Legal Aid DC, a nonprofit organization with an approximately $18 million annual budget and a staff of approximately 125 employees, is seeking a Fall Communications Intern to join our Development Department. 

Since 1932, Legal Aid has provided civil legal assistance to clients in individual cases and engaged in systemic reform. Currently, we provide individual representation in consumer law, domestic violence/family law, housing, public benefits, and immigration matters. We also help people with the collateral consequences of their involvement with the criminal justice system. From the experiences of our clients, we identify opportunities for law reform, public policy advocacy, and systemic impact and appellate litigation. Legal Aid also administers the DC Resource Bridge, a single access point for legal services in the District. 

Legal Aid believes that meaningful pursuit of our anti-poverty mission requires an unwavering commitment to racial justice and equity. We aspire both to reflect the rich racial diversity of the communities we serve and to value, respect, and empower our staff and clients to be effective agents of change. For more information about Legal Aid please visit our website, www.LegalAidDC.org.

Our work is supported through public and private grants and private fundraising from individuals, law firms, and other contributors.

This internship is for Fall 2026 and will be 12 weeks in duration. Interns at Legal Aid DC have the unique opportunity to receive substantive assignments that will have an immediate impact on our clients. Interns work out of Legal Aid’s offices in NW DC, with the option to perform some work remotely if approved by their supervisor. Spring interns should expect to work 12 hours a week.

 The Communications internship may also include work at other locations, including at community events or the DC Council building. 

Legal Aid’s communications channels (including our website, social media, email newsletters, and printed materials) are important tools to achieve our goals. We utilize these channels to raise awareness about our services, share information and resources with our client community, advocate for policy change, fundraise, and more. The Communications Intern will directly contribute through content creation in various formats. 

This position reports to the Communications Director and is part of the Development team.  

Responsibilities:  

• Plan, create, and post/schedule social media content. Monitor and manage social media accounts. 
• Write, design, and publish content for Legal Aid DC’s website and printed materials 
• Help maintain, update and post content to Legal Aid DC website using Drupal  
• Organize and update email subscriber lists  
• Support the Systemic Advocacy & Law Reform team with community outreach and policy advocacy, including through coverage of DC Council hearings and promotion of community events 
• Support the Development team with online promotion of the annual Making Justice Real summer fundraising campaign and assist with donor list administration 
• Other duties as assigned? 

Requirements: Current undergrad or graduate student studying journalism, communications, and/or public relations with an interest in social justice. Experience with social media content creation and management, graphic design, and strong writing skills.  

Written proficiency in Spanish or Amharic is not required but would be beneficial. 

Scholarship Funding:

Interns will receive a scholarship of up to $2,585 for the 12 week internship. Interns will not receive scholarship funding if they receive outside funding for their internship or they are interning through a school program that precludes them from being paid. 

To Apply:

Legal Aid values an inclusive, diverse workplace and encourages applications from interested persons from diverse backgrounds of any race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, physical or mental disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, personal appearance, family responsibilities, matriculation, political affiliation, genetic information, or any other legally protected status. 

We strongly encourage applications from people with personal experience with the criminal justice system and/or with lived experiences in the communities we serve. 

Submit your application, cover letter, resume, relevant work samples and transcript or letter of matriculation?here. Work samples may include journalistic articles, blogs, social media content, graphics, etc. Applications will be accepted until 5pm EST on June 22, 2026.