Research Internship – Summer 2018

 

ABOUT US

Equal Citizens — a nonprofit organization founded by Harvard Law Professor Lawrence Lessig — builds innovative campaigns and new ways for digital communications to have immediate impacts on democracy reform in the U.S.

In 2017, we successfully launched a crowdfunding campaign for a legal challenge to the winner-take-all allocation of Electoral College votes at the state level. We’re also working on other legal challenges to address various electoral reform issues. But we’re not just about election laws–we’ll be launching a series of effective grassroot actions and digital campaigns that will mobilize a critical mass of Americans to join the democracy reform movement.

 

INTERNSHIP OVERVIEW

Are you frustrated by how dysfunctional our democracy is, but hopeful that change is possible? Do you cringe at the money primary horse race in which a candidate’s campaign fundraising haul is more newsworthy than his or her ideas? Are you sick and tired of America’s arcane and anti-democratic Electoral College used to choose our president? Are you ready to do something to fix our democracy?

If so, apply to work with us at Equal Citizens this summer! Our internship program provides hands-on experience with innovative digital campaigns and an in-depth understanding of the democracy reform movement. It’s our goal to offer our interns the opportunity to build the skills and experience they need to launch their careers.

 

RESPONSIBILITIES & REQUIREMENTS

Interns will be essential members of our team, integrated into many aspects of our daily routine. Our work requires someone who is passionate about democracy reform and learning new things; a self-starter; comfortable working on their own and as a team; detail-oriented (we work in complex policy, so attention to detail is critical); organized; and upbeat!

The Research Intern will assist in analyzing political, legal, and legislative issues related to our democracy reform platform. The Intern will also provide research assistance to our digital and legal teams as necessary.

 

Responsibilities

• Gathering data and information on both federal and state policies related to our policy platform
• Synthesizing research into memo/fact sheets on a variety of topics
• Assisting in writing various content such as op-eds, blog posts, legal briefs, and web copies
• Fact checking

 

Requirements

• A workable knowledge of American democracy, political institutions, and current events
• A habit of reading the news (not just what your friends post on social media)
• Extreme attention to detail
• A desire to go to the root of a research topic and explore it fully
• Proficiency with word processing and spreadsheet softwares
• Strong writing skills

 

ABOUT OUR 2018 SUMMER INTERNSHIP PROGRAM

• The desired start date is May/June 2018
• The duration is 12 weeks, with possibility for an extension based on performance
• The time commitment is 15-20 hours per week
• The stipend is $12/hr for undergraduate or $15/hr for graduate students. (Instead of stipend, interns can choose to receive academic credit.)
• The internship program is based in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Remote work candidates are considered only in exceptional circumstances.

 

HOW TO APPLY

Please send your resume and a cover letter to Adam Eichen at [email protected] with the subject line “Summer 2018 Intern – Research”

In the cover letter, please answer the following questions:

• Why are you interested in working for Equal Citizens?
• How do your skills fit each point listed under the “Requirements” section?
• Include a link to a democracy reform-related digital content (social media post, written article, graphic, etc.) that you think is particularly effective. Explain why you think it’s effective, what makes it effective, and how you would improve it.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Incomplete applications will not be considered.