Strategic Research Internship - Summer 2026

The Institute for Justice seeks a highly motivated and detail-oriented undergraduate student or recent graduate with an interest in social science and policy research to join us at IJ's Arlington, VA office as a paid strategic research intern for this upcoming summer. IJ’s strategic research program is a unique initiative combining high-quality social science and policy research with IJ’s cutting-edge litigation. Past interns have worked on reports such as Policing for Profit: The Abuse of Civil Asset Forfeiture and Too Many Licenses?: Government “Sunrise” Reviews Cast Doubt on Barriers to Work and have gone on to careers in academia and public policy. 

The ideal candidate has facility in exploring online databases and data sources, the ability to create and manipulate spreadsheets, and persistence and good judgment in soliciting information and data from state and nonprofit agencies. Experience with statistical software such as R or Stata is a plus. Candidates should also have an interest in assisting with research on occupational licensing, civil asset forfeiture, zoning, and other issues related to IJ’s core areas, especially economic liberty, property rights, and free speech. Previous experience coding documents to turn complex records into numerical data is a plus.

In addition to assisting with the demands of IJ’s fast-paced summer projects, interns can participate in weekly programming including IJ’s summer speaker series and practical training through which interns connect with the leading minds and advocates of the liberty movement, receive career guidance, and improve their communication and legal research skills.  The strategic research internship is a full-time, temporary in-person position for a total of 10 weeks and is not eligible for benefits. Interns are paid at a rate of $17.50 per hour paid in semi-monthly payments subject to applicable federal and state taxes. The 10-week program generally runs from late May through early August, though exact start and end dates are flexible to fit the intern’s academic calendar.

Types of past assignments have included: 

• Finding and reviewing literature. 
• Finding and cleaning data. 
• Coding information from documents to create datasets for later analysis.
• Fact-checking, proofing, and sourcing reports. 
• Reviewing statutes and other government documents, such as agency reports. 
• Writing memos on literature and data sources. 
• Filing and managing public records requests. 

How to Apply: 
We require a resume, a cover letter describing why you are a strong candidate for this position, and a writing sample. 

 

IJ is an equal opportunity employer.

Don’t meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At IJ we value a diverse workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.

To learn more about our culture and benefits, visit our Working at IJ page. No phone calls please.

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