... assist the Policy department by conducting policy research and analysis, monitoring legislative and ... The intern will have opportunities to contribute to substantive projects, develop research and ...
... assist the Policy department by conducting policy research and analysis, monitoring legislative and ... The intern will have opportunities to contribute to substantive projects, develop research and ...
Legislative Assistant Intern information
What is a legislative assistant intern?
Legislative Assistant Interns are individuals who support lawmakers or legislative staff by conducting research, preparing briefs, tracking legislation, and helping with constituent services. Their work involves attending hearings, summarizing legislative documents, and assisting in the daily operations of a legislator’s office. This role is often part of an educational program and provides valuable exposure to the legislative process. Interns gain practical experience in policy analysis, communication, and government operations, which can be beneficial for future careers in public service or law.
What are the typical responsibilities of a legislative assistant intern during a legislative session?
As a Legislative Assistant Intern, your daily tasks often involve conducting policy research, drafting memos, tracking bills, and attending committee hearings. You may also help prepare briefing materials for legislators and communicate with constituents or advocacy groups. The work is fast-paced, especially during legislative sessions, and requires strong organizational skills as priorities can shift quickly. Interns frequently collaborate with other staff members and may have opportunities to observe the legislative process firsthand, making it a valuable learning experience for those interested in public policy.
What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a legislative assistant intern, and why are they important?
To thrive as a Legislative Assistant Intern, you need strong research, writing, and analytical skills, often supported by coursework in political science, public policy, or related fields. Familiarity with legislative tracking systems, Microsoft Office Suite, and sometimes basic knowledge of government databases is advantageous. Excellent communication, organizational abilities, and a proactive attitude make candidates stand out in supporting legislative staff and managing multiple tasks. These skills ensure accurate information gathering, effective communication, and efficient support in a fast-paced legislative environment.
How hard is it to become a legislative assistant intern?
Becoming a legislative assistant intern typically requires strong research, communication, and organizational skills, along with relevant coursework or experience in government or public policy. Many internships are competitive and may require a college student or recent graduate, but the application process is generally straightforward for qualified candidates who demonstrate interest and relevant skills.
How much do legislative assistant interns make?
Legislative assistant interns typically earn between $12 and $20 per hour, depending on the location, organization, and level of education. Internships may be unpaid or paid, with paid positions often offering stipends or hourly wages to support students gaining experience in legislative environments.
What cities in Ontario are hiring for Legislative Assistant Intern jobs?
Cities in Ontario with the most Legislative Assistant Intern job openings:
Job description
The Center for Family Representation Inc. (CFR) is an award-winning, innovative law and policy organization that serves primarily Black and Brown families and youth in Queens, Manhattan, the Bronx, and Staten Island with an interdisciplinary legal defense model that serves more than 2400 clients every year. CFR was originally founded in 2002 to dramatically change the trajectory of indigent parents being prosecuted by the City’s Administration for Children’s Services (ACS). Our goal is to defend and protect our clients’ rights, reduce the harm of family separation and prevent or minimize the time any child spends in the foster system.
The Center for Family Representation is seeking an enthusiastic and motivated intern to support our Policy team with a variety of projects and daily operations. In this role, you will assist the Policy department by conducting policy research and analysis, monitoring legislative and regulatory developments, supporting stakeholder engagement and relationship-building efforts, and helping to strengthen systems and processes that advance CFR’s policy and advocacy work. The intern will have opportunities to contribute to substantive projects, develop research and analytical skills, and gain firsthand experience in the areas of public policy, legislative advocacy, family defense, and systemic reform.
Responsibilities
Policy Research and Analysis
Under the supervision of the Senior Policy Counsel, the policy intern will have the opportunity to:
Conduct research on family defense, the family policing system, racial equity, systemic reform and other related policy issues affecting families.
Monitor relevant legislation, regulations, agency policies, court decisions, research, and emerging policy developments at the city, state, and federal levels.
Gather, organize, and analyze qualitative and quantitative data to support CFR’s policy advocacy efforts.
Prepare research briefs, policy memoranda, talking points, testimony, background materials, and other written products for internal and external audiences. Support the development of policy recommendations grounded in research, client experiences, and CFR’s mission.
Track and synthesize news coverage and public discourse related to family defense. Relationship Building and Networking
Under the supervision of the Senior Policy Counsel, the policy intern will have the opportunity to:
Research and maintain information on policymakers, government agencies, advocacy organizations, community-based organizations, researchers, and other stakeholders relevant to CFR’s policy priorities.
Support outreach and engagement with external partners and stakeholders, including scheduling meetings, preparing briefing materials, and documenting follow-up items. Attend relevant coalition and/or campaign meetings, legislative hearings, briefings, webinars, and community events and share key takeaways with the team. Help identify opportunities for CFR to build partnerships, participate in coalitions, and strengthen its presence in policy and advocacy spaces.
Maintain organized records of stakeholder relationships, contacts, and engagement activities.
Capacity Building and Systemization
Under the supervision of the Senior Policy Counsel, the policy intern will have the opportunity to:
Support the development and improvement of systems for tracking policy developments, legislative activity, stakeholder engagement, and advocacy opportunities. Create and maintain organized databases, trackers, research libraries, and other tools that improve the team’s ability to access and use information.
Help develop templates, protocols, and workflows that make recurring policy and advocacy processes more efficient and consistent.
Document research processes, institutional knowledge, standard operating procedures (SOP) and best practices to support continuity across the team.
Special Project
Throughout the semester, the Policy Intern will have the opportunity to develop and complete a special project aligned with CFR’s policy priorities and the intern’s interests and skills. The project will allow the intern to take ownership of a substantive policy issue or organizational need, conduct independent research and analysis, and develop a final product that can support CFR’s ongoing advocacy and policy work.
Potential projects may include developing a policy brief, conducting a landscape analysis, creating a stakeholder or legislative tracker, drafting a bill, or developing a resource or system to strengthen CFR’s policy capacity. The intern will work closely with members of the Policy to refine the project scope, receive feedback, and present their findings or recommendations at the conclusion of the semester.
CFR will consider undergraduate and graduate students with a demonstrated interest in our and/or related work. All applicants must be affiliated with an accredited program for academic credit internship and/or paid fellowship.
Application Instructions: To apply, please send a cover letter, resume, one to two-page writing sample, and list of 3 references to the Senior Policy Counsel, Jessica Persaud, (jpersaud@cfrny.org). Kindly put "Fall 2026 Policy Intern" in the subject line. Please also include any relevant information regarding your for-credit internship or fellowship program through your school or funding provider. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis. Anticipated start date is September 14th, 2026. End date is based upon the candidate's individual program/funding affiliation requirements.
About Center for Family Representation
Sourced by ZipRecruiter
Industry
Legal services
Company size
51 - 200 Employees
Headquarters location
New York, NY, US
Year founded
2002