Intern with Lawfare!

Lawfare is now accepting intern applications for spring 2016. For more information or to find out how to apply, see the job posting below.

Spring 2016 Internship

(with Academic Credit or External Sponsorship)

Focused on Research

National Security - Lawfare

Governance Studies, The Brookings Institution

Internship Summary

This academic focused internship is an opportunity for undergraduate students in their junior or senior year or graduate students with an interest in national security to apply principles and theory learned in the classroom in a professional environment. This intern will assist with running and maintaining Lawfare, a website devoted to serious, non-ideological discussion of national security legal and policy issues.

Lawfare has emerged as the internet’s indispensable resource for information and analysis on the law of national security. Devoted to “Hard National Security Choices,” the site features top-quality writing and analysis from experts on developing stories in the national security arena, relevant legislation, and judicial opinions. It is a digital magazine that includes a podcast, a book review, research tools, a daily news roundup, an events calendar, and exhaustive coverage of events other media touch only glancingly.

This unpaid internship provides a pre-professional learning experience that offers meaningful, practical work experience related to the student’s field of study or career interest. It will provide an opportunity for career exploration and development as well as a chance to learn new skills.

Learning Objectives

Students will have an opportunity learn a variety of research skills such as writing, research and blog maintenance. Learning will fall into three main categories:

Writing:

• Work with Associate Editor to monitor national security and foreign policy developments, and 3-4 times per week, co-write “Today’s Headlines and Commentary.”
• Work with Associate Editor to co-write “The Week that Will Be,” a weekly feature that outlines upcoming events, academic announcements, and employment announcements.
• Work with the Associate Editor to co-write a regular deep-dive analytical piece on a relevant national security law and policy issue.
• Sole-author “The Week that Was,” a weekly piece that provides a guide to the week’s Lawfare content.

Research:

• Provide research support to the Lawfare editorial team as needed. Current projects include research on data and technology proliferation and their implications for security and a paper on technology and privacy.
• Work to develop the Lawfare Wiki by taking a deep research dive into one or two areas of national security law. The intern will identify key primary source materials, summarize relevant documents, and create and develop the topic page on Lawfare.

Maintaining the blog:

• Tag and categorize all Lawfare posts
• Track relevant Congressional hearings
• Track and add relevant events to the Events Calendar

In addition to providing support to the scholars directly, interns will have the opportunity to attend internal meetings, local think tank events, professional development workshops, and public Brookings events as well as participate on Brookings sports teams and network with other interns and staff throughout the Institution.

Education/Knowledge/Skills

Graduate or undergraduate students (who have completed their sophomore year) working towards a degree in government, political science, international relations, and law are encouraged to apply. Our most successful interns have very strong writing, analytical, and research skills, as well as excellent verbal and organizational skills---preferably demonstrated through prior independent research or previous experience as a research assistant.

Application Procedure

Applications will be considered on a rolling basis until the position is filled. To be considered, applicants must be authorized to work in the United States.

Applicants should send all materials to cpoplin@brookings.edu, providing the following documents:

1. A cover letter highlighting your educational experience and skills, along with an explanation of how this internship will contribute to your professional goals; and

2. A resume along with college transcripts and contact information for three academic or professional references. Unofficial transcripts and letters of recommendation rather than references are acceptable.

EEO Statement

Applications will be considered on a rolling basis until the opportunity is filled. We welcome applications from all qualified individuals regardless of race, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, religion, physical or mental disability, marital status, veteran status, or other factors protected by law.

Successful completion of a background investigation is required.