[Fall 2026] Legal Internship

About the role

The Whitney’s Fall internship program is a full-time, paid, nine-week session primarily for undergraduate students. For Fall 2026, interns commit between 16–21 hours per week over 10–12 weeks for a total of 176 hours. The program will begin on September 15, 2026, and end on December 5, 2026 (this may vary depending on schedule). Participants must be available Monday through Friday for nine consecutive weeks, five days per week. Interns are assigned to a specific department at the Museum for the duration of the internship.

Responsibilities

• Assist with drafting and reviewing contracts, including artist agreements, loan agreements, licensing agreements, vendor contracts, and exhibition-related contracts
• Conduct legal research on intellectual property issues such as copyright, trademark, and right of publicity
• Support compliance efforts by reviewing and updating Museum policies and procedures
• Aid in drafting and reviewing policies related to gift acceptance, deaccessioning, data privacy, and employment
• Prepare legal memoranda, research summaries, and other written materials under supervision

Qualifications

• Currently enrolled in an accredited J.D. program (1L, 2L, or 3L)
• Prefers second- or third-year law students
• Demonstrated interest in art law, nonprofit law, or related fields preferred
• Coursework or experience in intellectual property, contracts, nonprofit law, employment law, or arts administration preferred
• Interest in visual arts, art history, or museums desirable
• Prior legal internship or research experience is a plus
• Strong legal research and writing skills
• Familiarity with legal research tools (Westlaw, LexisNexis, or similar)
• Excellent attention to detail and organizational skills
• Ability to manage multiple assignments in a fast-paced environment
• Strong interpersonal and professional communication skills
• Ability to handle confidential and sensitive information with discretion

Skills

• Strong legal research and writing skills
• Familiarity with legal research tools (Westlaw, LexisNexis, or similar)
• Excellent attention to detail and organizational skills
• Ability to manage multiple assignments in a fast-paced environment
• Strong interpersonal and professional communication skills
• Ability to handle confidential and sensitive information with discretion

Benefits

Interns will be paid a stipend of $3000. Generous support for Ostrover Family Academic Year Interns is provided by Julie and Doug Ostrover.

Pay

$3000 stipend

Schedule

Full-time, paid, nine-week session primarily for undergraduate students. The internship is hybrid, with some onsite work.