Human Rights Campaign Internship Requirements: A Comprehensive Guide
The Human Rights Campaign (HRC), as the largest LGBTQ+ civil rights organization in the United States, offers various internship opportunities for individuals passionate about advancing LGBTQ+ equality. These internships provide invaluable experiences in policy, advocacy, and organizational operations. This article aims to provide a detailed overview of HRC's internship requirements, application procedures, and available opportunities, drawing from various sources and examples.
Introduction to HRC Internships
HRC internships are designed to engage young people from diverse backgrounds in the organization's mission to achieve systemic equality, equity, and liberation for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) people. These internships offer a platform to contribute to the equality movement, gain practical experience, and develop a deeper understanding of LGBTQ+ issues.
NTBA believes in the power of fellowships and internships to shape careers and foster growth.
General Internship Information
Internship Sessions and Timelines
HRC offers internships in the spring, summer, and fall. Specific timelines are provided below:
- Fall and Spring Internships: Typically last for 13 weeks.
- Summer Internships: Usually run for 10-12 weeks.
It is important to note that HRC regularly conducts audits to ensure that the information posted remains accurate and up-to-date.
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Internship Format and Location
HRC internships may be offered in both in-person and remote formats, depending on mutual preference. The HRC office is located in Washington, D.C., and in-person interns are responsible for their own accommodations and transportation to the office.
Compensation
HRC internships are paid. Full-time interns working 30-37.5 hours per week receive a stipend:
- Fall and Spring Semesters: \$6,000 for 12 weeks.
- Summer Semester: \$5,000 for 10 weeks.
HRC will cooperate in an intern’s application for additional remuneration, including public interest grants and academic credit.
Eligibility and Qualifications
General Requirements
Applicants should possess a strong academic record, excellent interpersonal, legal research, and writing skills, and an interest in civil rights law and policy. Specific qualifications may vary depending on the department or program.
Academic Standing
HRC internships are open to students in various stages of their academic careers, including:
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- Undergraduates
- 1L, 2L, and 3L law students
Skills and Interests
In general, HRC seeks candidates with:
- Demonstrated interest and enthusiasm for policy and advocacy around LGBTQ+ issues.
- Ability to work in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
- Experience with Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, and Outlook).
- Knowledge of Federal & State Government Structure and workings a plus.
Some teams, such as Video or Graphic Design, look for specific skills like Photoshop or video editing.
Citizenship
Qualified international students have participated in the HRC Internship program. Non-U.S. citizens must have a valid student visa, green card, or other work authorization that permits them to work in the United States and are considered as a US person under IRS tax code. HRC is unable to offer assistance with obtaining a student visa - if you already have one you are welcome to apply.
Application Procedure
Application Process
Interested candidates can apply through HRC's online application portal. It is recommended to apply as early as possible, as applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.
Required Documents
The application typically requires the following documents:
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- Resume
- Cover letter
- Writing Sample
HRC recommends focusing on the essay questions and writing good essays for each question. They realize that this is many of our applicants' first internship and that many have never created a resume before.
References
HRC encourages your references to be supervisors, professors, or colleagues. Please avoid using friends or family members.
Interview Process
The interview process generally consists of two interviews:
- First Interview: A general interview for an internship position with HRC.
- Second Interview: If selected, a second interview will be conducted by the team that HRC deems to be the best fit based on the applicant's skills, experience, and interests. Applicants have the opportunity to express their department and team preferences during the first interview and in the application, but placement is not guaranteed.
Internship Opportunities and Departments
HRC offers internships across various departments, providing diverse experiences and opportunities. Some of the key departments include:
Policy and Political Affairs
Interns in this department may work on tasks such as:
- Tracking legislation
- Participating in hearings/viewing them online
- Drafting memos
- Monitoring and updating data sheets
- Working on a semester-long project related to a specific interest area
Legal Department
The HRC Legal Department represents the organization on cutting-edge issues before all three branches of federal, state and municipal government, our membership and the media. Law Fellows work with HRC attorneys, outside counsel from major national law firms, lobbyists, and organizational allies and congressional and administration staff members on legislative and regulatory matters. Practice areas include constitutional, education, employment, disability, family, benefits, tax, health care, immigration, military, and municipal law. Fellows undertake projects involving sophisticated legal research and writing, analysis and drafting of legislation and administrative regulations, legislative and regulatory advocacy and coalition work.
General Counsel’s Office
The HRC General Counsel’s Office provides comprehensive corporate legal service to HRC and its Boards of Directors and Governors. The office provides legal counsel on a large variety of topics, including corporate governance, organization risk management, federal and state election law and lobbying disclosure requirements, legal and regulatory compliance, intellectual property protection, preparation of both simple and complex contracts, litigation management, drafting of policies and procedures and associated staff training, as well as other internal corporate matters.
Other Opportunities
HRC also offers internships in areas such as communications, development, and community engagement.
Benefits of an HRC Internship
Mentorship Program
HRC offers a mentorship program that matches interns with experienced staff members, providing a valuable opportunity for networking within the organization.
Educational Opportunities
HRC provides in-house educational "brown bag" series for interns, covering important topics such as battling the HIV and AIDS epidemic and advancing global equality.
Professional Development
HRC internships offer great opportunities for professional and personal development.
Career Advancement
Interns at the Human Rights Campaign are encouraged to apply for full-time jobs as they become available, and many of HRC's staff members are former interns.
