Spring 2027 Intern

The Lawfare Institute; Washington (District of Columbia); Hybrid; USD 21,000 - 30,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid internship

Hybrid work model

Job summary

The Lawfare Institute invites applications for a paid Spring 2027 internship in a hybrid role with opportunities to cowork in Washington, D.C. The program offers practical work in national security, law, and policy analysis, with rolling admissions and a formal deadline of November 23, 2026 at midnight EST. The internship runs Jan.

8, 2027, to May 30, 2027, and requires residency in the U.S. for the duration.

Qualifications

• Undergraduate students in their sophomore, junior, or senior year are encouraged to apply.
• Strong writing, analytical, and research skills; excellent verbal and organizational skills.

Responsibilities

• Assist with running and maintaining the Lawfare website.
• Develop research, writing, and analytical skills.
• Tag, categorize posts, track hearings and events.
• Support editorial team and podcast production.

Skills

Writing

Research

Analytical thinking

Communication skills

Organizational skills

Education

Undergraduate student

Job description

We are pleased to announce that the Lawfare Institute—publisher of information and insight at the intersection of national security, law, and policy is now accepting Spring 2027 internship applications for a paid internship. This is a hybrid position with opportunities for coworking in Washington, D.C. Applications for this internship will be accepted on a rolling basis. The application period will close on Nov. 23, 2026, at midnight EST.

About the role

Lawfare has emerged as the indispensable online and podcasting resource for information and analysis on issues at the nexus of national security, law, and politics. Devoted to "Hard National Security Choices," the site features incisive writing and analysis from experts on developing stories in the national security arena, including relevant legislation and judicial opinions. It is a digital publication that includes podcasts, book reviews, research tools, a daily news roundup, an events calendar, and exhaustive coverage of events other media touch only glancingly.

Interns work alongside the editorial team at Lawfare to publish analysis from leading experts in government, academia, and policy. The internship program seeks to provide students with a pre-professional learning experience that offers meaningful, practical work experience related to their field of study or career interest. Interns engage in career exploration and development as well as learn new skills.

Lawfare will pay the selected intern $18.40 per hour. Full time applicants (those who can commit to 35 - 40 hours per week during regular business hours roughly 9:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. ET) are preferred. Part-time candidates—who can also work during regular business hours—will be considered. Please indicate in your cover letter whether you are applying for a full-time or part-time position. The Spring 2027 internship at Lawfare will run from Jan. 8, 2027, to May 30, 2027, though start and end dates are flexible. You are required to be located in the U.S. for the duration of the internship.

What you'll do

The intern will assist with running and maintaining the Lawfare website and will have an opportunity to learn a variety of research skills such as writing, research, and site maintenance. Learning will fall into three main categories:

Writing:

• Work with Associate Editors to monitor national security and foreign policy developments;
• Write "Today on Lawfare," a compilation of Lawfare's coverage of national security and legal news, 4-5 times per week;
• Work with the Associate Editors to co-write a deep-dive analytical piece on a relevant national security law and policy issue;
• Write "The Week that Was," a weekly piece that provides a guide to the week's Lawfare publications.

Research:

• Provide research support to the Lawfare editorial team and management as needed.

Maintaining the site:

• Tag and categorize Lawfare posts;
• Track relevant congressional hearings;
• Track and add relevant events to the Events Calendar;
• Assist Associate Editors with production of the Lawfare Podcast, Lawfare Live, and other programs.

Qualifications

Undergraduate students in their sophomore, junior, or senior year are encouraged to apply. Our most successful interns have strong writing, analytical, and research skills, as well as excellent verbal and organizational skills—preferably demonstrated through prior independent research or previous experience as a research assistant.

Lawfare is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.