MINISTERIAL DUTIES

These responsibilities are critical to the FCA mission and this position plays a vital role in our ministry. FCA expects all functions and responsibilities outlined below to be carried out with a heart surrendered to serving God as a form of worship.

• Agree with, and abide by, FCA's Christian Community Statement.
• Follow a spiritual rhythm including daily prayer and Bible study to seek the Lord's will for FCA.
• Lead, conduct and provide spiritual leadership for staff, volunteers, coaches and athletes through prayer, Bible study, worship and living by example so they are equipped to serve others.
• Connect to and participate in a local church through worship and weekly involvement.
• Conduct yourself in a manner that affirms biblical standards of conduct in accordance with FCA's Christian beliefs (see FCA's Christian Community Statement) at all times.

• Any task related to the departmental internship and intern professional growth as noted below.

LEGAL INTERNSHIP OVERVIEW

The Fellowship of Christian Athletes is seeking a 1L or 2L Legal Intern to support our mission to lead every coach and athlete into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ and His church. If you played sports and share FCA’s vision to see the world transformed by Jesus Christ through the influence of coaches and athletes, this is a great opportunity to apply your legal education to the world of sports ministry. 

As a Legal Intern, you’ll assist with legal research, work with field staff on various compliance issues, draft various documents including policies, guidance, and contracts, and help review organizational practices. Basically, whatever the Law Department is working on, you’ll be helping with. The FCA Law Department is a small, close-knit team that operates on the In-the-Boat model: we, as FCA’s attorneys, are “in the boat” with all FCA staff, viewing concerns from their vantage point, helping define a solution to their ultimate goal and, together with them, building the pathway to get there. Every day will offer variety and the chance to use your legal training in a Christ-centered, mission-driven environment.

You’ll gain practical in-house experience in several areas of law applicable to nonprofits while developing your writing, analytical, and client-service skills. This internship can be fully remote or hybrid (depending on location) and includes a week-long in-person experience at our Kansas City headquarters to connect with the team. Interns will also be connected with local FCA staff in their area to deepen engagement with FCA’s mission.

INTERNSHIP DETAILS

Logistics, Hours, and Academic Credit

• Dates: May 26 – July 31 (8-10 weeks) – flexible
• Travel required: First week in Kansas City with team; travel expenses covered
• Camp Engagement: requirement to attend at least 2 days of a local sports camp
• Hours per week: Flexible (typically 10–20 during semester; 30–40 in summer)
• Credit: If school approves
• Opportunity for long-term employment: Not currently
• Credit: Eligible for academic credit consistent with law school externship requirements
• FCA will comply with any supervision, evaluation, and reporting requirements imposed by the law school

Educational Purpose & Learning Outcomes

The FCA Legal Internship is designed to provide substantive, hands-on in-house legal experience within a national nonprofit organization. Interns will work directly with FCA attorneys and staff on legal matters, gaining exposure to practical legal decision-making in a mission-driven environment. By the end of the internship, students will have:

• Strengthened legal research and analytical skills
• Drafted and revised contracts, policies, and internal guidance documents
• Developed issue-spotting abilities in real-world nonprofit operations
• Gained experience advising non-lawyer clients in a collaborative setting
• Observed the role of in-house counsel in strategic organizational decision-making
• Increased understanding of legal issues unique to nonprofit and faith-based organizations 

Substantive Legal Experience

The Legal Intern will assist the Law Department with projects including:

• Legal research and memorandum drafting
• Drafting and reviewing contracts (vendor agreements, independent contractor agreements, partnership agreements, etc.)
• Assisting with nonprofit governance matters
• Supporting employment and HR-related compliance issues
• Reviewing and drafting policies and internal guidance documents
• Assisting with risk management and operational compliance
• Supporting intellectual property and branding matters
• Interns will not be limited to administrative tasks; they will engage meaningfully in the work of the department. “Whatever the Law Department is working on, you’ll be helping with.”

Supervision and Structure

The intern will be supervised by FCA’s in-house counsel (licensed attorney in good standing). The internship will include:

• Weekly one-on-one supervision meetings
• Regular written feedback on assignments
• Exposure to internal strategy discussions (as appropriate)
• Opportunities to observe attorney-client counseling within the organization
• Written final evaluation (if required by the law school)

Team Coordination Professional Responsibility & Confidentiality

The intern will:

• Sign a confidentiality agreement
• Adhere to professional responsibility standards
• Receive training on data privacy and internal protocols
• Work under attorney supervision for all substantive legal matters

Distinctive Features of the Internship

This internship is particularly well-suited for students interested in nonprofit law, in-house practice, employment law, governance, religious liberty issues, or mission-driven legal careers.

• National nonprofit exposure with complex operational footprint
• Hands-on in-house legal experience
• Direct mentorship from practicing attorneys
• One-week in-person experience at Kansas City headquarters
• Connection with local FCA staff to experience the ministry’s mission firsthand
• Integration of legal training within a Christ-centered organizational environment 

Experience

• 2L or 3L law students in good academic standing
• Possess strong research and writing skills
• Demonstrate professionalism and sound judgment
• Have interest in nonprofit or in-house practice
• Support FCA’s mission and values
• Athletic background preferred

Skills & Competencies (Developing Skills Expected)

• Demonstrated ability to conduct basic legal research using Westlaw and other platforms
• Strong foundational legal writing skills (e.g., memo writing, rule synthesis)
• Ability to identify key legal issues and ask thoughtful follow-up questions
• Careful attention to detail when reviewing contracts or policy documents
• Professionalism and discretion in handling confidential information
• Reliable follow-through and ability to meet deadlines
• Openness to feedback and willingness to revise work product
• Ability to work independently in a remote or hybrid setting