Summer Legal Associate, Federal Policy and Advocacy

Job Title: Summer Legal Associate, Federal Policy and Advocacy

Department: U.S. Programs, Policy and Advocacy

Center Background: The Center for Reproductive Rights is a global human rights organization working to ensure that reproductive rights are protected in law as fundamental human rights worldwide. With offices in New York City, and Washington, D.C.; Nairobi, Kenya; Bogota, Colombia; and Geneva, Switzerland, the Center is a non-profit, non-partisan organization changing law and policy throughout Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, and the United States. Our 270+ diverse professionals are committed to advancing the Center's human rights mission through game-changing litigation, legal policy, and advocacy work. This has powered the Center's exceptional growth to an operating budget of over $60 million and won the respect of law firms in countries around the world. Our global pro bono network includes over 2,000 lawyers across 6 continents, 64 countries, and 130 law firms. Last year, law firms contributed over $30 million USD in pro bono legal services. The Center's Strategic Plan sets a high mark for impact: By 2030, half of the world's population will be living under stronger protections for reproductive rights than they were in 2020. The Center has a record of success to back up this ambitious goal. Since our founding in 1992, the Center has transformed how reproductive rights are understood and applied by courts, governments, and human rights bodies worldwide on issues including maternal health, abortion, assisted reproduction, and adolescent sexual and reproductive health and rights. We have won groundbreaking cases before national courts, U.N. Committees, and regional human rights bodies. The Center has also led development of historic, proactive legislation advancing robust protections for reproductive rights. It has built the legal capacity of women's rights advocates in more than 65 countries and counting. To learn more about the Center, please go to

The Role: The Center's Federal Policy and Advocacy Team is looking for an enthusiastic, resourceful, and highly organized Summer Legal Associate with a commitment to reproductive rights and human rights issues to engage in a variety of projects involving policy analysis and advocacy. This internship is based in Washington, D.C. and will focus on federal policy. Successful candidates will experience the day-to-day operations of a dynamic in-house policy team, including but not limited to legislative and administrative research and analysis, coalition advocacy, and translating legal and legislative language into persuasive policy documents. The internship is full-time for ten weeks during Summer 2026, with an expected commitment of 35 hours/week.

This position is based in Washington, D.C. in a hybrid model of 3 days working in the office and 2 days working from home.

Primary Responsibilities:

The scope of the internship will cover, but is not limited to:

• Analyzing relevant federal sexual and reproductive health legislation and regulations;
• Conducting legal research in connection with the Center's core federal policy issues;
• Monitoring and responding to legislative, regulatory, and other policy developments, including congressional hearings, appropriations bills, bill markups, federal rulemakings, relevant litigation, and other events;
• Conducting research and developing materials in support of federal administrative advocacy priorities; and
• Drafting of policy and advocacy materials, including bill analyses, fact sheets, and talking points, for use in lobbying activities and outreach.

Qualifications:

• Current law student who has completed at least one year of legal education
• Strong legal research and writing skills;
• Demonstrated interest in gender/women's issues, reproductive rights, health care law and policy, civil rights, or constitutional law preferred; and
• Previous public interest policy experience a plus

Don't meet every single requirement? At the Center, we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace, so if you are excited about this role but your past experience does not align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.

Compensation: Summer Legal Associates are highly encouraged to seek outside funding for their placement. The Center will supplement external funding to bring all Associates to our pay rate of $7,000 for the ten week program.

FLSA Exempt Status: Exempt

Union Status: Non-union

How to Apply: Please complete the application below to apply. A cover letter, resume, and writing sample of no more than 10 pages must be included in your application. Please include these application materials as attachments.

The Center does not charge a fee at any stage in the recruitment process (application, interviews, or selection). Nor does it request any medical examinations or bank account information as part of this process. If someone contacts, you on behalf of the Center requesting payment for your application please notify before taking any further action.

Our hiring processes and our work culture offer support and flexibility for staff with a variety of needs. Should you face an accessibility barrier in the application and interview process please let us know by contacting We will work with you to provide the accommodation that works best for you.

Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

The Center is committed to inclusive hiring and dedicated to diversity in our work and staff. We strongly encourage people from all communities to apply. If you are excited about this role but unsure about whether your experience aligns with the job description, we encourage you to apply. You may be the right candidate for this or other roles. To learn more about the Center's commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, please visit Diversity, Equity and Inclusion | Center for Reproductive Rights.

Deadline for applications: Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled. Applicants are strongly encouraged to apply as soon as possible.

Center policy on visa sponsorship for US based positions: Applicants for employment in the US must have valid work authorization that does not now and/or will not in the future require sponsorship of a visa for employment authorization in the US by The Center for Reproductive Rights.