Legal Intern

Job title: Legal Intern

Location: Washington, DC / Remote possible

Classification: Temporary, full-time, non-exempt

Due: Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. All applications submitted by the priority deadline of January 15 will receive full consideration.

Start date: Flexible between mid-May and early June

Overview of the position:

The Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth is hiring a Legal Intern for Summer 2026! Founded in 2009, the CFSY works to ban juvenile life without parole in the United States, and create opportunities for those directly impacted by extreme sentencing to thrive and lead. The Legal Intern’s work will span across the work of the Legal and Policy department, including legal research, policy change advocacy, and implementation of new laws and court cases.

The Summer 2026 Internship will be remote or hybrid.

The intern reports to the Research and Implementation Counsel and works within the Legal/Policy Department. 

Primary Responsibilities:

The Legal Intern’s work will vary based on evolving legislative advocacy and litigation support needs. The individual’s work may include:

• Researching and drafting legal memos analyzing recent court cases and laws relating to extreme sentences and parole and review eligibility for youth
• Researching and writing legal memos analyzing future avenues for legislative and administrative law reform 
• Aiding in drafting  and maintaining technical assistance resources for state-based litigators
• Aiding in drafting and maintaining advocacy resources for legislative reform
• Aiding in drafting external publications about the extreme sentencing of youth
• Support tracking outcomes of resentencings and parole hearings for youth

Qualifications:

• Current JD student at or recent graduate of an ABA accredited law school;

• • Organized, detail-oriented and able to multitask
  • Demonstrated organizational and computer literacy (Google Apps, Microsoft Office);
  • Experience with legal research (LexisNexis, Westlaw, etc.)
  • Experience and comfort researching pending legislation, state statutes, legislative codes, and case law

• Demonstrated ability to engage and work effectively with a diverse group of partners and stakeholders
• Demonstrated ability to effectively manage and support complex projects and tasks, with multiple stakeholders, goals, timelines and deadlines
• Demonstrated ability to work independently to advance a project while also regularly bringing questions and updates to a supervisor
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills

Values and Traits:

• Strong interest in criminal legal reform, particularly ending harsh youth sentencing practices, racial discrimination, and human rights abuses in the United States;
• Belief that our society has failed the children impacted by life without parole and other extreme sentences, and that we all have a responsibility to create avenues for their restoration and that of our entire community;
• Belief in the inherent good, dignity, and humanity of all people regardless of race, sex, sexual orientation, gender expression, class, education level, zip code and more; and belief that every one of us is more than the worst things we’ve done or experienced;
• Flexible and willing and able to adapt to the evolving nature of CFSY’s work;
• Constructive and optimistic; confronts problems with the expectation that a solution exists; and
• Prioritizes self-care.

Location and Travel

The CFSY’s headquarters are in Washington, DC, with many staff working remotely throughout the country. The Legal Intern can work remotely or from the CFSY office in Washington. Temporary employees are asked to provide their own computer. However, this should not be a barrier to employment and accommodations can be made. All business related travel will be paid for by the CFSY in accordance with our travel policy.

Physical Environment and Equipment

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to: stand, sit, talk, hear, and use hands and fingers to operate a computer and telephone;
• Specific vision abilities include close vision requirements due to computer work;
• Ability to effectively use a telephone, including mobile phone; computer (with Microsoft and Google applications); keyboard; and video conferencing.

Compensation, Benefits, and Culture:

The hourly wage for this position is $17.50 depending on experience. This position is temporary, part‐time, and non-exempt; the Intern will work up to 40 hours/week for up to 10 weeks.

The CFSY believes in and actively practices meaningful connection to individuals directly impacted by extreme prison sentences. We work in deep partnership with people currently in prison, those who have been released, and their family and social networks. All staff at 

the CFSY, regardless of role and position, engage in this connection and are regularly proximate to those directly impacted by the work we do. 

To Apply:

Email a letter of interest, resume, and two references (contact information only, recommendation letters are not necessary) in one PDF file to [email protected]. Use “Legal Intern – Last Name” as the subject of your email and as the file name for your PDF, and include your availability in the email. For tax purposes, please list the address you will be working from for the duration of the internship on your resume. Only complete applications sending all application materials in one PDF file will be reviewed.

The CFSY is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and is an equal opportunity employer. People of color, people with disabilities, members of the LGBTQIA+ community, and those with lived-experience with the criminal legal system are strongly encouraged to apply for this role. 

If you don’t meet every qualification listed but are excited about our mission and the work described, we encourage you to apply.  CFSY is most interested in finding the best candidate for the job, and you may be just the right person for this or other roles.