Fall 2026 Legal Clerkship

Overview

FIRE offers a 15-week, course-credited, in-semester Legal Clerkship for law students looking for hands-on experience working for a dynamic, nonpartisan, civil liberties organization. Clerks work with FIRE attorneys part-time during the academic year conducting legal research in emerging areas of law; developing arguments for active cases; preparing various litigation documents for active cases; reviewing university policies and legislative proposals; and much more.

Our Legal Clerks Will Work With

• Litigation: Assist litigators working up new cases and litigating existing lawsuits defending the freedom of speech, primarily through legal research, writing, and strategy discussions. Gain practical knowledge of federal litigation, learn more about public-interest litigation specifically, and deepen understanding of substantive First Amendment law.
• Campus Rights Advocacy: Assist the department’s non-litigation advocacy efforts in defending free speech and due process on college and university campuses. Responsibilities include investigating potential violations of expressive rights and due process, conducting legal research, reviewing advocacy letters, and drafting public-facing commentary on topical free speech issues. Expect some administrative responsibilities and opportunities to deepen understanding of substantive First Amendment law.
• Public Advocacy: Support the department’s non-litigation advocacy defending free speech off campus. Responsibilities include investigating potential violations of expressive rights, conducting legal research, reviewing advocacy letters, and drafting public-facing commentary on topical free speech issues.
• Policy Reform: Aid the Policy Reform team in improving the written regulations on student and faculty expression at colleges. Duties include drafting and editing policy analysis and recommendations for college administrators, researching emerging issues affecting regulations on expression, and providing input on best practices for building a better foundation for campus speech through a college’s policies and programs.
• Legislative & Policy: Lobby lawmakers to advance FIRE’s positions on policy issues related to free speech. Duties include legal research on public policy issues affecting expressive rights, drafting internal bill analyses and public commentary, and monitoring legislative developments.

Legal Clerks Have the Opportunity To Work In

• FIRE’s Philadelphia Office
• FIRE’s D.C. Office
• Remotely

Application Information

The 2026 fall-semester clerkship application will be open from April 20 to July 2. Applications will be received and awarded clerkships on a rolling basis.

Qualifications and Responsibilities

• To qualify for FIRE’s Legal Clerkship, candidates must:
• Be rising 2Ls and 3Ls with excellent academic credentials
• Have a passion for civil liberties and public interest litigation

Responsibilities

FIRE Legal Clerks are responsible for working with FIRE attorneys on several fronts: conducting legal research in emerging areas of law, developing arguments for active cases, preparing various litigation and advocacy documents for active cases, reviewing college and university policies and legislative proposals, and much more.

Who Can Apply

FIRE accepts applications from candidates across the United States.