Summer 2021 Legal Internship with Lawfare Program (Remote)
Internship Opportunities
The Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD) is a nonpartisan policy institute dedicated exclusively to promoting pluralism, defending democratic values, and fighting the ideologies that threaten democracy. The organization was founded shortly after 9/11 by a group of visionary philanthropists and policymakers to engage in the worldwide war of ideas and to support the defense of democratic societies under assault by terrorism and militant Islamism. FDD combines policy research, investigative journalism, strategic communications, and democracy and counterterrorism education.
About FDD's Internship Program
Based in downtown Washington, D.C., the Foundation for Defense of Democracies has a number of internship opportunities available. All FDD interns will have the opportunity to participate in a twice-monthly speaker series, which brings high-level DC officials and senior staff members to engage with interns in an intimate setting. FDD interns will be encouraged to build on their academic skills by working closely with senior staff. FDD is also happy to assist students who wish to earn academic credit for this internship. All internships are unpaid.
Applications will be considered on a rolling basis. It is recommended that interested candidates submit applications early.
Legal Internship with Lawfare Program
The Lawfare Program is seeking full-time and part-time interns. Interns will work closely with FDD Senior Fellow Orde Kittrie, and other members of the FDD team, on projects at the intersection of law and U.S. foreign policy/national security. Recent projects have focused on the International Criminal Court investigations of the U.S. and Israel, the use of human shields by terrorist groups, China’s use of lawfare, the law of international organizations, the law of armed conflict, the laws governing the acquisition and use of weapons of mass destruction, and the use of law as a weapon against Iran and other U.S. adversaries.
Applicants must be law students or law school graduates with a demonstrated record of excellence, including research experience, strong writing capabilities, and a keen attention to accuracy. Applicants must be eligible to work in the United States. Applicants will preferably have taken at least one course in international law, international transactions law, or national security law.
Preference will be given to applicants who are able to work at least 20 hours per week for a period of one month or longer. For the time being, all work will be done remotely. All internships are unpaid.
Application Materials Required
- Resume/CV
- Cover letter (please review the above list of past projects and include which resonate with you and why)
- Two writing samples (preferably one legal document and one writing sample on a political science/history/policy type topic)
- Unofficial copy of law school transcript
Eligibility
- Must have at least a 3.2 GPA (on a 4.0 scale).
- Should have a relevant course of study and have completed coursework in any of the following fields: International Relations, Security Studies, History, Communications, Journalism, International Economics or Political Science.
- Interns should have knowledge of Microsoft Office programs, including Word, as well as basic Excel skills.
- Must be able to commit to a minimum of 22 hours per week.
- Must be eligible to work in the United States.
Please indicate in your cover letter where you found this internship and your availability for the semester. If you are interested in multiple positions, you may use the same cover letter for each but submit separate applications.
Incomplete applications will not be considered.