INTERNSHIP DETAILS

Legal Intern

CompanyThe American Institute of Architects
LocationWashington
Work ModeOn Site
PostedApril 14, 2026
Internship Information
Core Responsibilities
The Legal Intern will assist the in-house legal team with contract management, intellectual property matters, and regulatory compliance. Responsibilities include conducting legal research, drafting legal documents, and supporting nonprofit legal operations.
Internship Type
intern
Company Size
1710
Visa Sponsorship
No
Language
English
Working Hours
40 hours
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About The Company
The American Institute of Architects (AIA) is the leading professional membership organization for licensed architects, emerging professionals, and allied partners. Its headquarters is in Washington, DC, with approximately 200 employees and 300 local chapters. The AIA serves its members through advocacy, information, and community. We carry out our goals through advocacy, information, and community. Each year AIA: *Sponsors hundreds of continuing education experiences to help architects maintain their licensure *Sets the industry standard in contract documents with more than 100 forms and contracts used in the design and construction industry *Provides countless Web-based resources for emerging architecture professionals *Conducts market research and provides analysis of the economic factors that affect the business of architecture (add the asterisk) *Hosts the annual AIA Conference on Architecture *Serves as an advocate of the architecture profession *Champions architects’ future by enhancing public belief in the value of design *Promotes design excellence and outstanding professional achievement through an awards program Follow us here for news from AIA!
About the Role


About AIA

The American Institute of Architects (AIA) is the leading professional association for licensed architects, emerging professionals, and allied partners in the United States, representing more than 100,000 members across 270+ state and local components. AIA advocates at every level of government on issues central to the profession and the public: housing affordability, building codes and resilience, professional licensure, climate action, and procurement reform.

Position Summary
 The Legal Intern will assist the in-house legal function with contracts, intellectual property, compliance, and risk assessment, gaining hands-on experience in nonprofit legal operations while supporting day-to-day legal needs and collaborating with internal stakeholders.

 Responsibilities

  • Conduct legal research on a variety of topics, including nonprofit law, contracts, intellectual property, and regulatory compliance
  • Assist in drafting legal documents, including cease and desist letters, termination notices, and internal memoranda
  • Review, analyze, and summarize contracts for legal and business risks
  • Redline agreements to align with organizational priorities and risk tolerance
  • Support the contract lifecycle process, including intake, review, and tracking
  • Assist with intellectual property matters, including trademark monitoring and basic enforcement efforts
  • Help identify and assess commercial and operational risks in proposed agreements or initiatives
  • Collaborate with internal teams to understand business needs and translate them into clear contractual terms
  • Support legal operations projects, including process improvement and document management

  Qualifications

  • Current enrollment in an accredited Juris Doctor (JD) program (required)
  • Strong academic performance and demonstrated interest in contract law, nonprofit law, or in-house practice
  • Prior internship or coursework related to contracts, business law, or intellectual property is a plus

Skills & Competencies Gained

  • Strong legal research, analysis, and contract review skills 
  • Clear, concise legal writing and attention to detail 
  • Ability to manage multiple tasks and meet deadlines 
  • Professional judgment, discretion, and effective collaboration

Learning Opportunities

  • Contract drafting, review, and negotiation
  • In-house counsel decision-making and balancing legal/business priorities
  • Intellectual property protection and enforcement
  • Legal and commercial risk identification and mitigation
  • Nonprofit legal operations and governance
  • Legal writing and cross-functional collaboration

Internship Details

This is an 8-week, full-time, hybrid internship scheduled from June 15, 2026, through August 7, 2026. The selected candidate will be required to report to the AIA Global Campus 1–2 days per week, with the remaining work performed remotely.

Eligible applicants must be authorized to work in the United States. Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

Application Instructions

Submit a resume and cover letter by May 13, 2026. Your cover letter should address why you want this internship. Applicants selected for an interview will be contacted with next steps.

 



Key Skills
Legal researchContract reviewContract draftingIntellectual propertyRegulatory complianceLegal writingRisk assessmentDocument managementTrademark monitoringNonprofit lawBusiness lawAttention to detailCollaborationProcess improvement
Categories
LegalAdministrative