The Knight First Amendment Institute defends the freedoms of speech and the press in the digital age through strategic litigation, research, and public education. We aim to promote a system of free expression that is open and inclusive, that broadens and elevates public discourse, and that fosters creativity, accountability, and effective self‑government.
Since its establishment in 2016, the Institute has filed precedent-setting litigation, undertaken major interdisciplinary research initiatives, and become an influential voice in debates about free expression in the shifting landscape of the digital age. Our active litigation docket includes cutting‑edge cases relating to transparency, surveillance, and social media. Through our research program, the Institute has published a series of influential essays focused on emerging threats to the system of free expression. We have also hosted public events on new technology and public discourse; data journalism and the law; the First Amendment and inequality; and whistleblowers, leaks, and national‑security journalism.
The Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University is looking for a diverse group of creative, motivated, and committed law students to join us as legal interns for the summer of 2026.
What You’ll Do:
Your primary responsibility as a legal intern will be to support our litigation. You’ll work alongside the Institute’s attorneys on all aspects of our docket. This will include exploring potential new lawsuits, conducting legal research and analysis, contributing to litigation strategy, and drafting factual and legal memoranda, affidavits, and briefs.
Qualifications:
The summer legal internship is open to all law students at accredited U.S. law schools (i.e., J.D. or LLM candidates) who will have completed their first year of law school before the internship begins. Applicants should possess excellent research, writing, and communication skills. They should also possess a deep commitment to the freedoms of speech and the press, but prior subject‑matter experience is not required.
The internship is full‑time, and we’ll give preference to those who can commit to a ten‑week term.
A cover letter explaining your interest in the internship, including a description of any relevant life or work experience;
The contact information for two references;
An official or unofficial law‑school transcript (1Ls should send their transcripts when available); and
One writing sample with legal analysis. The sample should be no longer than ten single‑spaced pages. (You are strongly encouraged to submit a writing sample that reflects solely your own work. If you are unable to do so, please briefly explain in a cover page the contributions of others to the writing.)
Note: Please send your materials in one combined .pdf file in the order listed above.
Writing is an essential skill for this position so please do not use AI in the preparation of any of your application materials.
Candidates are strongly encouraged to submit their applications as soon as possible, as we will review applications and make offers on a rolling basis. To receive full consideration, 2Ls and LLMs should submit their applications by November23, 2025, and 1Ls should submit their applications by January9, 2026. We will pay a modest stipend to ensure that all interns receive total funding of $10,000 for a full 10‑week term. All interviews will be conducted remotely by video conference. Any questions about the internship or the application should be sent directly to info@knightinstitute.org.
Our office is in Morningside Heights in New York City. Please note that we will expect our interns to work in the office on the same schedule as the rest of the staff. That schedule is subject to change, but we currently work from the office two days per week, on Mondays and Wednesdays.
