2027 Summer Legal Internship

About the role

FIRE’s Summer Legal Internship provides law students with an unparalleled opportunity to contribute to the nation’s leading defender of free expression. This 10‑week, paid program offers an $8,000 stipend and runs from June through August. Legal interns work from FIRE’s Philadelphia or Washington, D.C. offices, contributing directly to advocacy and policy projects that shape the national conversation on free speech. The position will run from June 1 2027 to August 6 2027.

Responsibilities

• Investigate free speech violations on college campuses, help draft public-facing commentary, conduct legal research, and participate in voluntary learning sessions on substantive First Amendment law (Campus Rights Advocacy).
• Research and respond to threats to free expression beyond the campus, draft advocacy materials, and assist in shaping FIRE’s public commentary (Public Advocacy).
• Draft and edit policy analyses for college administrators, research emerging issues in higher education policy, and help advance reforms to improve protections for student and faculty expression (Policy Reform).
• Conduct legal research on public policy affecting expressive rights, draft internal bill analyses and public commentary, and monitor legislative developments (Legislative & Policy).
• Assist in drafting memos and correspondence, conduct research projects to identify new advocacy targets, and contribute to FIRE’s Newsdesk.
• Participate in seminars with FIRE leadership and civil liberties experts, gaining deeper insight into free expression issues and public-interest advocacy.

Qualifications

FIRE seeks rising 2Ls and 3Ls with strong academic credentials and a demonstrated interest in civil liberties and public-interest law. Successful applicants are detail-oriented, collaborative, and passionate about advancing FIRE’s mission to defend freedom of speech, expression, and thought; they also possess excellent academic credentials, a demonstrated passion for civil liberties and public-interest litigation, and are deeply committed to the principles of free expression.

Benefits

Upon successful completion of the internship, fellows in good standing are inducted into FIRE's Alumni Association, a network of former interns, fellows, clerks, and full-time staffers.

Pay

The program offers a paid stipend of $8,000 for the 10‑week term.

Schedule

The internship runs for 10 weeks from June 1 2027 through August 6 2027, with positions based in FIRE’s Philadelphia or Washington, D.C. offices.