2025 Summer Internship at FIRE Philadelphia, PA

FIRE; Philadelphia (Philadelphia County); On-site; USD 53,316 - 63,863; Full time

Job summary

FIRE is offering a ten-week, paid summer internship in Philadelphia, PA. This opportunity allows undergraduates to assist FIRE in defending civil liberties on campuses nationwide.

Interns will engage in significant work and participate in seminars focused on freedom of expression and due process. Ideal candidates should demonstrate a passion for civil liberties and possess strong research, writing, and communication skills.

Qualifications

• Passionate and motivated undergraduates attending colleges in the U.S.
• History of taking action for civil liberties causes.
• Sense of humor is important for the role.

Responsibilities

• Assist with research and administrative projects for various teams.
• Help plan the FIRE Student Network Summer Conference.
• Lead a session for conference attendees.
• Contribute to FIRE’s Newsdesk.
• Participate in weekly seminars on civil liberties.
• Develop activism plans for campus discourse.

Skills

Research skills

Writing skills

Communication skills

Organizational skills

Ability to work under pressure

Education

Current undergraduate student

Job description

2025 Summer Internship job at FIRE. Philadelphia, PA.

FIRE offers a ten‑week, paid summer internship as part of our efforts to educate students about their rights at colleges and universities. This internship gives current undergraduates the opportunity to assist FIRE in defending civil liberties on campuses across the country. FIRE interns do substantive work and participate in weekly seminars with FIRE staff and other experts on freedom of expression, due process, and much more. Interns will work at FIRE’s downtown Philadelphia office. The 2025 program will run from June 2–August 8 and interns will receive a stipend of $5,250.

Qualifications and Responsibilities

FIRE is looking for passionate and motivated undergraduates (rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors) attending colleges and universities in the United States who are looking to engage in free speech activism on campus. Ideal candidates are responsible, focused, and organized; have a passion for civil liberties; and have a history of taking action in support of causes they believe in. All interns are expected to demonstrate excellent research, writing, and communication skills. The ability to work under pressure and a sense of humor are also important.

FIRE interns:

• Work closely with our outreach, defense, policy reform, legislation, development, and media teams to assist with research and administrative projects.
• Assist with the planning and execution of the FIRE Student Network Summer Conference. The FIRE interns will also lead an hour‑long session for conference attendees.
• Assist with planning the Free Speech Forum, FIRE's immersive week‑long summer camp for high school students.
• Contribute to FIRE’s Newsdesk.
• Learn the foundational arguments for protecting core rights in our free society through reading and discussion in weekly seminars with FIRE’s staff and other experts on civil liberties.
• Develop activism plans for ensuring open discourse on campus.