Legal Intern

Position Overview: Legal Intern (Paid, Remote)

The Appellate Project is seeking a paid, remote legal intern to join our small team. This is an exciting entrepreneurial role for someone who enjoys building, thinking creatively, and turning ideas into concrete work product.

You will work closely with the entire team, and particularly with TAP’s founder and CEO. You will play a meaningful role in shaping TAP’s thought leadership, programming, and public-facing content. This internship is ideal for a law student or recent law school graduate who is deeply interested in our highest courts, creating a representative appellate system, and seeks hands-on experience in a start-up nonprofit environment.

This is not a traditional legal internship. Instead of drafting briefs or internal memos, you will research, synthesize, and translate legal and field developments into materials that inform leaders, practitioners, and the broader appellate community about issues related to TAP’s mission. You will also work closely with the team to think through strategy related to building out our new programming.

About The Appellate Project

At TAP, we believe our highest courts should reflect all of our communities. Our mission is to foster emerging leaders as they build a more just and representative appellate field.

Since launching in 2019, TAP has supported over 600 law students through our award-winning programming, providing access to mentorship, clerkship support, skill-building opportunities, and networking pathways within the appellate bar. Our network includes thousands of Supreme Court and appellate judges, lawyers, and law clerks who make our work possible. Many of our alumni are already working in the appellate field, where they have a voice in the critical decisions that so often affect our communities.

We continue to support our alumni through each stage of their appellate careers, helping to position them for the bench and other influential legal roles. Learn more at www.theappellateproject.org.

What You’ll Do

Legal Research, Writing & Thought Leadership

You will use classic legal research skills in non-traditional ways, including:

• Researching appellate courts, judicial decision-making, and trends affecting access to appellate careers
• Researching and analyzing trends related to diversity, equity, and inclusion issues, particularly in the legal field
• Translating research into:
  • Talking points and briefing materials, particularly for TAP’s CEO
  • Blog posts and short essays on developments in the appellate field
  • Written materials for external audiences
  • Educational content for TAP programs and events
• Synthesizing complex legal and institutional issues into clear, compelling narratives for non-technical audiences

Program Development & Content Creation

• Helping develop ideas and proposals for panels, trainings, and convenings
• Conducting background research and assisting with speaker preparation
• Curating and organizing resources related to appellate advocacy, clerkships, and career pathways

Field & Trend Research

• Tracking developments related to appellate courts, judicial nominations, and clerkship hiring.
• Researching representation and access in the appellate bar and on the bench
• Staying informed about how law students and early-career lawyers are navigating the appellate landscape
• Monitoring broader legal and institutional trends that affect opportunity, access, and advancement in the profession

Organizational & Strategic Support

• Supporting data tracking, documentation, and internal systems
• Participating in team meetings and strategic discussions
• Taking ownership of discrete projects from start to finish, with guidance but minimal day-to-day supervision

Who We’re Looking For

Required Qualifications

• Current law student or recent law school graduate
• Excellent legal research and writing skills, with a demonstrated ability to write persuasively for non-legal audiences
• Strong interest in appellate law, judicial clerkships, and trends in both our highest courts and equity work in the legal field
• Self-directed, resourceful, and comfortable working independently in a remote environment
• Curious, thoughtful, and motivated by TAP’s mission and values
• Collegial and respectful

Especially Important for This Role

• You enjoy the challenge of figuring questions out, especially when there is not already a clear answer
• You like building new things rather than maintaining existing ones
• You are energized by writing, thinking, and shaping ideas—not just executing assignments

Preferred (But Not Required)

• Lived experience with the issues TAP addresses
• Experience in nonprofit, public interest, or judicial work
• Prior writing for publication (blogs, journals, policy writing, etc.)

What You’ll Gain

• Direct mentorship from TAP’s founder and CEO
• Exposure to appellate practice and the national appellate ecosystem
• Experience contributing to thought leadership at a respected nonprofit
• Opportunities to develop your writing skills
• Access to TAP’s network of appellate practitioners, judges, and alumni

Time Commitment & Compensation

• Approximately 15 hours per week. Exact hours are flexible but you must be available during pre-agreed-upon blocks of time
• We are happy to support you in obtaining academic credit as necessary
• Compensation: $20–22 per hour, depending on experience

How to Apply

Please submit a resume, cover letter explaining your interest in TAP and the appellate field, two references, and a writing sample (preferably on a legal topic and written to a non-legal audience) to admin@taplaw.org. Please include a note specifying how, if at all, you used AI or any other external editors to create your writing sample. Transcripts are welcome but not required.

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. We strongly encourage you to apply before January 16, 2025. We anticipate a start date of February 16 for an internship lasting 16 weeks.

Due to the volume of applications and our limited resources, we will only contact candidates selected for an interview.

The Appellate Project is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of any protected categories and we encourage candidates from all backgrounds to apply.

Research shows that many qualified candidates from underrepresented backgrounds hesitate to apply unless they meet every listed qualification. If you are excited about this role and believe you could succeed in it, we encourage you to apply even if you do not meet every qualification.