Internship Program

Location: US-MA-Boston

The Committee for Public Counsel Services (CPCS) is seeking applicants for the Summer Racial Justice Internship Program.  Interns will be assigned to work with various offices, including the Training Department and the Director of Equity & Inclusion. 

We fight for equal justice and human dignity by supporting our clients in achieving their legal and life goals. We zealously advocate for the rights of individuals and promote just public policy to protect the rights of all.

AGENCY OVERVIEW

The Committee for Public Counsel Services (CPCS) is the state agency in Massachusetts responsible for providing an attorney when the state or federal constitution or a state statute requires the appointment of an attorney for a person who cannot afford to retain one. The agency provides representation in criminal, delinquency, youthful offender, child welfare, guardianship, mental health, sexually dangerous person, and sex offender registry cases, as well as in appeals and post-conviction and post-judgment proceedings related to those matters.

MINIMUM ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS

Candidates must be current undergraduate, graduate, or law school students who are committed to racial and social justice and have demonstrated an interest in addressing systemic racism in the justice system.  Interns selected for the position must be able to commit to at least 8 weeks of full-time employment for the Summer.

Preferred candidates will be students who have taken classes in evidence, criminal law, criminal procedure, constitutional law, critical legal theory, and/or trial advocacy, have experience with data collection and analysis, experience working with low-income clients, people of color, immigrants, LGBT people, and other underrepresented groups, as well as familiarity working with individual with mental illnesses and substance abuse disorders.

Interns should have (1) experience with Microsoft Office suite, (2) ability to maintain confidentiality, (3) excellent written and verbal communication skills, (4) strong teamwork and collaboration abilities, and (5) legal research and writing experience.

Candidates must also:

• Have access to reliable transportation in order to travel to courts, clients, and investigation locations that are not easily accessible by public transportation; and,
• Have access to a personal computer with home internet access sufficient to work remotely
• Interested candidates should have a demonstrated commitment to the principle of zealous advocacy, community-oriented defense, and the protection of fundamental constitutional and human rights.

APPLICATION INFORMATION

Interested applicants should submit (1) Resume, (2) Personal Mission Statement (no more than two pages detailing your interest in the internship, your personal qualities and background, and what draws you to this work, (3) Writing Sample, (4) List of References.

Applications received prior to January 10, 2026, will be given preference. 

INTERNSHIP FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

CPCS has a limited number of paid internship opportunities for Summer 2026.  In order to be considered, applicants may complete the following application: https://www.publiccounsel.net/hr/cpcs-intern-scholarship-program/

For students who are not selected for a paid internship, CPCS can work with students to support the receipt of externship credit or outside funding.

OPPORTUNITIES

Interns will be assigned to work with various offices within CPCS that touch on our substantive work, including the Training Department and with the Director of Equity & Inclusion. The Training Division is tasked with supporting attorneys and staff by training and educating them on implicit bias and systemic racism within the justice systems and formulating methods to recognize and overcome racism within these systems on behalf of the clients we serve. The Equity & Inclusion Department works on initiatives and strategies that impact fairness and inclusion among internal and external stakeholders to our work.  Interns will be an integral part of our office and work closely with our team of dedicated managers, racial equity trainers, attorneys, social service advocates and investigators. Additionally, interns will work with the Racial Equity Committee, and other Racial Equity Initiatives throughout the Agency to assist in building racial justice capacity through litigation, policy advocacy, education and training of attorney, staff and other justice stakeholders.  

RESPONSIBILITIES

Interns will work directly with CPCS supervisors, staff attorneys, investigators, and social service advocates on (1) legal research and writing, (2) conducting legal and policy research on racial and justice issues, (3) data collection, analysis and presentation, (4) assisting in preparing and conducting race- based trainings, and (5) providing additional assistance to attorneys and staff on issues of racial equity.