The National Endowment for the Arts (Arts Endowment), Office of General Counsel, is excited to announce its 2024 Spring and Summer internship opportunity. The Arts Endowment is an independent federal agency that funds, promotes, and strengthens the creative capacity of our communities by providing all Americans with diverse opportunities for arts participation. This is accomplished through partnerships with state arts agencies, local leaders, and the philanthropic sector.  The Arts Endowment supports arts education, affirms and celebrates America’s rich and diverse cultural heritage, and extends its work to promote equal access to every congressional district and every community across America.

The General Counsel serves as the chief legal advisor to the NEA Chair, staff, and the National Council on the Arts. The General Counsel and her staff ensure that agency activities comply with a broad range of Federal laws, including Federal grants law, appropriations and procurement laws, employment and civil rights law, intellectual property laws, ethics law, and administrative law. The Office is also responsible for drafting legislation, analyzing pending legislation, drafting statutory regulations, and managing the agency’s Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) program.

Internship: Legal interns are involved in the day-to-day operations of the General Counsel's Office and work closely with the General Counsel and legal staff.  The position provides opportunities to experience legal issues unique to NEA, as well as issues common to all Federal agencies.  Specifically, interns may be introduced to a variety of legal areas including administrative law, grants law, appropriations and procurement law, employment and civil rights law, intellectual property law, FOIA and ethics laws.  Additionally, our interns may be asked to draft legal memoranda, assist with tracking pending legislation, or attend one of the agency’s quarterly Council meetings.

Requirements: Applicants must have completed one year of law school.  Solid writing skills and an interest in the arts is preferred. 

These positions are unpaid; however, academic credit may be earned and tailored work schedules may be arranged by request.

Application Materials: Submit a cover letter, resume, and writing sample via e-mail to: GeneralCounsel@arts.gov, or fax (202) 682-5872.

Deadline to Submit Materials:

Spring 2024:  January 19, 2024
Summer 2024:  April 19, 2024