Legislative & Public Policy Clerk

Arnold & Porter; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 21,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

Arnold & Porter’s Legislative and Public Policy clerkship in Washington, DC is a paid spring program for current undergraduates (juniors/seniors) focusing on government policy and advocacy. The role runs in-person, hybrid schedule, 37.5 hours/week, mid-January to late-April.

The position pays $18.40 per hour and offers exposure to multiple areas of public policy in a leading law firm environment. Applicants should have strong writing skills and an interest in public policy; prior

Qualifications

• Applicants must demonstrate strong writing skills and an interest in public policy as a future career path.
• Previous government-related experience is recommended, although not required.
• Clerkship is available only in Washington, DC and will be in-person mostly.

Responsibilities

• Monitor health care, trade, tech, energy, education, financial services, appropriations, and defense policy developments.
• Draft background research and client memos related to legislative efforts and regulatory policy.
• Shadow teams for congressional, regulatory, and administrative stakeholder engagement.

Skills

Strong writing skills

Education

Undergraduate student (junior or senior)

Job description

The Legislative and Public Policy practice of Arnold & Porter offers a paid spring clerkship program for college students interested in careers in government policy and advocacy. Arnold & Porter is one of the world’s leading law firms, with more than 1,000 lawyers practicing in Washington, DC, eight other domestic offices, and international offices in Europe, China, and Korea. Many of our lawyers have served in key government positions and offer the firm’s clients a sophisticated understanding of the relationship between government and business with nearly 20% of the firm’s business being in regulatory and public policy work.

This clerkship program is focused in the Legislative and Public Policy practice where the clerk’s professional development is a top priority. Participants in this clerkship program may also find an opportunity to gain exposure to other areas of legal practice.

• Monitoring health care, trade, tech, energy, education, financial services, appropriations, and defense policy developments;
• Drafting background research and client memos relating to legislative efforts and regulatory policy;
• Shadowing teams for congressional, regulatory, and administrative stakeholder engagement.

Applicants are encouraged from all academic majors but must be able to demonstrate strong writing skills and an interest in public policy as a future career path. Previous government-related experience is recommended, although not required.

This clerkship is only available in our Washington, DC office and will consist primarily of in-person work.

• A current junior or senior in their undergraduate education in the spring of 2027;
• Available to work a hybrid full time schedule of 37.5 hours per week Monday through Friday from mid-January through late-April. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays will be required “in office” days where individuals will be required to be in the physical office.
• Available to work daily shift hours of 8:30 am to 5:00 pm.

This position pays $18.40 per hour. As a nonexempt position, this position is eligible for overtime.

Arnold & Porter is an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy and childbirth (including breastfeeding and related medical conditions), age, marital or partnership status, familial status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, transgender, physical or mental disability, medical condition, family leave status, citizenship status, immigration status, ancestry, genetic information, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by local, state or federal laws, rules or regulations. Our Firm's equal opportunity policy applies to all employment practices and terms and conditions, including, without limitation, recruitment, employment, assignment, training, compensation, benefits, promotions, disciplinary action and terminations. For purposes of the firm's Anti-discrimination and Anti-harassment Policies, the term "race" includes, without limitation, traits historically associated with race, including, but not limited to, hair texture and protective hairstyles, such as braids, locks, and twists.

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