15 Legal Internships for Undergraduates in Philadelphia
If you are interested in law, internships help you understand legal systems, develop analytical thinking, and gain familiarity with legal writing and casework. This list has been curated based on program prestige, the rigor of hands-on legal experience, and the quality of networking opportunities available. Philadelphia, with its strong legal ecosystem and proximity to major courts, law firms, and public institutions, offers a wide range of meaningful opportunities.
If you’re interested, check out other law internships available to undergraduates here!
Why should I do a legal internship in college?
A legal internship provides direct exposure to how laws are interpreted, researched, and applied in professional settings. You develop core skills such as legal research, case analysis, drafting memos, and understanding court procedures, which are essential for law school and legal careers. These experiences also strengthen your law school applications by demonstrating initiative and familiarity with the field. Additionally, internships allow you to work with attorneys, judges, and policy professionals, helping you build a network that can support future opportunities. By gaining practical experience early, you improve your employability and readiness for competitive legal roles after graduation.
To help you with your search, below is a list of the 15 best legal internships for undergraduates in Philadelphia.
Quick Look
15 internships total spanning civil liberties, immigration, reproductive rights, consumer protection, criminal justice, employment discrimination, and constitutional law, hosted by organizations including the ACLU of Pennsylvania, the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office, the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia, and the National Constitution Center
The strongest disclosed stipends are the FIRE Summer Internship ($6,400) and the Harvard IOP x Philadelphia DA's Conviction Integrity Unit ($6,000), both highly selective and research-intensive
Two Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General internships appear on this list with distinct placements: the Bureau of Consumer Protection focuses on mediation and consumer law, while the Intelligence Unit focuses on investigative support and criminal analytics
Most programs are unpaid or minimally stipended, with the City of Philadelphia's Mayor's Internship Program ($18 per hour) standing out as the most accessible paid option
Several programs are year-round with rolling deadlines, including HIAS Pennsylvania, Solow Hartnett & Galvan, Women's Law Project, and Rosenblum Law
1. Clara Bell Duvall Reproductive Freedom Project Internship
Location: Philadelphia, PA (in-person)
Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; typically 1–3 interns per term
Dates: Academic year and summer (flexible; semester-based or summer commitment)
Application Deadline: Rolling basis
Eligibility: Undergraduate and graduate students with strong research/writing skills and an interest in reproductive justice
The Clara Bell Duvall Reproductive Freedom Project Internship offers a policy-focused legal experience within the ACLU of Pennsylvania. Their undergraduate internship, based out of the ACLU-PA's Philadelphia office, is a hands-on advocacy program designed to train the next generation of reproductive justice leaders. In this role, you work on substantive projects related to reproductive rights, contributing to research, advocacy, and public policy initiatives. You collaborate closely with staff in a team-oriented environment, where your input is incorporated into ongoing work. The internship emphasizes skill development in legal research, writing, and issue analysis, along with mentorship from professionals in civil liberties advocacy.
2. Ladder University Internship Program
Location: Remote (work from anywhere)
Cost/Stipend: Cost varies depending on the program type; financial aid is available / No stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 10–25%; 70–100 students per cohort
Dates: Multiple cohorts (Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter)
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort (January, May, September, November)
Eligibility: Undergraduates or gap year students able to commit 10–20 hours/week for 8–12 weeks
The Ladder University Internship Program is a selective virtual opportunity where you work with startups and nonprofits, including those operating in legal, policy, and compliance-related spaces. During the internship, you contribute to a real-world project that addresses an actual organizational need, which may involve research, policy analysis, or operational strategy. You work closely with a manager, gaining insight into how early-stage organizations approach problem-solving and decision-making. The program emphasizes ownership and practical output, culminating in a final presentation of your work. Apply now!
3. FIRE Summer Internship Program
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Stipend: $6,400
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; 8–12 undergraduate interns
Dates: June 2 – August 7
Application Deadline: February 15
Eligibility: Undergraduate students, rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors in the U.S.
The FIRE Summer Internship Program offers a focused legal and policy experience centered on First Amendment rights and civil liberties. During the program, you work on research, policy analysis, and advocacy projects related to free speech and due process on college campuses. You collaborate with teams across defense, legislation, media, and student outreach, gaining exposure to how legal advocacy organizations operate. The internship also includes weekly seminars with experts, where you study constitutional principles and engage in discussions on civil liberties. In addition to research work, you help organize and lead initiatives such as conferences and educational programs, building leadership and communication skills.
