McGrath Legislative Fellowship

Institute for Justice; Arlington (VA); On-site; USD 20,000 - 28,000; Part time

Job summary

The Institute for Justice’s McGrath Legislative Fellowship will start December 1, 2026 and end April 30, 2027, aligning with state legislative sessions. The fellow will work with IJ’s legislative team nationwide, researching and drafting bills and guiding legislation from introduction to enactment.

Ideal candidates are 2L–3L with strong legal writing and analytical skills, excellent communication, and a passion for IJ’s mission.

Qualifications

• 2L–3L law students with strong writing and analytical skills.
• Experience with legislative reform or grassroots organizing is a plus.
• Excellent communication and work ethic expected.

Responsibilities

• Research and draft IJ bills; develop legislative strategies.
• Draft supporting materials such as one-pagers, testimony, and op-eds.
• Build grassroots support and lobby state policymakers.
• Help shepherd legislation from introduction to enactment across states.

Skills

Legal writing

Analytical skills

Strong communication

Policy advocacy

Education

Law student (2L/3L)

Job description

The Institute for Justice’s McGrath Legislative Fellowship will start December 1, 2026 and end April 30, 2027. The fellowship aligns with state legislative sessions and provides the opportunity for a talented law student to work directly with IJ’s legislative team in policy advocacy nationwide. The fellow will engage in every stage of the legislative process with IJ attorneys and help shepherd legislation from introduction to enactment across multiple states.

The fellow will focus on a portfolio of up to ten IJ bills in IJ’s issue areas, including expanding economic liberty, protecting private property rights, and working to end government abuse in key areas, such as repealing occupational licensing laws, regulating automated license plate readers to protect privacy, and expanding cottage food laws. The fellow will help IJ’s legislative team research and draft bills; develop legislative strategies; draft supporting materials such as one-pagers, testimony, and op-eds; build grassroots support for reform, including identifying and meeting with people who are impacted by legislation; and lobby state policymakers.

The ideal candidate will be a 2L or 3L with advanced legal writing and analytical skills, including the ability to distill complex information into simple and compelling terms. The candidate must also have a strong work ethic, excellent communication skills and be passionate about IJ’s mission.

Preferred qualifications include experience working in a state legislature, lobbying for legislative reform, and building grassroots support for legislation.

The fellow may be based at IJ’s headquarters in Arlington, Virginia; one of IJ’s state offices in Austin, Phoenix, Seattle, or Miami; or the IJ Clinic at the University of Chicago. This is a part-time, temporary position with an anticipated schedule of 10–12 hours per week and flexibility to accommodate the fellow’s school schedule. Fellows are paid $17.50 per hour on a semi-monthly basis, subject to applicable federal and state taxes. This fellowship is not eligible for benefits and may include opportunities for occasional travel.

IJ is an equal opportunity employer.

Don’t meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At IJ we value a diverse workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.