2027 Summer Legal Internship

thefire; Philadelphia (Philadelphia County); On-site; USD 32,000 - 40,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid internship

Job summary

FIRE is offering a 10-week paid Summer Legal Internship for rising 2Ls and 3Ls to contribute to free speech advocacy. The program runs June 1, 2027 to August 6, 2027 and pays an $8,000 stipend. Interns work from FIRE’s Philadelphia or Washington, D.C.

offices, supporting policy projects across advocacy and education. Intern duties include researching campus free-speech issues, drafting public commentary, supporting policy reform and legislative analysis, drafting memos, and participating in

Qualifications

• Rising 2L/3L law students with strong academic credentials and a demonstrated interest in civil liberties and public-interest law.
• Successful applicants will be detail-oriented, collaborative, and passionate about defending free expression.

Responsibilities

• Support advocacy and policy projects related to free expression and academic freedom.
• Research campus free-speech issues, draft public-facing commentary, and assist in ongoing advocacy efforts.

Skills

Detail-oriented

Collaborative

Public-interest law

Education

Rising 2L/3L law student

Job description

Overview

FIRE’s Summer Legal Internship provides law students with an unparalleled opportunity to contribute to the nation’s leading defender of free expression. This 10-week, paid program offers an $8,000 stipend and runs from June through August. Legal interns work from FIRE’s Philadelphia or Washington, D.C. offices, contributing directly to advocacy and policy projects that shape the national conversation on free speech.

The position will run from June 1st, 2027 to August 6th, 2027.

Summer Legal Interns are placed in one of FIRE’s non-litigation advocacy departments, where they support ongoing efforts to defend free expression and academic freedom:

• Campus Rights Advocacy: Investigate free speech violations on college campuses, help draft public-facing commentary, conduct legal research, and participate in voluntary learning sessions on substantive First Amendment law.
• Public Advocacy: Research and respond to threats to free expression beyond the campus, draft advocacy materials, and assist in shaping FIRE’s public commentary.
• Policy Reform: Draft and edit policy analyses for college administrators, research emerging issues in higher education policy, and help advance reforms to improve protections for student and faculty expression.
• Legislative & Policy: Conduct legal research on public policy affecting expressive rights, draft internal bill analyses and public commentary, and monitor legislative developments.

In addition, interns may assist in drafting memos and correspondence, conducting research projects to identify new advocacy targets, and contributing to FIRE’s Newsdesk. Interns also participate in seminars with FIRE leadership and civil liberties experts, gaining deeper insight into free expression issues and public-interest advocacy.

After the completion of the program, Fellows in good standing with FIRE will be inducted into FIRE's Alumni Association, a group dedicated to former FIRE interns, fellows, clerks, and full-time staffers.

Qualifications

FIRE seeks rising 2Ls and 3Ls with strong academic credentials and a demonstrated interest in civil liberties and public-interest law. Successful applicants will be detail-oriented, collaborative, and passionate about advancing FIRE’s mission to defend freedom of speech, expression, and thought.

Application Information

FIRE seeks rising 2Ls and 3Ls with excellent academic credentials and a demonstrated passion for civil liberties and public-interest litigation. Successful applicants are collaborative, detail-oriented, and deeply committed to the principles of free expression.

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States.

FIRE isan equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law.

As part of FIRE's hiring process, all candidates receiving a conditional offer of employment will be required to undergo a background checkas permitted by and in compliance with federal, state and local law.