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Public Interest Law Intern Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Mercor

Public Interest Law Expert

New York, NY · On-site +1

$90 - $100/hr

Public Interest Law (Civil Law / Environmental Law) Type: Contract Compensation: $90-$100/hour Location: Remote Role Responsibilities * Construct scenarios spanning civil rights litigation ...

New

Harris County

Legal Intern - Spring 2027

Houston, TX · On-site

Responsibilities will vary based on the intern's division assignment, schedule, experience, and the ... Applicants should demonstrate a strong interest in criminal defense, public interest law, or ...

Harris County

Legal Intern - Spring 2027

Houston, TX

Responsibilities will vary based on the intern's division assignment, schedule, experience, and the ... Applicants should demonstrate a strong interest in criminal defense, public interest law, or ...

The Pennsylvania State University

$91K - $154K/yr

This will include developing and leading the law school's public interest and pro bono programming. The attorney will supervise students who are engaged in providing pro bono legal services to ...

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How much do public interest law intern jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 13, 2026, the average hourly pay for public interest law intern in the United States is $17.60, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $14.42 and $19.23 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

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

To thrive as a Public Interest Law Intern, you need strong legal research and writing skills, a foundational understanding of constitutional and civil rights law, and enrollment in or completion of a law degree program. Familiarity with legal research databases like Westlaw or LexisNexis, as well as proficiency in Microsoft Office, is typically expected. Outstanding communication, empathy, and a demonstrated commitment to social justice help interns excel in serving diverse communities. These skills and qualities are essential for effectively supporting advocacy efforts, ensuring accurate legal work, and making a meaningful impact in public interest law.

What types of projects and cases might a public interest law intern typically work on during their internship?

As a Public Interest Law Intern, you can expect to work on a variety of projects, including legal research, drafting memos or briefs, assisting with client intake, and supporting attorneys in preparing for hearings. Interns often help with matters such as civil rights, housing, immigration, or environmental law, depending on the organization's focus. The work environment tends to be collaborative, with interns frequently participating in team meetings and occasionally interacting directly with clients under supervision. This role provides hands-on exposure to the legal process and meaningful opportunities to contribute to cases that have a real impact on the community.

What is the difference between Public Interest Law Intern vs Legal Intern?

AspectPublic Interest Law InternLegal Intern
CredentialsTypically law students or recent graduatesLaw students or recent graduates
Work EnvironmentNonprofit organizations, government agencies, advocacy groupsLaw firms, corporate legal departments, government offices
Employer & IndustryPublic interest, nonprofit, governmentLegal services, corporate, government
Search & Comparison IntentUnderstanding roles in public serviceLegal career pathways, internships

Public Interest Law Interns focus on social justice, advocacy, and serving underserved communities within nonprofit or government settings. Legal Interns often work in law firms or corporate legal departments, handling more traditional legal tasks. Both roles require law students or recent graduates, but their work environments and career focuses differ significantly.

What is a public interest law intern?

A public interest law intern is a student or recent graduate who works with organizations, government agencies, or legal clinics focused on serving the public good. These interns assist with legal research, drafting documents, client interviews, and advocacy on issues like civil rights, environmental protection, or social justice. The goal is to gain hands-on experience in legal work that benefits underserved or marginalized communities, often under the supervision of experienced attorneys. Public interest law internships can be paid or unpaid and are valuable for those considering a career in nonprofit or governmental legal work.
More about Public Interest Law Intern jobs
What cities are hiring for Public Interest Law Intern jobs? Cities with the most Public Interest Law Intern job openings:
What states have the most Public Interest Law Intern jobs? States with the most job openings for Public Interest Law Intern jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Public Interest Law Intern jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Public Interest Law Intern jobs are:
Public Interest Law Intern jobs near you
Infographic showing various Public Interest Law Intern job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 81% Full Time, 17% Part Time, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 95% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 3% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $36,603 per year, or $17.6 per hour.

Public Interest Law Expert

Mercor

New York, NY • On-site, Remote

$90 - $100/hr

Full-time

Posted 3 days ago

New

Job description

About the job

Mercor connects elite creative and technical talent with leading AI research labs. Headquartered in San Francisco, our investors include Benchmark, General Catalyst, Peter Thiel, Adam D'Angelo, Larry Summers, and Jack Dorsey.

Position: Public Interest Law (Civil Law / Environmental Law)
Type: Contract
Compensation: $90–$100/hour
Location: Remote

Role Responsibilities

  • Construct scenarios spanning civil rights litigation, environmental compliance and enforcement, and community advocacy or policy reform processes.
  • Build tasks across civil rights and constitutional law, environmental law and regulation, housing and consumer protection, immigration and asylum, and government accountability.
  • Develop scenarios involving tools such as legal research platforms, case management systems used by legal aid organizations and nonprofits, and regulatory filing systems (e.g., EPA dockets).
  • Apply public interest law methodologies (constitutional analysis, regulatory compliance review, impact litigation strategy) to the standards track a world targets (US: federal civil rights statutes, NEPA, environmental statutes; International: human rights treaties, EU directives), and produce reference legal briefs, regulatory comments, and advocacy memoranda.
  • Author rubrics that distinguish authentic public interest legal judgment from generic law school or bar exam-level recall.

Qualifications

Must-Have

  • 5+ years working as a public interest attorney at a legal aid organization, advocacy nonprofit, or government agency (ACLU, Earthjustice, NRDC, Legal Aid Society, or a state attorney general's office).
  • Direct ownership of impact litigation, regulatory advocacy, or policy reform initiatives.
  • Fluency in public interest legal tooling, plus understanding of how regulatory processes and legislative advocacy actually work.
  • A recognized professional credential is strongly preferred (JD with bar admission, or an international equivalent); prior rubric, training, or policy authorship is a plus.

Application Process (Takes 20–30 mins to complete)

  • Upload resume
  • AI interview based on your resume
  • Submit form

Resources & Support

  • For details about the interview process and platform information, please check: https://talent.docs.mercor.com/welcome
  • For any help or support, reach out to: support@mercor.com

PS: Our team reviews applications daily. Please complete your AI interview and application steps to be considered for this opportunity.