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Legal Internship Jobs in Reston, VA (NOW HIRING)

ACLU

2L Legal Internship

Washington, DC · On-site +1

Legal interns will also likely interview potential clients and help investigate the facts of potential cases. Depending on the state of our docket in summer 2027, interns are likely to have ...

Addison Group

Legal Intern (Spring 2027)

Washington, DC · On-site

$20/hr

Legal Services / Professional Association Location: Washington, DC (Hybrid) Assignment Type ... Contract Internship (Spring 2027) Pay: $20.00/hour Work Schedule: 15-20 hours per week | January 12 ...

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All JobsLegal JobsLegal Internship JobsLegal Internship Jobs in Reston, VA

Legal Internship information

See Reston, VA salary details

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How much do legal internship jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 1, 2026, the average hourly pay for legal internship in Reston, VA is $20.59, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $16.78 and $23.27 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a legal internship?

A legal internship is a temporary position, typically held by law students or recent graduates, that provides practical experience in a legal setting. Interns work under the supervision of attorneys and may conduct legal research, draft documents, assist with case preparation, and observe court proceedings. These internships help interns gain hands-on skills, build professional networks, and explore different areas of law. Legal internships can be found in law firms, corporate legal departments, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations.

What types of tasks and projects can a legal intern expect to work on during their internship?

As a legal intern, you can expect to assist with legal research, drafting memos and briefs, reviewing case files, and attending client meetings or court proceedings. Interns often gain hands-on experience by supporting attorneys with case preparation and conducting preliminary analysis of legal issues. The variety and complexity of tasks will depend on the size and focus of the firm or organization, but most internships are structured to provide exposure to multiple aspects of legal practice, fostering both learning and professional growth.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a legal intern, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Legal Intern, you need strong research, analytical, and writing skills, often supported by current enrollment in or recent graduation from law school. Familiarity with legal research databases such as Westlaw or LexisNexis, as well as proficiency in Microsoft Office, is commonly required. Attention to detail, professionalism, effective communication, and a willingness to learn are standout soft skills in this role. These skills and qualities are important to ensure accuracy in legal work, contribute to team objectives, and build a solid foundation for a future legal career.

What is the difference between Legal Internship vs Paralegal?

AspectLegal InternshipParalegal
Required CredentialsTypically students or recent graduates, some may have paralegal certificatesUsually requires a paralegal certification or associate degree
Work EnvironmentTemporary, educational, often in law firms, corporate legal departments, or government agenciesFull-time, professional role in law firms, corporations, or government agencies
Employer & Industry UsageUsed for training and gaining experience; often unpaid or stipend-basedPaid position; responsible for legal research, document preparation, and case management

Legal internships are primarily educational opportunities for students or recent graduates to gain legal experience, often unpaid or stipend-based. Paralegals are trained professionals who perform substantive legal work, typically paid, with more responsibilities and a formal certification or degree. While both roles support legal teams, internships focus on learning, whereas paralegals handle ongoing legal tasks.

What are the most commonly searched types of Legal jobs in Reston, VA?

The most popular types of Legal jobs in Reston, VA are:

What cities near Reston, VA are hiring for Legal Internship jobs?

Cities near Reston, VA with the most Legal Internship job openings:

Legal Internship jobs near you
Infographic showing various Legal Internship job openings in Reston, VA as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 85% Full Time, 14% Part Time, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 87% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 10% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $42,820 per year, or $20.6 per hour.

