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.

The Biggest Class | First Liberty

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 have the opportunity to 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

Legal interns are expected to adapt to a dynamic, fast-paced working environment, to show initiative and creativity in tackling out-of-the-box research questions, and to 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.

View More

Summer Legal Internships

First Liberty offers a limited number of paid summer internship positions each year. Positions are open to law students of any academic year. The summer internship term generally ranges from late May to mid-August, although schedules are individually flexible and can accommodate both full and split summers. In person, full-time summer internships are preferred, although remote and/or part-time internship requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

For Summer 2021, First Liberty begins accepting applications from 2Ls and 3Ls on September 1st, 2020. 1Ls may begin applying on November 1st, 2020, 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 to legalinternships@firstliberty.org.

Application Packet

Cover letter specifying dates of availability;
Resume;
Law school transcript (1Ls may supplement an initial application with a transcript upon receipt of first semester grades);
2 legal writing samples not exceeding 15 pages each (10 pages or less preferred).

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.

View Less

Marketing and Communications 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

Fellowship Programs

First Liberty Fellowship

First Liberty Fellowship is an exclusive leadership program equipping rising leaders to advocate for religious freedom.

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

As a fellow, you will complete an eye-opening reading list and take-away guide prior to an all-expenses paid, action-packed week in Washington, D.C.

Learn More and Apply Now

James Wilson Fellowship

First Liberty and the James Wilson Institute are co-sponsors of the 7th annual James Wilson Fellowship, which will be held in our nation’s capital in August 2020.

Fifteen highly accomplished young lawyers and law students will spend a week studying the first principles of moral and legal judgment from the perspective of natural law. They will learn the real-life applications of those principles on our body of law, including how those principles can be used in the defense of religious liberty.

At First Liberty, we believe the JWI Fellowship is a crucial and necessary investment in the future of America.

Learn More and Apply Now