Legal Intern (Summer 2026)

About Gusto

At Gusto, we're on a mission to grow the small business economy. We handle the hard stuff—like payroll, health insurance, 401(k)s, and HR—so owners can focus on their craft and customers. With teams in Denver, San Francisco, and New York, we’re proud to support more than 400,000 small businesses across the country, and we’re building a workplace that represents and celebrates the customers we serve. Learn more about our Total Rewards philosophy.

About the Role:

This isn't your typical legal internship. Gusto’s Legal & Compliance (L&C) team is redefining what in-house legal looks like in the AI era and we’re looking for a Legal Intern who’s ready to help us build the future.

Over the course of a 12-week hybrid summer program, you’ll be embedded in a team that’s not just providing legal support. We’re pioneering new ways of working that blend legal excellence with cutting-edge technology. You’ll gain hands-on experience across multiple disciplines from privacy and product counseling to commercial transactions and corporate governance while also exploring how AI and automation are transforming legal practice.

If you’re a 1L who’s intellectually curious, tech-savvy, and driven to experiment at the intersection of law, innovation, and business, this is your opportunity to see what a modern legal career can look like.

About the Team:

Legal & Compliance partners with teams across Gusto to enable innovation, drive responsible growth, and guide Gusto through a dynamic regulatory environment. We’re builders at heart using creativity, technology, and deep legal judgment to help shape how legal teams can operate smarter, faster, and more collaboratively. Every team member is an owner, and every project is a chance to make a lasting impact.

Deadline to Apply: Friday, January 16th, 2026

Here’s what you’ll do day-to-day:

• Tackle real projects with real impact. Research, draft, and advise on topics spanning privacy, AI, advertising, employment, intellectual property, and product compliance.

• Work across disciplines. Partner with Product Counsel, Commercial Counsel, and cross-functional teams to translate complex legal issues into practical business guidance.

• Experiment and innovate. Help design, test, and refine AI-assisted workflows that make legal processes more efficient and intelligent.

• Build your craft. Develop your skills in legal research, writing, and contract drafting all while seeing how a world-class legal team operates in a fast-paced tech environment.

• Shape the future of legal operations. Contribute to innovation projects and help document best practices that push the boundaries of what a tech-forward legal team can achieve.

Here’s what we're looking for:

• Current 1L student at an accredited law school.

• Exceptional legal research, writing, and analytical skills.

• Curiosity about technology, AI, and how innovation can reshape legal work.

• Strong communication skills able to translate complex concepts for non-legal audiences.

• Highly organized with strong attention to detail.

• Collaborative, proactive, and eager to learn from a multidisciplinary environment.

• Must have U.S. work authorization; this role is not eligible for sponsorship.

Our cash compensation amount for this role is $38.00/hr in Denver and $45.00/hr in San Francisco & New York.

Gusto has physical office spaces in Denver, San Francisco, and New York City. Employees who are based in those locations will be expected to work from the office on designated days approximately 2-3 days per week (or more depending on role). The same office expectations apply to all Symmetry roles, Gusto's subsidiary, whose physical office is in Scottsdale.

Note: The San Francisco office expectations encompass both the San Francisco and San Jose metro areas.

When approved to work from a location other than a Gusto office, a secure, reliable, and consistent internet connection is required. This includes non-office days for hybrid employees.

Our customers come from all walks of life and so do we. We hire great people from a wide variety of backgrounds, not just because it's the right thing to do, but because it makes our company stronger. If you share our values and our enthusiasm for small businesses, you will find a home at Gusto.

Gusto is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate in hiring or any employment decision based on race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), marital status, ancestry, physical or mental disability, genetic information, veteran status, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, or other applicable legally protected characteristic. Gusto considers qualified applicants with criminal histories, consistent with applicable federal, state and local law. Gusto is also committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in our job application procedures. We want to see our candidates perform to the best of their ability. If you require a medical or religious accommodation at any time throughout your candidate journey, please fill out this form and a member of our team will get in touch with you.

Gusto takes security and protection of your personal information very seriously. Please review our Fraudulent Activity Disclaimer.

Personal information collected and processed as part of your Gusto application will be subject to Gusto's Applicant Privacy Notice.