2L Legal Internship

Washington, DC • On-site

ACLU of the District of Columbia
See more jobs at ACLU of the District of Columbiaexternal

Internship

Posted 12 days ago

Job description

The ACLU-DC seeks second-year law students for full-summer internships in the summer of 2027. (A posting for first-year law student internships, if available, will follow later in the fall semester.)
The ACLU-DC is an affiliate office of the American Civil Liberties Union, a national nonprofit organization devoted to the protection of civil liberties and civil rights through litigation, legislation, and public education. The ACLU-DC works primarily on issues that directly impact people who live in, work in, and visit the District of Columbia, and also on challenges to certain federal government policies and practices where they fall within the jurisdiction of the D.C. federal courts.
Among the matters currently on our docket are: representing Black Lives Matter-DC and individual activists in challenging the attack by federal and local law enforcement on civil rights demonstrators in Lafayette Square on June 1, 2020; a lawsuit seeking to reform the District's practice of sending police and not trained mental health professionals to respond to individuals experiencing mental health crises; the representation of two D.C. agency workers who faced discrimination based on their family responsibilities (child care) in the application of remote work policies; a challenge to the D.C. police department's practice of retaining arrestees' cell phones for months or years after the owners are released or charges are dropped; and eighteen cases against policies and practices of the second Trump administration including on immigration, trans rights, voting rights, federal workers' rights, and freedom of speech.
To learn more about our work, visit acludc.org.
NATURE OF INTERNSHIP
Legal interns will be exposed to and participate in the process of developing and litigating impact cases to advance civil rights and liberties. The legal intern's primary duties will be conducting legal research for current and potential cases, and drafting memoranda, pleadings, motions, and/or discovery requests. Legal interns will also likely interview potential clients and help investigate the facts of potential cases.
Depending on the state of our docket in summer 2027, interns are likely to have additional opportunities to become immersed in the work of the ACLU-DC's Legal department, including legal strategy sessions; and court proceedings, depositions, and client meetings. ACLU-DC staff believe strongly in mentorship and in thorough and timely feedback on all work product.
Financial stipends may be available for candidates not receiving summer funding from their law schools to assist them in covering room, board and other similar expenses (not as compensation or wages for any time spent working).
QUALIFICATIONS
  • You are currently a second-year law student.
  • You have excellent work ethic, including dependability, diligence, the ability to take ownership over projects, and the commitment to see projects through to completion in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.
  • You are receptive to feedback, enthusiastic about learning and self-improvement, and eager to incorporate feedback into future work.
  • You have (or are well along in developing) excellent legal research skills, including the judgment to discern what cases are relevant to a particular research question, and thoroughness in covering the question asked.
  • You have (or are well along in developing) the capacity to engage in thoughtful and perceptive legal analysis, including the ability to build a logical argument, to read and understand legal decisions and statutes, and to grasp whether and how legal authorities apply to a new set of facts.
  • You have (or are well along in developing) excellent legal writing skills, including the ability to present ideas in a clear and organized manner and to write a memo that teaches the reader what you have learned through your research by synthesizing (rather than just summarizing) the relevant authorities.
  • You have the empathy and interpersonal skills necessary to connect with, listen to, learn from, and ask questions of clients and other community members.

TO APPLY
The deadline for applying is 11:59pm Eastern time on Sunday, September 27, 2026. To apply, complete the application available online here: https://acludc.bamboohr.com/careers/59. To complete the application, you will need to upload:
  1. A copy of your resume that lists relevant experience.
  2. A cover letter explaining your interest in and qualifications for the position.
  3. A writing sample that is your own work, with a brief explanatory note describing the extent of others' involvement if any. This sample should be no more than 10 pages but may be excerpted from a larger document (with a cover note explaining the context if it's unclear from the sample alone). The sample must be a litigation-related document containing legal analysis or argument, such as a brief, motion, or research or strategy memo about actual, potential, or hypothetical litigation. Writing assignments for law school classes are acceptable. Complaints and academic articles are not.
  4. A list of three references, including a sentence about each one identifying what information the person can provide. We find particularly helpful the perspective of at least one practicing attorney or clinical supervisor who has worked with you.
  5. In place of a transcript, a list of all law school courses that you have taken, are currently taking, or (where available) are scheduled to take next semester.

The ACLU-DC is an equal opportunity employer. We value a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture. The ACLU-DC encourages applications from all qualified individuals without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship, disability, veteran status, or any other classification protected by the D.C. Human Rights Act or federal employment law. If you have a disability and need any reasonable accommodations, please email operations@acludc.org.

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