Internship & Fellowship Programs

Interning at First Liberty

Whether you’re an aspiring lawyer or dynamic marketing communications professional, First Liberty’s internships offer real-world experience and the opportunity to impact the mission of protecting our First Amendment religious liberty rights. We are currently accepting applications for internship positions within our legal and marketing/communications groups, based in our Plano, Texas (Dallas area) office.

Qualified interns will have excelled at related college coursework and applied their skills through paid or unpaid positions and other leadership roles. Candidates should be comfortable working in a fast-paced team environment. By the end of the internship, interns will have broad exposure to in various aspects of marketing and communications for advancing the cause of religious liberty with donors, attorneys, and the public.

We can also work with your university to arrange for college credit. If you are interested in any of First Liberty’s internships, please submit your resume and work samples to lross@FirstLiberty.org.

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Internships

Legal Internship Program

Legal interns directly assist First Liberty attorneys on religious liberty cases at every stage of litigation. As a result, legal interns will gain experience supporting active cases and administrative proceedings. Projects may include:

  • Research memoranda on a wide variety of constitutional and statutory questions
  • Drafting briefs, motions, or other court filings
  • Drafting opinion editorial pieces
  • Evaluating prospective cases
  • Analyzing newly issued Supreme Court decisions and upcoming Supreme Court cases

In addition, summer legal interns will participate in “Lunch and Learn” sessions where they will learn professional and legal expertise from world-class experts in the field of religious liberty.

Legal interns are expected to adapt to a dynamic, fast-paced working environment, show initiative and creativity in tackling out-of-the-box research questions, and work well within a team. Ideal applicants demonstrate strong legal research and writing skills, attention to detail, and dedication to First Liberty’s mission of defending religious liberty for all.

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Summer Legal Internships

Legal Intern Recruiting for Summer 2024 is now open.

First Liberty offers a limited number of paid summer internship positions each year. Positions are open to law students of any academic year.

For Summer 2024, First Liberty begins accepting applications from 2Ls and 3Ls on September 1st, 2023. 1Ls may begin applying on November 1st, 2023, but 1L hiring decisions will be withheld pending receipt of first-semester transcripts. Hiring decisions are made on a rolling basis.

To apply, submit an application packet with the materials listed below in PDF format to legalinternships@firstliberty.org.

Application Packet

  • Cover letter;
  • Resume;
  • Law school transcript (unofficial accepted) (1Ls may supplement an initial application with a transcript upon receipt of first semester grades)
  • Two legal writing samples addressing different subjects and not exceeding 15 pages each.

Externships and Semester Internships

First Liberty considers applications for externships or non-summer internships on an individual basis. Externships and non-summer internships may be completed remotely or in person. To apply, submit a complete application packet (see above).

Additionally, externship application cover letters must include a brief description of the externship program, including:

  • the externship program’s requirements (including approximate hours per week);
  • contact information for the law school’s externship program director, if any;
  • a link to the law school’s externship program webpage, if any; and
  • any school-required forms.

Student Pro Bono Opportunities

First Liberty considers requests for law student pro bono projects on a case-by-case basis. Pro bono projects may be completed remotely or in person. To apply for a pro bono project, send a resume, writing sample, a description of your availability (date range and hours per week), and any hours goal or school pro bono program requirements to legalinternships@firstliberty.org.

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Marketing Internship Program

First Liberty is looking for qualified interns to join our marketing team for assignments during the summers and breaks, as well as the potential for ongoing assignments, in these areas of specialization.

  • Writing for a variety of online and offline channels
  • Creative Services, including graphic design, video/multimedia, and web
  • Social Media across a broad variety of platforms
  • Marketing Communications, including marketing planning, project management, research, and special project assignments
  • Public Relations, including media relations, journalistic writing, and special projects

To apply, please submit a resume and two writing samples or art work to lross@firstliberty.org.


Communications Internship Program

First Liberty Institute’s Communications Department seeks a dynamic, self-starter to assist media relations and communications efforts. This internship is an excellent opportunity to experience various aspects of public relations while working in a hands-on environment. The FLI Communications Internship is a professional skills internship to assist the Communications Department in implementing organizational communication and messaging – both to internal and external constituents. The Communications Intern will work independently, as well as on a team to fulfill organizational goals and tasks.

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Qualifications:

  • Working toward a college degree in a related field (i.e., English, Marketing/Communications, Advertising or Public Relations)
  • Computer literate (working knowledge of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.)
  • Possess excellent written and oral communication and interpersonal skills
  • Genuine enthusiasm for corresponding and communicating with internal staff and external constituents
  • Understands the mission and vision of First Liberty Institute and is able to represent organizational characteristics during correspondence with members of the media
  • Motivated, good time management, creative, with ability to communicate in a professional manner
  • Able to work well independently and within a team
  • Committed to continuous growth and improvement in practical, professional skills

Tasks:

  • Assist in Scheduling and Coordinating Attorney Media Interviews
  • Create searches for tracking cases and FLI digital mentions
  • Document and screen-record TV Interviews for Archives
  • Save screenshots of TV interviews for Fiscal-Year Board Report
  • Communicate with reporters and learn how to navigate media relations on a variety of levels
  • Track and Document Print, Radio, and TV Interviews + Op-eds & Press Releases in Media Tracking (SharePoint)
  • Attend Legal Meetings and Headlines Meetings
  • Shadow Peyton and Chris for special projects and debriefs

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To apply, please submit a resume and two writing samples or art work to lross@firstliberty.org.

CRCD Programs

Center for Religion, Culture & Democracy Programs

First Liberty Institute offers a variety of educational programs through our recent initiative, the Center for Religion, Culture & Democracy. These programs include Fellowships and Seminars designed to equip rising leaders to advocate for religious freedom.

The CRCD is a project of First Liberty Institute, the nation’s largest legal organization dedicated solely to defending religious liberty for all Americans.

The mission behind the CRCD is to support the creation and promotion of high quality scholarship at the intersection of religion, culture, and democracy. Our publications, programming, and resources affirm the importance of religion as a public good for strengthening social bonds and reinforcing foundational freedoms.

These educational opportunities for undergraduate, graduate and recent graduate students give you access to exclusive all-expense paid educational trips, eye-opening courses and a network of like-minded alumni.

Learn More and Apply Now

The Shaftesbury Fellowship | CRCD

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