Legislative Law Extern

Summary

Join GIFFORDS Law Center's Fall 2025 Legislative Law Externship Program as a remote extern contributing to critical gun violence prevention efforts. The program offers law students valuable experience in legislative research, policy analysis, and legal writing. You will work on projects involving legislation, policy analysis, and publications. The externship is designed to accommodate law school requirements and provides opportunities to learn tangible legal skills while contributing to a meaningful mission. Successful candidates will possess excellent research, analysis, and writing skills and a strong commitment to ending gun violence. Applications are due by June 15, 2025.

Requirements

• Be a current 2L or 3L law student located in the contiguous United States
• Possess excellent writing and legal analysis skills
• Have the ability to interpret statutes or proposed legislation
• Have the ability to review legislation with an eye towards inclusion, diversity, equity, and anti-racism
• Share GIFFORDS Law Center’s goal to save lives from gun violence
• Submit your resume, a cover letter of no more than 450 words that includes a sentence outlining any school deadlines you may have for obtaining an externship and your interest in working with GIFFORDS Law Center (including any relevant life or work experience), law school transcript (unofficial is fine), contact information for two references, and a writing sample
• Answer the following question in 250 words: Which gun violence prevention issue area would you be most interested in working on as a legislative law extern with the GIFFORDS Law Center? Please reference at least one existing Federal or State law or policy that interests you

Responsibilities

• Work on projects involving legislation, policy analysis, and publications
• Read, analyze, and write about proposed legislation
• Research policy issues
• Draft letters of support or opposition to lawmakers
• Work with grassroots state and local groups to support legislative goals
• Attend hearings (virtually or in person, if possible) on pending legislation or relevant topics
• Contribute to the development of GIFFORDS Law Center’s print publications and internet-based materials
• Provide in-depth factual summaries of federal, state, and local firearms laws and policies
• Participate as an integrated member of the legal staff
• Attend team meetings as their school schedule allows
• Receive constructive feedback about work products from supervising attorneys