Government Services Legislative Intern

barnes; Indianapolis (IN); On-site; USD 25,000 - 36,000; Full time

Job summary

Barnes & Thornburg LLP in downtown Indianapolis is seeking two+ Legislative Interns for the 54th Indiana General Assembly session. The full-time, on-site internship runs January 4, 2027 to April 30, 2027, with interns supporting partners and lobbyists, drafting communications, researching statutes, and preparing client reports and presentations.

Interns will create legislative newsletters, update reports, and attend committee hearings and Day at the State House events as directed by supervising

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or higher-level degree.
• Experience with the Indiana General Assembly preferred.
• Government or political background or government intern experience desired.
• Strong communication and public-speaking skills including the ability to communicate effectively with a diverse clientele.
• Knowledge and understanding of state governmental processes.
• Be self-directed, proactive, and confident.
• Excellent time management, planning, organizational, team and interpersonal skills.
• Working knowledge in Microsoft Office.

Responsibilities

• Support one or more partner(s) or attorney(s) with drafting client communications and researching legislation.
• Prepare weekly legislative newsletters for clients and create presentations for industry sectors.
• Draft legislative update reports, talking points, and alerts under short deadlines.
• Monitor and track progression of bills and attend committee hearings and events at the Indiana State Capitol.
• Assist clients in preparing for and participating in Day at the State House events and other legislative events.
• Assist with research and writing of legislative proposals.

Skills

Public speaking

Communication

Time management

Interpersonal skills

Self-directed

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Summary

Barnes & Thornburg LLP is seeking a minimum of two (2) individuals to serve as Legislative Interns for its downtown Indianapolis office location. The interns will assist the partners and lobbyists in the firm’s Government Services Practice with activities related to the first legislative session of the 54th Indiana General Assembly. This competitively paid internship will begin January 4, 2027 and conclude on April 30, 2027. The internship will be a full-time (40 hours per week), on-site experience with regular participation in legislative activities at the Indiana State House and routine communication with firm clients at the direction of the intern’s supervisory attorney(s).

Key Responsibilities

• Each intern will be assigned to support one (1) or more partner(s) or attorney(s) throughout the duration of the legislative session. Such support will include assistance with drafting client communications, researching legislation and current statutes, and helping with client legislative events.

• Interns will routinely create and prepare client reports using customized legislative software (training will be provided) on legislation, amendments to legislation, and legislative hearings, the Indiana State Budget process, conference committees and other legislative matters.

• Each intern will assist in the preparation of a weekly legislative newsletter for clients and the creation of customized presentations for industry sectors and clients as directed by the intern’s supervising attorney.

• Interns will write legislative update reports, talking points, various communications, and alerts often under short deadlines/time constraints due to the pace of the legislative session.

• Monitor and track the progression of bills – including, but not limited to, in person attendance of committee hearings and events at the Indiana State Capitol.

• Assist clients in preparing for and participating in Day at the State House events and other legislative event activities.

• Assist with research and writing of legislative proposals.

The employee must be able to perform all essential job duties and responsibilities of this position satisfactorily and as outlined, with or without reasonable accommodations. Reasonable accommodation requests may be accommodated, absent undue firm hardship.

Qualifications

• Possess a bachelor’s degree or higher- level degree.

• Previous experience with the Indiana General Assembly will be preferred.

• Previous government or political background or government intern experience desired.

• Possess strong communication and public-speaking skills including the ability to communicate effectively with a diverse internal and external clientele or audience.

• Knowledge and understanding of state governmental processes.

• Be self-directed, proactive, and confident individual.

• Possess excellent time management, planning, organizational, team and interpersonal skills to respond to client requests on a regular and consistent basis.

• Working knowledge in Microsoft Office.

• Ability to work a minimum of 40 hours a week, including evening hours as necessary.

This job description is intended to describe the general requirements of this position. As such, it is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of job duties or responsibilities required in this job. Subject to firm needs, duties and responsibilities of this position may change at any time, on a temporary or permanent basis, and with or without notice

Working Conditions

Normal office environment with little exposure to excessive noise, dust, temperature and the like.

The above is intended to describe the general content of and requirements for the performance of this job. It is not to be construed as an exhaustive statement of essential functions, responsibilities or requirements.

Equal Employment and Opportunity Statement

Barnes & Thornburg is committed to equal employment opportunity in both principle and as a matter of policy. We will recruit, hire, train, promote, compensate and provide benefits to all applicants and employees without regard to ancestry, sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, gender, age, religion, religious creed, mental and/or physical disability, medical condition, military and/or veteran’s status, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, or any other basis protected by applicable federal, state and local laws. This policy applies to all recruiting, hiring, promotions, upgrades, layoffs, compensation, benefits, terminations and all other privileges, terms and conditions of employment. The firm complies fully with all federal, state and local equal employment opportunity laws.