Summer 2026 - Law and Policy Intern, Vera Louisiana

About the team:

The Law & Policy Intern will provide a wide range of support for our ongoing projects, including advancing prosecution reform, jail population reduction, increasing investment in thriving communities, and in multiple parishes and at the state legislature. The Law & Policy Intern will be supervised primarily by the Senior Program Associate and will complete a variety of projects with other staff. This internship will provide an opportunity for the intern to gain knowledge and experience in research, writing, advocacy, local and state government relations, and criminal legal systems in New Orleans and other parts of Louisiana. The intern should be available to work up to 35 hours per week during the Summer months from the New Orleans office.

The Law & Policy Intern will learn to:

• Conduct policy & legal research related to incarceration rates and budgets

• Support advocacy efforts by drafting memos, summaries, and written materials for internal and external stakeholders

• Navigate local and state government processes, including engagement with parish level systems and the LA State legislature

• Analyze and understand criminal legal systems in New Orleans and across the state with attention to how policy decisions impact communities

About the role:

Research and analysis

• Conduct legal research and writing

• Review, organize, and analyze public records

• Observe criminal and magistrate court proceedings and City Council meetings and budget hearings

Partnership support

• Attend coalition and partner organization meetings

Advocacy

• Prepare for and engage in public policy advocacy

Administrative

• Provide support for planned events and other related responsibilities that may arise

What qualifications are we looking for?

Required:

• Currently enrolled in law school or post-graduate policy program

• Interest in a nonprofit career, particularly in criminal justice related policy reform, and advocacy

• Excellent written and interpersonal communication skills

• Residence in or ability to be present in Louisiana for duration of internship

Preferred:

• Demonstrated connection to Louisiana, New Orleans, or the Deep South

• Willingness to travel to Baton Rouge on occasion

Technical knowledge helpful for this role:

Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite or similar software

Location:

Please note this role will report to our New Orleans, LA office. Vera employees adhere to a hybrid schedule and are in-office on an alternating schedule that generally amounts to 10 days per month.

Compensation and Benefits:

The compensation range for this position is $17.00 - $25.00. Actual salaries will vary depending on factors including but not limited to experience and performance. The salary range listed is just one component of Vera Institute’s total compensation package for employees. As an employer of choice in our field, supporting Vera staff - both personally and professionally - is a priority. To do this, we invest in the well-being of our staff through other rewards including merit pay, generous paid time off, a comprehensive health insurance plan, student loan repayment benefits, professional development training opportunities and up to $2,000 annual for education costs and fees relevant to Vera work, employer-funded retirement plan, and flexible time. To learn more about Vera’s benefits offerings, click here.

Application Process:

To receive further consideration for this career opportunity, applicants are asked preliminary questions about logistics, their interest and qualifications. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional details about their experience via a phone screen/form in advance of an invitation for a virtual or in-person interview with the team. Some searches may explore scenarios during the interview process and/or an assessment prior to reference checks and a hiring decision.

Applications may also be faxed to:

ATTN: People, Place, and Culture / Summer 2026 - Law and Policy Intern, Vera Louisiana
Vera Institute of Justice
34 35th St, Suite 4-2A, Brooklyn, NY 11232
Fax: (212) 941-9407
Please use only one method (online, mail or fax) of submission.
No phone calls, please. Only applicants selected for interviews will be contacted.

Vera is an equal opportunity / affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without unlawful discrimination based on race, color, creed, national origin, sex, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, military status, prior record of arrest or conviction, citizenship status, current employment status, or caregiver status.

Vera works to advance justice, particularly racial justice, in an increasingly multicultural country and globally connected world. We value diverse experiences, including with regard to educational background and justice system contact, and depend on a diverse staff to carry out our mission.

For more information about Vera, please visit www.vera.org.