Intern, Legal

American Bar Association; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 41,000 - 55,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive pay

Benefits package

DC location

Collegial work environment

Job summary

The American Bar Association in Washington, DC invites law students to join a paid summer internship from June 7, 2027 to August 13, 2027. The role offers exposure across ABA divisions, mentorship from leaders, and substantial work on intellectual property, contracts, and regulatory matters.

You must be enrolled in an accredited JD program and plan to return to law school for Fall 2027. The internship is full-time (37.5 hours/week) with onsite work required at least two days per week, and

Qualifications

• Currently enrolled in an accredited JD program and plan to return to law school in Fall 2027.
• Summer 2027 internship eligibility required.
• Based in Washington, DC with onsite requirement of at least two days per week.

Responsibilities

• Provide intellectual property support by preparing trademark and copyright applications and reviewing licenses.
• Review ABA contractual documents including small-dollar contracts, statements of work, MSAs and NDAs.
• Conduct legal research for The Docket and monthly regulatory updates.
• Draft policies and supporting documents for policy development.
• Monitor state legislation and assist staff in legislative monitoring efforts.
• Prepare briefing materials, charts and white papers as needed.

Skills

Financial services familiarity

IP basics

Contract drafting

Legal research & writing

Clear communication

Education

Juris Doctor (JD) candidate

Tools

Databases

Record management

Remote access tools

Job description

Want to work for a great Organization?

Joining ABA makes you part of a team that:

• has Extraordinary People - ABA experts are the “go to” sources for bankers, policy makers and the media for credible information and insights for the banking industry.
• has Unmatched Scope and Scale - ABA’s unparalleled information and services keep members current, knowledgeable and prepared.
• is Impact-Driven - ABA has a proven record of bringing about positive change for our members and the industry. We take action and achieve results.

Plus competitive pay, an outstanding benefits package, a convenient DC location, a professional collegial work environment and an opportunity to work on issues of national significance equals a winning combination!

Employer of Choice:

ABA is recognized with a 2025 Great Company Culture Award and 2025 Great Place to Work designation!

Job Description:

Duration/Hours:

June 7, 2027 – August 13, 2027

Pay rate is $35/hour for law students

To be eligible for this internship, candidates must be currently enrolled in an accredited J.D. program and must be returning to law school for the Fall 2027 semester following the completion of the Summer 2027 internship.

Full-time; 37.5 hours per week

Based in Washington, DC, with an expectation to work onsite at least two days per week.

ABA’s Internship provides students with a paid opportunity to work with one of the biggest trade associations in Washington, DC. This extremely selective opportunity provides students with the opportunity to do substantial work in various divisions across ABA, connect with leadership, build a network, and make a difference.

Primary Responsibilities

• Provide intellectual property support by preparing trademark and copyright applications, reviewing and cataloging copyright certificates and related materials, and reviewing software and intellectual property licenses.
• Review ABA contractual documents by conducting legal sufficiency review of small dollar (under $5,000) contracts, statements of work, master service agreements, non-disclosure agreements and amendments.
• Provide research and writing support for The Docket (ABA Legal publication). Conduct legal research of monthly federal, state and regulatory actions for summarization and inclusion in monthly publication for legal community dissemination.
• Conduct legal research to support policy development and draft proposed policies and related documents.
• State legislative monitoring and assisting staff in state legislative monitoring efforts, including proposed legislative and regulatory actions.
• Assist in the preparation of briefings, charts and white papers, as needed.

Required Skills

• Familiarity with the financial services industry, intellectual property (copyrights/trademarks) and general corporate matters.
• Must possess solid contract drafting, negotiation, legal research and writing skills.
• Must possess knowledge of business and application of the law to business projects, strategy and implementation.
• Must have strong communication skills.
• Must demonstrate the ability to quickly comprehend business transactions, problem solve issues as they develop and work on a cooperative basis with customers.
• Technology skills for databases, record management and remote access required.

Minimum Education Requirements

To be eligible for this internship, candidates must be currently enrolled in an accredited J.D. program and must be returning to law school for the Fall 2027 semester following the completion of the Summer 2027 internship.

Salary Band Range:

$15.00 - $37.50 - $60.00

American Bankers Association (ABA) is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, age, sex, marital status, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, protected Veteran status, personal appearance, political affiliation, family responsibilities, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.