Job Description
In House Legal Intern/Extern Department: Legal
Employment Type: Internship
Location: Denver, CO
Description The Public Interest Network's in-house legal department provides legal services to Environment America, PIRG, and dozens of state and national affiliated organizations. The primary practice areas include First Amendment issues, non-profit corporate and tax compliance, campaign finance/election law, lobbying, charitable solicitation regulation, employment law, benefits, and contracts.
Key Responsibilities Interns will conduct legal research, prepare in-house legal memoranda, and draft and review contracts. Work in specific practice areas includes:
- Employment Practice: Assist legal staff with advising on employment matters and employment benefits systems, ensure compliance with employment laws, review employment materials, and assist with defending employment-related claims.
- Corporate Compliance: Assist legal staff with conducting and documenting corporate board meetings and maintaining the organizations' good standing with state regulators.
- Tax-Exempt Organizations: Assist legal staff with advising on IRS guidelines relating to nonprofit organizations, including for lobbying and political activities.
- First Amendment: Assist legal staff with representing the organization's right to conduct door to-door and street canvassing in cities and towns across the country.
- Election and Lobbying Law: Assist legal staff with ensuring compliance with federal and state election and lobbying laws.
- Contracts: Draft and review contracts, leases, grant agreements, and other legal documents.
Qualifications Legal interns should have excellent academic credentials, be goal-driven and results-oriented, and have a strong desire to protect the public interest through nonprofit and political work. Leadership capability, initiative, and exceptional verbal and written advocacy and communication skills are essential. Candidates should have completed at least one year of law school and prior experience volunteering or working with a nonprofit organization or political campaign is preferred.
Details Location and Terms Legal interns will be considered for work in Denver, CO or remote. Summer internships are full time whereas semester externships are part time as the student's class schedule allows. Legal internships are unpaid. We are happy to work with you to accommodate any requirements that may allow you to receive funding or class credit from your school or other entity. Work-study eligible students are encouraged to apply. In your cover letter, please indicate which term you are applying for. We accept applications on a rolling basis.
Completing a legal internship is not a promise of post-law school employment by groups in The Public Interest Network.
Why work with The Public Interest Network? Here are ten reasons:
Our Mission and Values The Public Interest Network operates and supports organizations committed to a shared vision of a better world and a strategic approach to social change. Visit for things you should know about our network when you apply.
Fund for the Public Interest is an equal opportunity employer.
COVID-19: We take COVID-19 safety very seriously. Employees must follow our COVID safety protocols and be fully vaccinated and boosted. Accommodations are provided to the extent required by law.
Job Tags
Full time, Part time, Summer work, Summer internship, Remote work,