4. HIAS Pennsylvania Legal Internship / Externship
Location: Philadelphia, PA (in-person)
Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; limited positions
Dates: Fall (September start), Spring (January start), and Summer (June start)
Application Deadline: Rolling until filled
Eligibility: College students with an interest in immigrant and refugee rights
The HIAS Pennsylvania Legal Internship provides a public interest law experience focused on immigration and refugee services. HIAS PA is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing legal and supportive services to these vulnerable populations. During the internship, you support legal services teams working on cases related to asylum, immigration status, and refugee assistance. You contribute to research, case preparation, and administrative support, gaining insight into immigration law procedures and client advocacy. The role requires a consistent time commitment, particularly during the summer, and offers exposure to real-world legal challenges faced by vulnerable populations.
5. Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General – 2026 Spring Non-legal Intern — Bureau of Consumer Protection
Location: Philadelphia, PA — Bureau of Consumer Protection, Public Protection Division, Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General
Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; cohort size not specified
Dates: Spring academic semester
Application Deadline: November 16
Eligibility: Currently enrolled undergraduates in good standing and who have completed at least 60 course credits towards a bachelor’s degree or equivalent
In this internship, you support the team that enforces Pennsylvania's consumer protection laws and runs the Commonwealth's statewide mediation program seeking restitution, refunds, or other relief for consumers and businesses. Working alongside consumer protection agents and attorneys, you help process incoming consumer complaints, support the mediation correspondence that contacts both the consumer and the business to resolve disputes, mostly by letter, organize case and complaint records, and assist with consumer-education outreach. The role gives you a close view of how a state attorney general applies unfair-trade-practices law, documents patterns of business misconduct, and decides when to escalate from mediation to formal legal action.
6. Center for Ethics and the Rule of Law (CERL) Summer Internship Program
Location: Philadelphia, PA (typically in-person; may vary)
Stipend: Limited stipends are available on a competitive basis for students unable to secure outside funding
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; 16 interns (combined across undergraduate, graduate, and law students)
Dates: June 1 – July 31
Application Deadline: April 15
Eligibility: Advanced undergraduates interested in national security, ethics, and the rule of law
The CERL Summer Internship Program provides a research-driven legal and policy experience focused on national security and ethics. The program prepares students interested in national security by providing a strong foundation in ethics and the rule of law, ensuring that their future decision-making in policy, law, or military service is rooted in democratic values. During the program, you work in teams under expert supervision, conducting research on rule-of-law issues and contributing to policy discussions and academic outputs. You assist in organizing conferences and workshops, engage with scholars and practitioners, and may publish written work through CERL platforms.
7. Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General – 2026 Spring Non-legal Intern — Intelligence Unit
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; cohort size is not stated
Dates: Spring academic term
Application Deadline: Typically, mid-October
Eligibility: Currently enrolled undergraduate students in good standing who have completed a minimum of 60 course credits towards a bachelor’s degree or equivalent
This program is a non‑legal placement embedded in the Criminal Law Division's investigative services that supports the Commonwealth's prosecutors and agents. Working alongside criminal intelligence analysts, you help organize and review case information and assist with analytical support tasks such as mapping, building timelines, and creating association charts that feed active investigations. You see firsthand how investigators collect information and how analysts evaluate, verify, and turn it into intelligence products used by attorneys and law enforcement partners. The role sharpens research, data organization, and analytical writing skills within a confidential law enforcement setting. You also gain exposure to leaders in law and government through the Office's broader internship programming.
8. Solow, Hartnett and Galvan Immigration Law Internship
Location: Philadelphia, PA (also New Jersey and Kennett Square offices)
Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; limited positions
Dates: Year-round (flexible based on availability)
Application Deadline: Rolling basis
Eligibility: College-aged students interested in immigration law
The Solow, Hartnett, and Galvan Immigration Law Internship provides a practical introduction to legal work within a private immigration law firm. You can intern as an Immigration Law Clerk or Paralegal Intern, supporting attorneys with case-related tasks such as document preparation, legal research, and administrative coordination. The internship offers exposure to real client matters, helping you understand immigration procedures and legal workflows in a firm setting. You work closely with legal professionals, gaining insight into client representation and case management.
