Policy Intern - Summer 2026

The CCE internship program provides a unique opportunity for graduate or law students to contribute directly and tangibly to District-wide justice reform. Ideal candidates will be passionate about systemic change within the justice system, access to justice, and policymaking, and must have outstanding research, analysis, and writing skills.  

General Responsibilities  

Interns at the Council for Court Excellence will participate in hands-on justice reform efforts that directly impact the DC community. The bulk of an intern’s work will be conducting legal and policy research, analysis, and writing; providing project support; and engaging in community relations. Specifically, interns can expect to:

• Conduct primary and secondary research into the DC justice system, including its local and federal elements and the policies, practices, and problems of its associated agencies
• Draft legislation, agency policies, and other public-facing documents pertaining to topics such as the jury system, civil case processing, criminal and juvenile justice, and others
• Create educational guides and programs to increase community understanding of the civil, criminal, and juvenile justice systems and to improve outcomes
• Provide substantive and logistical assistance to the various project committees— including the Civil Justice, Criminal Justice, and Youth Justice Committees, as well as the District Task Force on Jails & Justice—through attending meetings, researching project leads, and compiling and analyzing qualitative data
• Assist with project committee’s report release events and other special events as needed.  

Qualifications

Graduate and law students are eligible for the Policy Internship (undergraduates are encouraged to apply to our Justice Education Internship). Applicants should have a background in policy or legal research and an interest in one or more of the following areas: public policy, law, courts (civil, criminal, and administrative), civic engagement, government, journalism, public relations, or resource development.  Applicants must be eligible to work in the United States.  

For students who are not receiving course credit or other funding for their internship, CCE will provide interns with a stipend of up to $5000 depending on hours worked. CCE also covers public transportation costs to and from required meetings or events.  

Availability  

CCE offers hybrid work opportunities (at our office located in downtown Washington, DC, in a location of your choice, or some combination); we often host events in the office or in DC, so we prefer locally based interns. We offer three internship sessions that align with the academic calendar: Spring (from January to May), Summer (from June to August), and Fall (from September to December). Interns must be able to work 15 to 20 hours a week or more and we will work with each candidate to find a schedule that works based on their classes and other obligations. For best placement results, please apply before the closing deadline listed below for each semester.

Application Procedure and Deadline

Prospective interns should submit one PDF document under the "resume" field containing all of the following: a cover letter indicating interest and your dates and hours per week of availability, a résumé, and a brief writing sample on any topic (no more than three pages). If you need to create or combine PDFs, please use the website ILovePDF.com. 

Application deadlines:

• Summer – April 1
• Fall – August 1
• Spring – November 1 

Additional Information

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.