Employee Benefits
The Human Rights Campaign and Human Rights Campaign Foundation exists to create a world where lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) people in all of our intersecting identities realize systemic equality, equity and liberation in all aspects of life. We approach everything we do through a lens of inclusion and racial equity because our work cannot be completed until the most marginalized members of the LGBTQ+ community have achieved equality. Through the values we live day-to-day, our benefits package, as well as a hybrid work environment, we hope you will become a part of this movement. 3 weeks of vacation initially, 4 personal days, and 12 sick leave days per year with additional leave for all federal holidaysAccess to health, dental, vision, FSA, HSA, and life insuranceMental health partnershipsFertility and adoption coverage with some HRC provided yearly fundsPet InsuranceHybrid Work Environment (2 days in the office and 3 days work from home)Tuition Reimbursement - the full amount allowed by the federal government each yearGreat opportunities for professional and personal development The Human Rights Campaign is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer and welcomes all job seekers including individuals with disabilities and veterans with disabilities.
Additional Opportunities
Beyond HRC, numerous other organizations offer internships and fellowships focused on LGBTQ+ rights and advocacy. Some notable examples include:
Advocates for Trans Equality (A4TE) Legal Fellowship
A4TE, formed by the merger of the National Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE) and Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund (TLDEF), offers a one or two-year fellowship combining legal work and skill development in impact litigation and legal advocacy.
Qualifications:
- J.D. degree or expected completion of a J.D. law school.
- License to practice law or completion of the bar exam and pending admission application.
- Excellent legal research, writing, and analysis skills.
- Ability to conceptualize and implement a fellowship project.
Compensation: \$81,952.58 (subject to change).
Yale University Fellowship in Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and/or Queer Studies
This fellowship supports scholars pursuing research in LGBTQ+ studies at Yale University, providing access to faculty resources, manuscript archives, and library collections. The fellowship provides an award of $5,500 for a one-month residency.
Qualifications:
- A brief research proposal detailing the relationship of Yale University resources to the project.
Hofstra Law LGBTQIA+ Fellowship
Fellows are eligible for up to two $7,500 stipends to support LGBTQIA+ rights-related summer internships with nonprofit or government employers. Fellows are chosen based on demonstrated academic ability and experience advocating for LGBTQIA+ rights.
Qualifications:
- Admission to Hofstra Law.
- Participation in program activities and internships.
- Meeting all academic requirements.
National LGBTQ Task Force Holley Law Fellowship
Holley Policy Law Fellows work in the Advocacy and Action Department on local, state, and federal policy advocacy.
Qualifications:
- Excellent interpersonal, legal research, and writing skills.
- Strong interest in LGBTQ policy and/or nonprofit lawyering.
- 2Ls, 3Ls, and LL.M. candidates are eligible.
Compensation: \$20 per hour.
LGBTQ+ Victory Institute Victory Empowerment Fellowship
This fellowship consists of three key components: the Candidate & Campaign Training, International LGBTQ+ Leaders Conference, and a six-month mentorship program.
Lambda Legal Tyron Garner Law Fellow
The Garner Fellowship supports law graduates dedicated to LGBTQ issues within African American communities, contributing to Lambda Legal’s work to serve communities of color and address the intersection of LGBTQ discrimination and racism.
California ChangeLawyers Legal Fellow at Transgender Law Center (TLC)
This position provides direct legal support to LGBTQ asylum seekers living in the United States through the Border Butterflies project.
Lavender Rights Project (LRP) Movement Lawyer Fellowship
This one-year fellowship focuses on movement lawyering and community-led advocacy campaigns to push for decriminalization.
Qualifications:
- JD or equivalent.
- Experience working with POC LGBTQ+ populations.
- Ability to become barred in WA within 1 year.
- Experience with community-led campaigns and/or community organizing.
Compensation: \$86,555-\$95,000.
United Nations Human Rights Internship Programme
The internship programme with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) is intended to expose students or recent graduates to the United Nations in order to enhance their educational experience and to help them to gain experience in the work of the Organization. The purpose of the United Nations internship programme is twofold:(a) provide a framework by which students from diverse academic backgrounds gain exposure to the United Nations through assignment to offices within the Secretariat in order to enhance their educational experience and gain experience in the work of the United Nations; and(b) to provide United Nations offices with the assistance of qualified students specialized in various professional fields.
Interns are assigned to an organizational unit of OHCHR according to the needs of the Office, the intern’s skillset and their own areas of interest. They are involved, inter alia, in: researching human rights issues, drafting analytical papers and reports, providing substantive and technical servicing of meetings, backstopping fact-finding and technical cooperation activities as well as field operations and supporting other OHCHR activities, depending on the exigencies of the Office. As part of the internship programme, OHCHR endeavours to brief interns through a series of information sessions on human rights issues conducted by staff of the Office.
Qualifications required
Please keep in mind that even if you meet the qualifications described below, there is no guarantee of an internship. You will be contacted directly by the Hiring Manager if you are selected.
Applicants to the United Nations internship programme must at the time of application meet one of the following requirements:(a) Be enrolled in, or have completed, a graduate school programme (second university degree or equivalent, or higher); or,(b) Be enrolled in, or have completed, the final academic year of a first university degree programme (minimum bachelor’s level or equivalent).
To be eligible, you must answer "Yes" to all 5 questions. If you answer "No" to one or more of the above question(s), you should consider postponing your application until the above requirements are fully met.
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