Intern with Lawfare!

Lawfare is now accepting fall internship applications. For more information, check the Brookings internship announcement and apply here.

Overview:

This academic focused fall internship, beginning September 2016, 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.

Responsibilities:

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: Interns will work with the Associate Editor to monitor national security and foreign policy developments, and 3-4 times per week, co-write “Today’s Headlines and Commentary.” Interns will work with the Associate Editor to co-write “The Week that Will Be,” a weekly feature that outlines upcoming events, academic announcements, and employment announcements. They will work with the Associate Editor to co-write a regular deep-dive analytical piece on a relevant national security law and policy issue. The intern will be the sole-author “The Week that Was,” a weekly piece that provides a guide to the week’s Lawfare content.
• Research: Interns will provide research support to the Lawfare editorial team as needed. Current projects include a book manuscript on the future of surveillance policy and its implications for security and a paper on technology and privacy. Interns will 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: Interns will tag and categorize Lawfare posts, track relevant Congressional hearings, and track and add relevant events to the Events Calendar.

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 throughout the Institution.

Qualifications:

Education/Knowledge/Skills

Graduate or undergraduate student (who has 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.

Additional Information:

Brookings requires that all applicants submit a cover letter and resume. Please attach your cover letter and resume as one document when you apply. Your cover letter should highlight your educational experience and skills, along with an explanation of how this internship will contribute to your professional goals.

Successful completion of a background investigation is required for employment at Brookings.

Brookings is an equal-opportunity employer that is committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive workplace. 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.