9. Women’s Law Project (WLP) Internship
Location: Philadelphia, PA (hybrid; 2–3 days in-person)
Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; small cohort sizes
Dates: Summer (full-time) or academic year (part-time)
Application Deadline: Rolling until filled
Eligibility: Undergraduate students interested in gender justice and public interest law
The Women’s Law Project Internship offers a public interest legal experience focused on gender equity and civil rights advocacy. In this role, you support work across impact litigation, policy advocacy, and public education initiatives addressing issues such as discrimination, reproductive rights, and LGBTQ+ justice. You contribute through legal research, writing, and analysis, and may assist with ongoing cases or policy efforts. The application process includes submitting a writing sample on a current gender justice issue, reflecting the program’s emphasis on critical thinking and communication.
10. Harvard Institute of Politics + Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office – Director’s Internship Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office, Conviction Integrity Unit
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (in-person)
Stipend: $6,000
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; 1 intern
Dates: Summer; at least 8 weeks between the first week of June and the second week of August
Application Deadline: February 1
Eligibility: Currently enrolled Harvard College undergraduates who intend to be enrolled the following fall semester; prior IOP involvement is not required, and first-year students may apply; pass a criminal background check
In this program, you join the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office Conviction Integrity Unit, the team investigating credible claims of actual innocence and wrongful conviction that has produced more than 40 exonerations since 2018. Working directly with its eight attorneys and three paralegals, you review old case files and synthesize trial transcripts, witness interviews, and related records to surface evidence of injustice. You may also help draft letters supporting inmates' clemency applications, building your legal research, document analysis, and persuasive writing skills. The work rewards close attention to detail and a grasp of the factors that drive wrongful convictions. Because the CIU reports directly to the District Attorney and stays separate from the units that prosecute cases, you see post-conviction review from an independent vantage point.
11. National Constitution Center – Internships
Location: National Constitution Center, Philadelphia, PA
Stipend: Paid, amount not disclosed
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; cohort size not specified
Dates: Spring, summer, and fall terms
Application Deadline: Rolling basis
Eligibility: Currently enrolled college students, with upperclassmen status or prior nonprofit internship experience preferred
In this program, you would join the National Constitution Center, the nonpartisan institution chartered by Congress to advance public understanding of the U.S. Constitution, ideally within its constitutional content department, the team most closely tied to legal scholarship. Working alongside the Center's content staff, you would engage directly with constitutional and legal subject matter, including the text of the Constitution, landmark Supreme Court cases, and founding-era documents that anchor American constitutional law. Your work could involve constitutional and legal research, supporting nonpartisan analysis of constitutional questions, organizing and fact-checking scholarly content, and assisting with flagship resources such as the Interactive Constitution and Supreme Court case materials.
12. Rosenblum Law Internship Program
Location: Multiple offices, including Philadelphia. Check here
Stipend: Unpaid initially; performance-based compensation ($7,000 – $9,000 per month) available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; cohort size not specified
Dates: Year-round (long-term commitment preferred; typically 1 year+)
Application Deadline: Rolling basis
Eligibility: Undergraduate students
The Rosenblum Law Internship Program provides an immersive experience in private legal practice across areas such as criminal defense, family law, and estate planning. During the internship, you work closely with attorneys on client consultations, case preparation, and court-related activities, gaining direct exposure to legal proceedings and client interaction. The program emphasizes practical skill development, particularly in communication, legal strategy, and professional conduct. You also receive mentorship from experienced lawyers, helping you navigate career decisions and prepare for law school.
13. Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia – Summer Intern, Supervision Regulation & Credit, Consumer Compliance Outreach
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Stipend: Paid hourly, rate not disclosed
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; individual law-student internship role, with specific cohort size not published
Dates: Late May – Mid-July
Application Deadline: Open until the position is filled
Eligibility: Full-time undergraduate students enrolled in an accredited four-year college or university; have a strong academic record
As a legal summer intern with the Philadelphia Fed's Supervision, Regulation & Credit function, you perform legal research, writing, and editing centered on federal consumer protection laws. You draft and proofread articles for Consumer Compliance Outlook, the Bank's outreach publication for bankers, and support bank examiners and consumer complaint staff in resolving complex legal questions. Working primarily in Lexis/Westlaw and the Microsoft Office Suite, you also help migrate and test the new Consumer Compliance Outlook website. The role sharpens regulatory research, legal analysis, and compliance-focused writing skills within a federal banking-supervision environment. A required writing sample signals the heavy emphasis on persuasive, accurate legal communication.
14. EEOC Philadelphia District Office Externship Program
Location: Philadelphia, PA (remote options available)
Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; limited positions
Dates: Fall, Spring, and Summer semesters (Summer typically runs 8 to 10 weeks)
Application Deadline: Summer (March 29), Fall (July 29), Spring (October 16)
Eligibility: Currently enrolled undergraduate students who have completed their sophomore year of college
The EEOC Externship Program offers a hands-on legal experience focused on employment discrimination and civil rights enforcement. In this role, you assist in reviewing complaints, analyzing evidence, and supporting investigations into workplace discrimination under federal law. You may also help interview individuals, draft charges, and contribute to case files, gaining exposure to real legal processes. Depending on placement, you can observe mediation sessions, settlement discussions, or administrative hearings. The program emphasizes the development of research, analytical, and writing skills while working closely with investigators or administrative judges.
15. City of Philadelphia – Mayor’s Internship Program — City Agency Placement
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Stipend: $18 per hour
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; about 50 college students
Dates: June 8 – August 14
Application Deadline: March 20
Eligibility: Undergraduate students who will have completed their sophomore year before June; community college students who will have completed their second year before June
As a Mayor's Intern, you spend 10 weeks inside one of more than 40 City of Philadelphia agencies, where you can target legally oriented offices and contribute research, administrative tasks, and support work for municipal leaders. You take on substantive assignments under a City leader or area expert, analyze policy and regulatory questions, and complete a group or capstone project that you present to the mayor or senior leadership at the closing ceremony. On select Fridays, professional development sessions build communication, teamwork, networking, and workplace readiness. You gain hands-on insight into how law, policy, and governance shape a major municipality.
Questions Students Often Ask About These Programs
1. I'm not sure I want to go to law school yet. Are any of these internships useful even if I'm just exploring whether law is right for me?
Yes, most programs on this list are designed for undergraduates exploring the field rather than students who have already committed to a law school path. The City of Philadelphia's Mayor's Internship, the National Constitution Center, and the Pennsylvania Attorney General's non-legal internships are all well-suited for students who want to understand how law shapes real institutions and policy without requiring prior legal training. The CERL program is a good fit if you're interested in the intersection of law and ethics more broadly. Any of these would give you enough exposure to decide whether a legal career genuinely interests you before investing further.
2. How do the two Pennsylvania Attorney General internships differ from each other?
The Bureau of Consumer Protection placement focuses on civil legal work, where you help process complaints and support mediation between consumers and businesses under Pennsylvania's unfair trade practices law. The Intelligence Unit placement is embedded in the Criminal Law Division, where you support investigators and analysts working on active criminal cases, including building timelines and association charts from case files. If your interest is in civil law, consumer rights, or regulatory enforcement, the Consumer Protection track is the better fit; if you're drawn to criminal investigations and law enforcement workflows, the Intelligence Unit placement offers a fundamentally different kind of experience.
3. Several programs here (Clara Bell Duvall, HIAS Pennsylvania, Women's Law Project, ACLU) focus on advocacy and civil rights. How do these compare to the more courtroom-facing roles like the DA's office or EEOC?
Advocacy-focused programs like Clara Bell Duvall, Women's Law Project, and HIAS Pennsylvania center on legal research, policy analysis, and public education work rather than direct courtroom or case-processing tasks. The DA's Conviction Integrity Unit and EEOC Externship, by contrast, place you directly inside legal proceedings, reviewing case files, supporting investigations, or observing hearings and settlement discussions. Neither type is more valuable than the other, but the distinction matters when writing law school application essays. Advocacy placements are generally stronger for demonstrating policy thinking and social justice commitment, while case-processing placements are stronger for demonstrating procedural legal familiarity.