Summer 2026 - Intern, Legal

About the team:

Vera's Legal Department provides comprehensive in-house legal services to the organization, including each of its administrative departments, centers, programs, and demonstration projects, and to its Board of Trustees. This includes advising on written agreements, risk management and mitigation, lobbying and political activity, insurance, corporate governance, employment law, conflicts of interest, and compliance.

This position will be based in Vera’s New York office, in Industry City, Brooklyn. The student will report to the Deputy General Counsel and will work with the entire Legal Department to provide legal advice and assistance to the entire organization and its various departments. The role does NOT encompass doing initiative or policy work related to Vera’s mission.

By the end of the summer internship, the intern will learn:

• What in-house legal work entails
• Enhanced skills in the areas of legal research, drafting various types of work product, and oral and written communication with non-lawyer colleagues.

About the role:

1. Assist the departmentwith ongoing projects.

• Conduct research and analysis pertaining to federal, state, and local laws as requested;
• Editing and compiling pertinent materials on legal topics and organizational initiatives such as procurement, lobbying, and social impact.
• Perform initial reviews of certain draft agreements.

2. Assist the department’s attorneys with arising research, transactions, and compliance.

• Perform preliminary legal research on a wide array of legal areas (corporate governance, compliance, intellectual property, tax, etc.) facing 501(c)(3) organizations and related entities;
• Conduct research and analysis pertaining to federal, state, and local laws as requested;
• Monitor and track compliance of registration documents such as sales tax exemption certificates and other required filings;
• Review and help organize documents (electronically and in tangible form) as instructed.

What qualifications are we looking for?

• Currently enrolled as a 2L in an ABA accredited law school, although 1Ls with impeccable credentials may be considered.
• Strong legal research and writing skills, including strong familiarity with LexisNexis, Westlaw, or similar platforms.
• Excellent verbal and written communication abilities.
• Attention to detail and strong organizational skills.
• A demonstrated interest in criminal legal and immigration systems reforms by recognizing social justice and racial disparities

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities you'll bring:

Microsoft Office Suite, Microsoft Teams

Technical knowledge helpful for this role:

We are an equal opportunity employer with a commitment to diversity in the workplace – specifically, we value diverse experiences regarding educational background and justice system contact.

Location:

Please note this role will report to our Brooklyn, NY office. Vera employees adhere to a hybrid schedule and are in-office on an alternating schedule that generally amounts to 10 days per month.

Compensation and Benefits:

The compensation range for this position is $17.00 - $25.00. Actual salaries will vary depending on factors including but not limited to experience and performance. The salary range listed is just one component of Vera Institute’s total compensation package for employees. As an employer of choice in our field, supporting Vera staff - both personally and professionally - is a priority. To do this, we invest in the well-being of our staff through other rewards including merit pay, generous paid time off, a comprehensive health insurance plan, student loan repayment benefits, professional development training opportunities and up to $2,000 annual for education costs and fees relevant to Vera work, employer-funded retirement plan, and flexible time. To learn more about Vera’s benefits offerings, click here.

Applications may also be faxed to:

ATTN: People, Place, and Culture / Summer 2026 - Intern, Legal
Vera Institute of Justice
34 35th St, Suite 4-2A, Brooklyn, NY 11232
Fax: (212) 941-9407
Please use only one method (online, mail or fax) of submission.
No phone calls, please. Only applicants selected for interviews will be contacted.

Vera is an equal opportunity / affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without unlawful discrimination based on race, color, creed, national origin, sex, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, military status, prior record of arrest or conviction, citizenship status, current employment status, or caregiver status.

Vera works to advance justice, particularly racial justice, in an increasingly multicultural country and globally connected world. We value diverse experiences, including with regard to educational background and justice system contact, and depend on a diverse staff to carry out our mission.

For more information about Vera, please visit www.vera.org.