Summer 2026 - Law Intern, Sentencing Reform

About the team:

Vera aims to transform the criminal legal and immigration systems until they are fair for all. The Sentencing Reform project seeks to change excessive sentences that emerged in the “tough on crime” era of the 1980s and 1990s and are still prevalent. The Sentencing Project is working in New York, Illinois and Michigan to advocate for sentencing changes that deliver safety and repair harm through decreasing the use and length of prison sentences prospectively and providing opportunities for people serving long sentences to reduce their time behind bars through rehabilitation and good behavior. Vera’s assets of advocacy, research, and strategic messaging and communications make us well positioned to take on this work, in coalition with others, particularly crime survivors. 

The Law Intern will conduct legal research about sentencing law and policy in the three target states as well as others as needed. Reporting to the Director of Sentencing Reform, the Law Intern will learn:

• To do statutory and case law research about sentencing law

• To understand how this research affects ongoing legislative campaigns to reform sentencing laws

About the role:

1. Policy research

• State, and local policy, legal and legislative research

• Researching scholarly and media reports about campaigning for sentencing reforms

2. Drafting memos about sentencing law and policy

3. Assisting with special events and programming like workshops and training.

What qualifications are we looking for?

• Required: Law student

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities you'll bring:

• Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite

Technical knowledge helpful for this role:

• Zoom, PowerPoint, Microsoft Office Suite, Google, etc.

Location:

Please note this role will report to our Brooklyn, NY 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 Intern, Sentencing Reform
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.