Spring 2026 Legal Education and Policy Internship
ABOUT :
Massachusetts Appleseed Center for Law and Justice is a non-profit organization driven by a mission to promote equal rights and opportunities for Massachusetts residents by developing and advocating for systemic solutions to social justice issues. Our projects seek systems-level change so all Massachusetts families and youth can exercise their legal rights, build pathways out of poverty and crisis, and thrive. We accomplish this goal through multiple strategies, including policy analysis and research, coalition building, education and training, community organizing, and advocacy.
POLICY AREAS:
- Access to Justice: Eliminating the many systemic barriers within Massachusetts’ legal systems and various administrative agencies that deny justice to thousands of residents each year. Guaranteeing language access and reforming the courts to make them more user friendly to those who cannot afford an attorney. We are particularly interested in how technology can be used to achieve these goals.
- Youth Homelessness: Providing policy recommendations, easing systemic barriers, and developing legal resources to help youth experiencing homelessness build safe and stable futures.
- Educational Justice: Protecting students’ rights, promoting racial equity, and advocating for policy change to keep all students in class where they are safe, supported, and available for learning. We particularly focus on the disparate impact of school discipline policies on students of color, also known as the school-to-prison pipeline.
THE INTERNSHIP:
This intern will engage in various activities to advance our legal education and policy initiatives. This is an excellent opportunity to develop skills in policy advocacy, legal education training, and coalition building, and to engage with social justice issues such as language access, youth homelessness, and the school-to-prison pipeline. Additionally, the Legal Education & Policy intern will have the opportunity to integrate into the MA Appleseed team workflow, by joining staff meetings, monthly DEI discussions, and other meetings that will give the intern insights into what it is like to be in the non-profit space.
The Policy and Legal Education Intern can expect to do a selection of the following, based on project needs and the individual’s interests and skills:
- Drafting legislative testimony
- Creating know-your-rights materials
- Creating social media graphics
Ideal Qualifications:
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
- Organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple projects and shift priorities
- Excellent attention to detail
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite
- Ability to work independently
- Enthusiastic belief in MA Appleseed’s mission and values
- Passion for the connection between social justice and applied research
LOGISTICS:
Our interns gain valuable experience in policy advocacy and community education. They also have the chance to engage with prominent justice community members and organizations. Exact starting date and workdays/hours are flexible. Interns are encouraged to use their own computer for Appleseed work, but those who need a computer will be provided with one.
Internship Start: January or February
Internship End: May
Time Commitment: 12-16 hours per week.
Compensation: $1,650 stipend, class credit, or payment from other entity
Schedule: The team works in a hybrid schedule, with team office days in our downtown Boston office.
HOW TO APPLY :
To apply, please compile the following documents in a single PDF:
- Short writing sample – (1-2 pages; something you have already written for another purpose)
Email your application to Nadia at jobs@massappleseed.org. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and accepted until Wednesday, December 3, 2025, and interviews conducted the following two weeks.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY NOTICE
Massachusetts Appleseed is committed to fostering the leadership and elevating the voices of people of color, women, LGBTQ+ people, low-income people, immigrants, young people who were formerly involved in the child welfare system, young people who were formerly involved in the criminal justice system, people with disabilities, and people living in the many intersections of these experiences. We encourage people from these communities and people with experience outside traditional internship programs to apply.
Massachusetts Appleseed is an Equal Opportunity Employer, is committed to diversity in its workforce, and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, military status or any other status protected by applicable law.
