Government Affairs Interns

The Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) seeks paid legislative interns every fall, spring, and summer. This is a great opportunity for law and veterinary students, political science majors, or anyone with a passion for making a difference in the lives of animals. Interns will assist our Government Affairs team in maintaining updated legislative information, attending meetings with congressional offices, conducting research, and drafting alerts and other materials, as well as miscellaneous tasks of an administrative nature. No specific academic major is required; however, preferred candidates will have a strong work ethic and be willing to take on any project. Interns may work full-time or part-time and may be eligible for course credit through their school. Please note that there is no attorney supervision for this position; therefore, it would not qualify for course credit in situations where attorney supervision is a requirement. Interns may choose to be remote or in-person at AWI’s Washington, DC, office.

Please submit a résumé and cover letter stating why you wish to become an advocate for animals to Nancy Blaney at [email protected]. The windows during which applications will be considered are as follows:

Intern Session

Application Window

Spring (January–May) September 1–October 15
Summer (June–August) February 1–March 1
Fall (September–December) May 1–June 15


Applications submitted prior to the opening of these windows will not be considered until the window closes. Applicants will be contacted if additional information is needed or to schedule an interview. Based on the number of weeks and number of hours per week, the successful applicant will be offered a stipend for their internship that will be paid in biweekly increments. A full-time intern (averaging 35 hours per week) will receive a stipend of $7,000 for a 10-week internship (i.e., $700 a week), paid every other week. This rate would be prorated for other schedules.

More About AWI Internships

AWI is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to employment practices that provide equal opportunities for all persons without regard to age, gender, race, color, national origin, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or any other characteristic protected by federal or state law. We are committed to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion within our organization, and encourage applications from candidates whose identities have been historically under-represented in the animal welfare movement.