Legal Intern

Legal Intern
Job Summary
The Legal Intern role is an integral part of the Legal team, obtaining exposure to, and supporting, the many facets of legal and policy work performed by the team. The intern will gain valuable experience in the field of education and contribute to the success of KIPP DC's mission. This is a summer intern role that runs for 9 weeks (June 1, July 31, 2026), based on KIPP DC campuses with an anticipated start date of June 1st, 2026.

About KIPP DC
For 25 years, KIPP DC has partnered with students, families, and the community to create joyful, academically excellent schools across the nation's capital. Today, our network of 22 schools educate more than 7,500 students in grades PreK3-12, supported by 1,500 dedicated teachers, leaders, and staff.

Our work is grounded in five pillars–Academic Excellence, Joy & Sense of Belonging, Highly Effective Teachers and Leaders, Safe, Structured, and Nurturing Learning Environments, and Commitment to College Readiness–which ensure every student is equipped with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to pursue success in college, careers, and beyond. Our schools combine high expectations with joyful, affirming environments that nurture academic success and personal growth for students and staff alike.

As part of the national KIPP network, we share best practices and innovations while maintaining deep roots in Washington, D.C. Together, we strive toward a future without limits for our students, alumni, and community.

About The Team
The Legal Team works proactively to advance KIPP DC's legal interests and mission by offering clear, timely, and actionable legal advice on all aspects of KIPP DC's organization. As such, this team has a unique lens and influence on all elements of KIPP DC's work. The team advises on areas of legal compliance, stays abreast of changes in the law, drafts policies and training to advance compliance, and ensures KIPP DC receives strong representation in legal proceedings. Our areas of work are as vast as the education industry itself, including compliance, contracts, corporate governance, employment law, risk mitigation, special education, and real estate. We uphold the principles of equity, inclusion, transparency and fairness in all aspects of our work and engagement as a team.

About The Role
Legal Interns gain exposure to, and have the opportunity to assist with, a broad variety of projects including Title IX, employment, corporate governance, real estate, and education policy. This is a Non-Exempt position and will report to the Deputy General Counsel.

Location and Type of Work
As a headquarters team that is focused on being responsive to our schools and meeting the needs of our students and families, we approach our work in a way that reflects these priorities. This position will generally work independently and not regularly interface with students, families, or school teams. This position will primarily work from our headquarters office to maintain a connection to their colleagues and foster a sense of cross-functional collaboration. Because of the nature of this position's work, this will allow for hybrid flexibility. This role will have approximately 50% flexibility to work remotely. (3 days a week, minimum.)

Responsibilities
Performing Legal Research: 50%

• Summarizing developments in the law
• Drafting legal memoranda on questions of law
• Presenting findings to team members

For example, examining the ramifications of Supreme Court decisions on KIPP DC's labor and wage policies, exploring the impact of marijuana convictions on an individual's eligibility to volunteer, and examining employees' religious exemptions to COVID-19 vaccines.

Drafting Policies: 20%

• Reviewing existing policies
• Drafting or editing existing policies

For example, contributing to a draft of a transgender and gender non-conforming student policy, and helped establish policies for record retention and document destruction.

Supporting team delivery of professional development: 20%

• Working with the team to identify key training needs
• Drafting and editing training materials

Supporting legal team functions: 10%

• Supporting team with day-to-day needs, such as records management, data collection, drafting or updating operating procedures, and reviewing vendor Certificates of Insurance (COI).

Requirements & Preferences

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree
• Current enrollment in a J.D. program.
• Outstanding organizational skills and attention to detail
• Flexibility, tenacity, ability to produce high-quality work, resourcefulness, and willingness to work well with a team
• Strong writing, communication, and legal research skills
• Willingness and desire to learn
• Familiarity with Microsoft Office (Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Excel)

Preferred Qualifications

• Familiarity with Google Workspace
• K-12 education or non-profit experience

Physical Requirements

• Ability to travel to KIPP DC schools and headquarters

Demonstrated Excellence In The Following Areas

• Commitment to Students and Schools: Demonstrates commitment to education reform, believing in every child's potential for success and prioritizing students, schools, and the essential role of families.
• Strategic Thinking and Problem Solving: Finds creative solutions to challenges that achieve broader goals of team and organization.
• Project Management: Sets a high bar for own work and supports others to achieve desired team outcomes.
• Communications and Influence: Demonstrates adept communication skills and influence to advance work by adjusting content and style.
• Teamwork: Contributes to a supportive team culture, fostering diverse work styles and maintaining a high performance standard.
• Trust and Collaboration: Establishes and nurtures effective relationships with a diverse set of stakeholders to support the best outcomes for our work.
• Cultural Humility: Advances KIPP DC's commitment to anti-racism by creating a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment for all stakeholders.
• Continuous Learning: Commits to continuous learning through feedback, self reflection, humility, and action.

Benefits & Compensation
The KIPP DC summer internship program offers a competitive hourly wage of $18.00, allowing you to gain valuable experience while earning a decent income. Legal Interns are eligible to work up to 40 hours per week, providing flexibility to balance your work and personal life.

Please note that the program will follow the KIPP DC HDQ holiday calendar which includes two unpaid holidays: Juneteenth (June 19) and the 4th of July observation (July 3), giving you time to celebrate and recharge.

Equal Employment Opportunity Employer
KIPP DC Public Schools does not discriminate against, or tolerate discrimination against, employees or applicants for employment on any legally-recognized basis or protected class including, but not limited to, actual or perceived race, color, national origin, immigration status (except as necessary to comply with federal, DC, state, or local law), religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, lactation and related medical conditions), age, physical or mental disability, medical condition, sexual orientation, gender (including gender identity or expression), marital status (including domestic partnership status), genetic information, political affiliation, pregnancy, family responsibilities, personal appearance, veteran status, uniform service member status, status of being unemployed, status of victim a survivor of domestic violence, sexual offense or stalking, matriculation or any other protected class under federal, state, DC, or local law.

Click here or here to review KIPP DC's non-discrimination policy and KIPP DC's Title IX Coordinator's contact information.

Please Note: If you encounter difficulties submitting your application or fail to receive a confirmation email after applying, kindly reach out to Danica Cunningham at Please include your name, resume, and specify the role you are applying for in your email. We appreciate your understanding and apologize for any inconvenience caused.