Intern with Lawfare!

Lawfare is now accepting summer 2022 internship applications through the Brookings Institution. The internship will be conducted remotely. Apply here.

Overview

Thinking about a career in public policy? Committed to improving the world we live in? Think Brookings - one of the most influential, most quoted and most trusted think tanks! 

Interns spend approximately 10 weeks remotely working alongside leading experts in government and academia from all over the world. Brookings also offers students the opportunity to intern in departments such as communications, human resources and central operations management. The mission of the Internship Program is to provide students with a pre-professional learning experience that offers meaningful, practical work experience related to their field of study or career interest. Students engage in career exploration and development as well as learn new skills. 

Interns will have the opportunity to attend virtual meetings, think tank events, professional development workshops, and public Brookings events. In addition, interns will have the opportunity to network with other interns throughout the Institution.

This internship is an opportunity for undergraduate students in their sophomore, junior or senior year and graduate students with an interest in government, political science, international relations, and law to apply principles and theory learned in the classroom in a professional environment. 

This internship is sponsored by the Lawfare Institute, who will provide the selected intern with $16.50 per hour. Applicants must be willing to commit to a minimum number of hours per week (no less than 30 hours per week, during regular business hours), with some flexibility around an academic course schedule.

To learn more about Brookings research programs, click here. 

Position Location: This is a remote only opportunity. This internship requires you to be located in the U.S. for the duration of the internship. Work location cannot be in any of the following states: Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Michigan, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Washington. Please only apply if you can live and work in states other than those listed above for the duration of the internship. State locations and specifics are subject to change as our hiring requirements shift.

Vaccine Policy: Brookings has made the safety of our staff and our surrounding community a top priority. As part of that commitment, Brookings staff are required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 if they are present on the Brookings campus and Brookings requires all staff and visitors to submit proof of complete vaccination against COVID-19 to be in Brookings buildings. 

As a visitor and/or a new employee at Brookings, you will be required to comply with the vaccination policy if you will be present on the Brookings campus. Individuals invited for an in-person job interview or hired as an employee that (i) have a qualifying medical condition that contraindicates a COVID-19 vaccination, or (ii) who object to being vaccinated based on a sincerely held religious belief, may request a reasonable accommodation. 

Responsibilities

Learning Objectives

Lawfare has emerged as the indispensable internet 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 top-quality writing and analysis from experts on developing stories in the national security arena, relevant legislation, and judicial opinions. It is a digital magazine that includes podcasts, book reviews, research tools, a daily news roundup, an events calendar, and exhaustive coverage of events other media touch only glancingly.

The intern will assist with running and maintaining the Lawfare website—devoted to serious, non-ideological discussion of national security legal and policy issues—and will have an opportunity to learn a variety of research skills such as writing, research and blog maintenance. Learning will fall into three main categories:

Writing: Work with Associate Editors to monitor national security and foreign policy developments, and 4-5 times per week, co-write “Today’s Headlines and Commentary;” work with Associate Editors to write “The Week that Will Be,” a weekly feature that outlines upcoming events, academic announcements, and employment announcements; work with the Associate Editors to co-write a deep-dive analytical piece on a relevant national security law and policy issue; and sole-author “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 blog: Tag and categorize Lawfare posts; track relevant Congressional hearings; track and add relevant events to the Events Calendar; assist Associate Editors with the Lawfare Podcast, Lawfare Live, and other programs.

Qualifications

Education/Knowledge/Skills:

Undergraduate students in their sophomore, junior, or senior year and graduate students working towards a degree in government, political science, international relations, law, and related fields are encouraged to apply.

Our most successful interns have very 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.

Additional Information:

This is a remote only opportunity. This internship requires you to be located in the U.S. for the duration of the internship.

Successful completion of a background investigation is required for interning at Brookings.

Brookings requires that all applicants submit a cover letter and resume. Please submit your resume as instructed and add your cover letter as an attachment when you apply. You are required to submit/attach a separate cover letter for each internship application. Your cover letter should highlight your educational experience and skills, along with an explanation of how this internship will contribute to your professional goals. Please address your cover letter to Hiring Manager. 

If selected as a finalist for the internship, you will be required to submit two letters of recommendation or provide two professional references. 

Applications will be accepted until February 27, 2022. Applications not completed and submitted by the application deadline date will not be considered. Your application is considered complete when you receive an email confirming that your application was successfully submitted.

As you are applying, please be sure to click here to learn more about the Brookings Internship Program, deadlines, and directions on how to successfully submit your internship application(s). 

Brookings welcomes and celebrates diversity in all its forms. We welcome applications that reflect a variety of backgrounds based on ideology, race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, veteran status, first generation college goers, and other factors protected by law. Brookings is proud to be an equal-opportunity employer that is committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive workplace.