Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Justice Policy Intern

🎯 Role Definition

The Justice Policy Intern is a developmental role designed to provide substantive, hands-on experience in the mechanics of policy analysis, advocacy, and research within the justice reform landscape. This position supports the work of policy analysts, attorneys, and senior leadership by contributing to the development and promotion of evidence-based policies aimed at creating a more fair, equitable, and effective justice system. The intern is an integral team member, offering critical research and analytical capacity while gaining firsthand exposure to the legislative process, coalition building, and the day-to-day operations of a policy-focused organization. This role is ideal for an individual deeply committed to social and racial justice who seeks to build a foundational skill set for a career in public policy, law, or advocacy.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Undergraduate or Graduate Student (Law, Public Policy, Sociology, Political Science, Criminology)
Recent Graduate with a demonstrated passion for social justice issues
Paralegal or Legal Assistant seeking a transition into policy work

Advancement To:

Policy Analyst / Research Associate
Legislative Aide or Staffer
Community Organizer or Advocacy Associate

Lateral Moves:

Communications Associate (with a focus on advocacy)
Data Analyst (in the social impact or non-profit sector)

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Conduct comprehensive legal, legislative, and social science research on a wide range of state and federal criminal justice issues, including sentencing reform, policing practices, prosecutorial discretion, juvenile justice, and reentry challenges.
Draft, edit, and proofread a variety of written materials, such as internal policy memos, issue briefs, factsheets, public testimony, and content for reports intended for policymakers and the general public.
Monitor, track, and analyze the progress of relevant legislation and administrative regulations at the local, state, and/or federal levels using legislative tracking software and government websites.
Prepare detailed summaries and analyses of proposed bills, academic studies, and government reports to inform the organization's policy positions and advocacy strategies.
Attend and report on legislative hearings, committee markups, coalition meetings, academic panels, and other relevant events, providing timely readouts to the policy team.
Assist in the development of advocacy materials, including talking points, letters to elected officials, and social media content, to support specific policy campaigns.
Collect, organize, and perform preliminary analysis on quantitative and qualitative data from government agencies, academic institutions, and other sources to support research projects.
Provide logistical and substantive support for meetings with stakeholders, which may include elected officials, government agency staff, community partners, and individuals impacted by the justice system.
s- Help maintain databases and contact lists of key legislative staff, coalition partners, and subject matter experts to facilitate effective communication and outreach.
Contribute to the writing and research for grant proposals and funding reports by compiling data and narrative descriptions of the organization's policy work and impact.
Respond to information requests from internal staff, coalition partners, and the public regarding the organization's research and policy positions.
Assist in the planning and execution of policy-related events, such as briefings, webinars, and conferences, by helping with materials preparation and logistics.
Participate actively in team strategy sessions, offering insights and analysis to contribute to the direction of ongoing and future policy projects.
Fact-check reports, publications, and external communications to ensure the accuracy and integrity of all organizational outputs.
Create presentations, charts, and infographics to visually represent complex data and policy concepts for a variety of audiences.
Review and summarize news coverage and academic journal articles relevant to the organization's priority areas to keep the team informed of the latest developments.
Support the policy team in building and maintaining relationships with a diverse network of advocacy organizations, academic experts, and community leaders.
Assist with the maintenance of the organization's online resource library, ensuring that reports, briefs, and data are up-to-date and accessible.
Perform comparative policy analysis, examining how different jurisdictions have approached specific justice system challenges and evaluating the outcomes of various reforms.
Transcribe interviews and focus group discussions with stakeholders or individuals with lived experience to inform qualitative research efforts.

Secondary Functions

Support ad-hoc data requests and exploratory data analysis to answer emergent questions from the policy or communications teams.
Contribute to the organization's long-term data strategy and roadmap by identifying useful datasets and potential research avenues.
Collaborate with communications and digital departments to translate complex policy needs and research findings into compelling public-facing content.
Participate in sprint planning and agile ceremonies if working within an integrated team, helping to define tasks and timelines for policy-related projects.
Provide general administrative support to the policy department as needed, including scheduling, note-taking, and organizing digital files.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Legal & Policy Research: Proficiency in conducting research using legal databases (e.g., Westlaw, LexisNexis), academic search engines, and government websites.
Quantitative & Qualitative Analysis: Experience with basic data analysis and visualization using tools like Microsoft Excel (pivot tables, charting), and familiarity with statistical software (e.g., SPSS, Stata, R) is a strong plus.
Legislative Tracking: Ability to monitor and analyze legislation using state/federal legislative information systems or platforms like FiscalNote or Quorum.
Writing & Citation Management: Exceptional ability to synthesize complex information into clear, concise prose; proficiency with citation standards (e.g., Bluebook, APA) is highly valued.
Microsoft Office/Google Workspace: High level of proficiency with Word/Docs, PowerPoint/Slides, and Excel/Sheets for drafting documents, creating presentations, and managing data.

Soft Skills

Critical Thinking & Analytical Acumen: Ability to deconstruct complex problems, identify key assumptions, and evaluate evidence from multiple sources to form sound judgments.
Exceptional Communication: Superior written and oral communication skills, with the ability to tailor messages to diverse audiences, from legal experts to community members.
running- Commitment to Mission: A deeply held and clearly articulated commitment to social, economic, and racial justice and the principles of criminal justice reform.
Initiative & Self-Direction: Proactive and resourceful with the ability to manage multiple tasks concurrently, prioritize effectively, and work independently with minimal supervision.
Collaboration & Teamwork: A flexible and collaborative spirit, with the ability to work effectively as part of a team, receive constructive feedback, and support colleagues.
Attention to Detail: Meticulous and thorough, with a commitment to producing high-quality, accurate work.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Currently enrolled in or a recent graduate of an undergraduate or graduate degree program.

Preferred Education:

Actively pursuing or recently completed a Juris Doctor (JD), Master of Public Policy (MPP), Master of Public Administration (MPA), PhD, or a related advanced degree.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Law / Pre-Law
Public Policy
Criminal Justice / Criminology
Political Science
Sociology
Economics
Public Health

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

0-2 years. Experience is often gained through substantive academic coursework, previous internships, volunteer work in a relevant field, or campus organizing.

Preferred:

Demonstrated, genuine interest in criminal justice, civil liberties, or public interest policy, evidenced by coursework, clinical experience, prior employment, or volunteer activities. Lived experience related to the justice system is also highly valued.