Internships

Image shows Helena capitol building with internship text.

 

Summer 2026 Internship with the Indian Law Resource Center

 

Founded in 1978, the Indian Law Resource Center (“Center”) is a non-profit law and advocacy organization that assists Indian nations and indigenous peoples in the United States and throughout the Americas. Working to establish national and international legal standards, the Center provides legal assistance to indigenous peoples to combat racism and oppression; to protect their lands and environment; to protect their cultures and ways of life; to achieve sustainable economic development and genuine self-government; and to realize their other human rights. We are also committed to developing new attorneys in the fields of Indian law and international human rights law.

The Center welcomes applicants for the Terrance A. Sidley and John D.B. Lewis paid legal fellowships for summer 2026. The Center’s summer fellowship program requires a minimum eight-week, full-time commitment and is open to students completing either their first or second year of law school. The fellowship entails legal research and writing on major Indian rights issues related to current projects of the Center. Applicants who wish to pursue relevant, existing research projects alongside their work assignments will be considered. 

Fellows will be asked to attend our in-person Summer 2026 Board/Staff meeting and to spend some time in both our Helena and Washington, D.C. offices. The Center offers a stipend equivalent to $23 per hour. Additional financial support is provided to allow for fellows to travel between our D.C. and Helena offices. Travel and in-office dates are flexible. Applicants are encouraged to seek additional or alternative funding through scholarships or their law school's public interest programs. 

Required Qualifications:
  • Completed 1L or 2L year by summer 2026
  • Excellent legal research and writing abilities
  • Experience writing legal memoranda 
Preferred Qualifications
  • Coursework in federal Indian law and/or international human rights strongly preferred
  • Proficiency in Spanish and/or Portuguese
  • Familiarity with Indigenous communities and issues 
How to Apply:

Email the following application materials to Melanie Dayton at [email protected] with the subject line "Summer 2026 Internship":

  • Cover letter (include office preference)
  • Resume
  • Law school transcript (official or unofficial transcripts accepted)
  • Legal writing sample (must be the applicant's own, original writing)
  • References (2) (at least one legal or law school reference)

Please combine the application materials into one PDF attachment, if possible. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and will be accepted as long as this announcement is posted at www.indianlaw.org/content/internships.

Applications for rising 3Ls will be accepted while this ad is posted, but no later than November 30th.  

Applications for rising 2Ls will be accepted while this ad is posted, but no later than February 15.