Foundation for Individual Rights Education (FIRE) offers a ten-week, paid Summer Internship as part of our efforts to educate students about their rights at colleges and universities. This internship gives current undergraduates the opportunity to assist FIRE in defending civil liberties on campuses across the country.
FIRE interns do substantive work and participate in weekly seminars with FIRE staff and other experts on freedom of expression, due process, and much more.
Interns will work at FIRE’s downtown Philadelphia office. The 2018 program will run from June 4–August 10 and interns will receive a stipend of $3,500.
The internship application process will close on March 11, 2018 at 11:59 pm (ET).
Eligibility:
FIRE is looking for intelligent and energetic undergraduates (rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors) attending colleges or universities in the United States who are interested in FIRE’s mission and work, and are looking to engage in free speech activism on campus.
Ideal candidates are responsible, focused, organized, have a passion for civil liberties, and have a history of taking action in support of causes they believe in.
All interns are expected to demonstrate excellent research, writing, and communication skills. The ability to work under pressure and a sense of humor are also important.
Responsibilities:
- Work closely with our campus outreach, defense, policy reform, litigation, legislation, development, and media teams to assist with research and administrative projects. Interns complete research projects and help staff members with writing, case work, fundraising, public relations, and administrative duties.
- Attend and assist with the annual FIRE Student Network Summer Conference. The FIRE interns will also lead an hour-long session for conference attendees.
- Contribute to FIRE’s Newsdesk.
- Learn the foundational arguments for protecting core rights in our free society through reading and discussion in weekly seminars with FIRE’s staff and other experts on civil liberties.
- Develop activism plans for ensuring open discourse on campus.
Application Procedures:
The summer 2018 internship application process opens on October 9, 2017 and closes on March 11, 2018 at 11:59 pm (ET). All prospective interns will be informed of their application status within four weeks of the deadline. FIRE considers applications for internships on a rolling basis.
Applicants should submit a cover letter, resume, and writing sample. The sample should be a piece of original writing (or an excerpt) no longer than five pages. Many applicants submit essays that they have written for class, or articles they have published in the school paper.
While the style and substance of the writing sample is your choice, please consider the type of writing published by FIRE in making your selection. If you do not have an appropriate writing sample, we encourage you to write about your interest in our mission.
Apply here.
Contact:
Email: internship@thefire.org.
