Research Internship, Ethics, Rule of Law, and Accountability, Governance Studies
Location: Washington, DC
Salary: $17.50 per hour
Closing Date: June 23, 2024
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 12 weeks 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 junior or senior year and graduate students with an interest in US governance and rule of law to apply principles and theory learned in the classroom in a professional environment. This internship pays an hourly rate of $17.50, and applicants must be willing to commit to a minimum number of hours per week (no less than 32 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 position is open to hybrid and/or remote applicants. Hybrid work combines regular in-person presence at our Washington, DC, office with the option of remote work. Remote work applicants may not work from the following states: Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Michigan, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Washington.
Vaccine Policy: Brookings requires all staff to submit proof of complete vaccination against COVID-19 to be in Brookings buildings.
Individuals 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. Brookings policies on masks and other pandemic mitigation measures will continue to be informed by DC and CDC guidelines.
Responsibilities
Students will have the opportunity to sharpen a variety of research and analysis skills, such as literature reviews, legal and political research, policy memos, fact sheets, writing and editing, citations, and fact-checking (90%); communications skills, including social media assistance and event planning (5%); and project coordination and administrative skills (5%). The topic areas may include, but are not limited to:
- Legal and political accountability for attacks—past, present, and future—on democracy
- Rule of law, liberalism, and democracy, with particular reference to reconstruction of damage to American democracy and governance; and
- Open government, government ethics, impacts of artificial intelligence on US democracy, and anti-corruption
Qualifications
Education/Knowledge/Skills:
Undergraduate students (who have begun junior year) and recent college graduates studying history, political science, public policy, pre-law, philosophy, and related fields are encouraged to apply. (Note: students in their sophomore year or below, graduate students, and candidates with advanced degrees will not be considered.) Interns should be interested in and comfortable with working on a wide variety of subjects.
Preferred qualifications:
- A demonstrated interest in the legal system, politics, and/or history. Additional interest in government ethics is a plus.
- Strong research, writing, and analysis skills.
- Experience with fact-checking and citations.
- Familiarity with legal materials and with primary and secondary source research.
Additional Information:
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.
Please note: Applications will be accepted until June 23, 2024. 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.
