Academic Year Intern

About The Lawyering Project  

Founded in 2017, the Lawyering Project is a legal advocacy organization that blends traditional impact litigation with movement lawyering to promote reproductive health, rights, and justice throughout the United States. We are fiscally sponsored by the Tides Center, a 501(c)(3) organization. Laws that undermine reproductive health, rights, and justice deprive people of moral agency, rob us of control over our bodies, and compound other forms of oppression like racism, sexism, and poverty. Our mission is to eliminate these laws and the harmful impacts they have on people’s lives. We are especially focused on laws that limit the availability or affordability of abortion care; contribute to disparities in reproductive health outcomes; embody gender-based stereotypes; or discriminate against people based on their reproductive decisions.

We have three legal programs: Litigation, Access & Innovation, and Pro Bono Initiatives. Our Litigation Program leverages the courts to eliminate barriers to reproductive health services and promote equity in access to care. Our Access & Innovation Program provides legal advice and technical assistance to healthcare providers, researchers, abortion funds, and organizations that facilitate access to abortion care. Our Pro Bono Initiatives Program operates the Abortion Defense Network, a collaborative effort by nonprofit organizations, private law firms, and government officials aimed at ensuring everyone threatened with liability for providing or supporting abortion care in post-Roe America has access to high-quality, values-aligned lawyers. For further information, visit https://lawyeringproject.org and https://abortiondefensenetwork.org.

In the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, which overturned nearly fifty years of precedent recognizing abortion access as a fundamental right, the Lawyering Project is committed to supporting all people seeking to obtain, provide, or facilitate abortion access while navigating new obstacles and legal risks.  We will seize this disruption of precedent as an opportunity to reshape reproductive rights jurisprudence, situating it on a stronger and more progressive foundation.  And we will continue to work closely with our partners in the reproductive health, rights, and justice movement, as well as members of the private bar, to realize our vision for a more just and equitable future. 

About The Academic Year Internship 

The Lawyering Project will consider applications from students seeking to satisfy an academic or service requirement by serving as a legal intern during the academic year. Such applications will be considered on a rolling basis based on the quality of the application, our staffing needs, and our capacity to provide adequate supervision. We may not accept student placements every semester. All academic year internships are remote. The Lawyering Project will consider funding students who are not eligible for or seeking to satisfy a school requirement. A minimum commitment of 15 hours per week is required and full-time (40 hours per week) interns are preferred. 

We are looking for individuals who possess strong research, writing, and analytical skills. Ideal candidates will be able to effectively manage multiple tasks, collaborate with colleagues, and contribute to a positive and supportive work environment. All interns will have the opportunity to gain practical experience in a variety of legal tasks.

The essential duties and responsibilities for this internship include, but are not limited to:

• Conducting legal and factual research, analysis, and writing; 
• Cite-checking and copy-editing legal documents; 
• Assisting with court filings; 
• Assisting with client advising;
• Providing additional support to the Lawyering Project’s legal programs, as needed; and
• Cultivating an organizational culture that aligns with the Lawyering Project’s core values  

Requirements

Education and Experience

The legal intern must be currently enrolled in a law school located in the United States. Law students who would participate in an academic year internship during their 2L or 3L year are strongly encouraged to apply. 

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

The legal intern must have:

• A demonstrated commitment to social justice and an interest in reproductive health, rights, and justice
• Skill in legal research, writing, and analysis
• Ability to analyze complex legal issues, meet deadlines, work well under pressure, and contribute to a collaborative team environment and a diverse, equitable, and inclusive work culture

Application Requirements

The application must include the following materials to be considered:  

• Resume
• Cover Letter: Please include a cover letter describing your legal research experience. Please highlight specific projects or cases you have worked on and detail the types of legal issues you have researched and the methodologies you have used.  

• Note: If you have participated in any legal clinics, please provide details about your role and the skills you developed and if you have worked on a law journal, mention the responsibilities you had and how this experience has prepared you for a legal internship.  
• Personal Statement: In a separate document, please provide a personal statement describing (in no more than 150 words) the perspectives and experiences that you would bring to the Lawyering Project that are important to you and/or relevant to our work. 

• References: Please provide three professional references, including the person’s name, organizational affiliation, title, and your relationship to the reference. 

Please note that the Summer Internship Program is a separate application with specific deadlines. If you are interested in a summer placement, please apply when the posting is available. 

EEO Statement

The Lawyering Project, a project of Tides Center, is an “at-will” and equal opportunity employer.  At the Lawyering Project, we believe that a team with varied perspectives and experiences will best enable our organization to thrive and achieve its mission.  We are committed to building and maintaining an inclusive work environment that values individual differences.  We welcome and encourage applicants with diverse experiences, identities, and backgrounds to apply.

We will not discriminate against applicants and employees because of race, religion, sex, national origin, ethnicity, age, mental or physical disability, sexual orientation, gender (including gender identity or expression), pregnancy, color, marital status, veteran status, medical condition, or any other classification protected by federal, state, or local law or ordinance. 

We are committed to providing reasonable accommodation for pregnant people and qualified individuals with disabilities, including in the application process.  If you need reasonable accommodation to participate in the application or interview process, please send an email with the subject line “Reasonable Accommodation Request” to [email protected].  

Benefits

Please note that interns are not eligible for employee benefits, including health insurance, retirement plans, or paid time off. This internship is designed to provide academic experience and professional development within a nonprofit legal setting.