Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence - Legal Internship

Location
Washington, D.C.
Industries
Advocacy / Grassroots
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Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence - Legal Internship 


***FINALIST APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS: All applicants are required to submit a resume (one page), statement of interest (one page), and two references by the application deadline. If selected as a finalist, applicants to this host organization may be required to submit the following additional materials directly to the host organization after the application deadline:

  • Writing Sample

IMPORTNAT INFORMATION: U.S. Citizenship is required for this position.

FORMAT: Our office is able to host a REMOTE OR IN-PERSON intern (depending on mutual preference).

TIME ZONE: Eastern

WORKING HOURS: There is flexibility regarding which hours the intern works.

ABOUT US: Brady has one powerful mission — to unite all Americans against gun violence.

Each year, 40,000 people in the U.S. die from gun violence. We can change that. No organization has a more comprehensive and systematic approach to ending America’s gun violence epidemic. They say it can't be done. But we know Americans can do anything. Even end this epidemic of gun violence. For we are more powerful than any problem when we work as one. Now is the time to unite people, from coast to coast, young and old, liberal and conservative, fed up and fired up, and free our country from what is killing us. It's in our hands.

Brady approaches ending gun violence in America in three critical ways: changing the laws, changing the industry, and changing the culture. Our three-pronged approach is unique among gun violence prevention organizations and is founded on the need for ensuring responsible gun ownership. This strategy follows the roadmap behind other successful social change campaigns, including those to prevent drunk driving, promote seatbelt use, and reduce youth smoking.

At Brady, gun violence is personal. From our founder, to our namesakes, to today, we are survivor-led – it’s our legacy, it’s our lineage, and it’s our present. Many of our leaders and team members know firsthand the devastating toll gun violence takes. That real-life experience, paired with professional expertise, gives us a deep understanding of the solutions we need to save lives. We won't stop until no other family or community experiences the tragedy of gun violence.

For more than 40 years, the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence has been the leading national voice in the prevention of gun violence with an unrivaled history of success. The Brady Bill, which was signed into law in 1993, remains the single most effective gun violence prevention policy in history, with Brady background checks blocking more than 3 million sales of guns to prohibited purchasers such as domestic abusers, convicted violent criminals, and people with dangerous mental illnesses. In the words of President Bill Clinton, “countless people are alive today” because of the work of Jim and Sarah Brady and the Brady Center.

RESPONSIBILITIES & PROJECTS: Interns will take on a variety of projects critical for the development and litigation of potential and current cases with our Affirmative Litigation team, as well as become involved in our constitutional space. They will work closely with Brady lawyers to draft memos on assigned topics, conduct factual research, and delve into some of the most rapidly developing areas of law. They will garner knowledge of several of our current gun industry accountability cases and Second Amendment amicus portfolio. They will become part of the innovative and academically stimulating environment that helps to create strong gun violence prevention precedent throughout the country.

Interns will gain hands-on litigation experience and will support all phases of legal advocacy, including developing new cases, helping prepare for trial and depositions, assisting with discovery, monitoring and exploring developments in gun violence litigation, and conducting research. Aimed at ending chronic violence that perpetuates cycles of poverty, most of our litigation is working to deter gun suppliers’ exploitation of low-income communities. Our interns support civil suits against the gun industry’s distribution of firearms to dealers despite knowing that those dealers will sell guns to traffickers, allow straw purchases, and fail to conduct proper background checks.

Interns will also have the opportunity to help conduct research for amicus briefs and track and analyze constitutional law issues (including the Second Amendment). Finally, our interns would be able to assist in our racial justice research.

Brady is looking for undergraduate students who are passionate about gun violence prevention, impact litigation, and racial justice.

Duties and Responsibilities: 

  • Conduct factual research in support of active litigation 
  • Review and index materials obtained in discovery 

  • Write memos on assigned legal topics in support of litigation

    Skills and Experience:

  • Strong writing skills, including precise grammar, punctuation, and spelling
  • Ability to work well under pressure within a fast-paced, high-performing team
  • Strong desire to be a key team contributor
  • Self-motivated, creative, dependable and accountable.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: Interns work with leading experts, engage in collaborative projects, and connect with a cohort of like-minded peers. Each intern is paired with an Intern Advocate for mentorship and goal-setting, while being actively included in team meetings, presentations, and calls. Enjoy opportunities for cross-departmental collaboration, engaging “Lunch & Learns,” social activities, and specialized training.

EQUIPMENT & SOFTWARE: 

  • Access to high-speed Wi-Fi
  • Personal Laptop
  • Web Camera
  • Microsoft Office (Word, Powerpoint, Excel)