Graduate - Legal Intern

National Basketball Association (NBA); New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 40,000 - 57,000; Full time

Job summary

The National Basketball Association (NBA) offers a 10-week Summer Internship running from June 7 to August 13, 2027, spanning multiple departments including the Legal team. Interns will attend meetings, conduct research, draft documents, and provide legal analysis to support NBA and its affiliate leagues.

The program includes professional development and community experiences, with a remote-work option one day per week.

Qualifications

• Enrollment in a JD program is required.
• Previous law firm or legal experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Conducting short-term and long‑term research on existing projects within the department
• Participating in weekly meetings and tracking action steps and progress of major assignments
• Supporting legal review and advisement on projects related to the media, social responsibility, partnerships, corporate, finance, compliance, and intellectual property of the NBA and its affiliate leagues
• Supporting with drafting youth basketball safety compliance policies and manuals, equity deals, player appearance agreements, data privacy work, etc.

Skills

Project management

Communication skills

Fast-paced work

Leadership

Education

JD Program

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

WORK OPTION: The NBA currently provides eligible employees the option of working remotely one day per week.

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Position Summary

The 2027 NBA Summer Internship is a 10-week program that runs from June 7 – August 13, 2027. The program gives participants the opportunity to learn about the business of basketball, develop critical career skills, and contribute to meaningful projects across a range of departments in the NBA and its affiliate leagues (WNBA & G League). In addition to on-the-job experience, interns are invited to participate in a broad array of professional development programming as well as community and social experiences.

Interns should reflect excellent academic standing and have strong written and verbal communication skills. Additionally, we look for candidates who possess leadership skills as demonstrated through relevant extracurricular or community activities.

More information on the Summer Internship program experience can be found here.

Role Overview

Selected interns will work with our in-house Legal department, participating in meetings, conducting research, drafting documents, and providing objective legal analysis relevant to furthering the substantive goals of our clients, the various business units of the NBA, and the NBA's constituent teams. Interns may work in different areas including deal support, intellectual property, litigation, and basketball-related matters.

The Legal department provides advice and counsel with respect to all of the company’s activities and businesses on a global basis. For the NBA, WNBA, and NBA G League, the department assists in the negotiation and administration of collective bargaining agreements with players, including the salary cap system, the anti‑drug program, and the grievance/arbitration process. The department also provides advice to these leagues on the structuring of player contracts, trades, disciplinary matters, and playing rules issues. League transactional lawyers administer policies governing the transfer and relocation of teams, the approval of new arenas, and the regulation of team ownership and debt. Our deal lawyers negotiate and advise on the structuring of business arrangements with counterparties in a variety of areas, including television, digital media, sponsorship, consumer products, gaming, and events. Our intellectual property lawyers maintain and protect the company’s worldwide portfolio of trademarks and copyrights. The legal department handles litigation, investigations, and legislative affairs, and oversees a compliance program across all of our business lines and offices.

These roles require interns to demonstrate a foundational mastery of AI technologies in driving project execution and achieving business objectives.

Major Responsibilities

• Conducting short-term and long‑term research on existing projects within the department
• Participating in weekly meetings and tracking action steps and progress of major assignments
• Supporting legal review and advisement on projects related to the media, social responsibility, partnerships, corporate, finance, compliance, and intellectual property of the NBA and its affiliate leagues
• Supporting with drafting youth basketball safety compliance policies and manuals, equity deals, player appearance agreements, data privacy work, etc.

Required Education & Professional Experience

• Enrolled in a JD Program
• Previous law firm/legal experience preferred

Preferred Skills & Knowledge Attributes

• Strong project management skills
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office suite
• Excellent record of academic and professional achievement
• Outstanding written and oral presentation skills
• Ability to work in a fast-paced work environment with competing demands
• Strong commitment to quality work product and organizational ethics, integrity, and compliance

Salary Range

$35/hr

Job Posting Title

Summer Intern

Employees and/or eligible dependents may be eligible to participate in the following Company sponsored employee benefit programs: medical; short‑term disability; mental health coaching/therapy; and sick time.

Eligibility Note

Not all positions are eligible for these benefits; eligibility may vary by role.

We Consider Applicants For All Positions On The Basis Of Merit, Qualifications And Business Needs, And Without Regard To Race, Color, National Origin, Religion, Sex, Gender Identity, Age, Disability, Alienage Or Citizenship Status, Ancestry, Marital Status, Creed, Genetic Predisposition Or Carrier Status, Sexual Orientation, Veteran Status, Familial Status, Status As A Victim Of Domestic Violence Or Any Other Status Or Characteristic Protected By Applicable Federal, State, Or Local Law.

About The NBA

The National Basketball Association (NBA) is a global sports and media organization with the mission to inspire and connect people everywhere through the power of basketball. Built around five professional sports leagues: the NBA, WNBA, NBA G League, NBA 2K League and Basketball Africa League, the NBA has established a major international presence with games and programming available in 214 countries and territories in more than 50 languages, and merchandise for sale in more than 200 countries and territories on all seven continents. NBA rosters at the start of the 2025-26 season featured a record 135 international players from a record‑tying 43 countries. The NBA's digital assets include NBA TV, NBA.com, the NBA App and NBA League Pass. The NBA has created one of the largest social media communities in the world, with more than 2.5 billion likes and followers globally across all leagues, team and player platforms. The NBA's Tap to Watch provides seamless access to local, national and global live game telecasts via the NBA App, NBA.com, third‑party digital platforms and NBA partner platforms. NBA Cares, the NBA's global social impact platform, drives change on issues facing fans and communities in the areas of health and wellness, civic engagement, social justice and inclusion, and sustainability.