Washington State Legislative Internships

This internship presents the opportunity to observe firsthand the development of public policy in the legislative arena. Students will deepen their understanding of the structure and processes of Washington's legislative system; learn about proposed legislation on current issues facing the state; and participate in political discourse and analysis of policy proposals.

Each student will work as an intern with a legislator and their staff for a regular 40-hour work week during the six-month legislative session. Intensive staff-apprenticeship activities may include conducting legislative research, drafting policy and other documents, bill tracking, and constituent communications. Interns are included in opportunities created by legislative program staff such as attending guest presentations, field trips, workshops on the state budget, shadowing public policy leaders, and attending media panels. Students also participate in mock floor debates with interns from across the state. Because this is a full-time internship, academic work will be minimal and designed to help students prepare for graduate school or future work in the public arena.

Students accepted as legislative interns will develop an internship learning contract profiling legislative responsibilities and links to their overall academic plans. Six times each quarter, interns will meet together in a seminar with faculty to share observations of the legislative process, address challenges, and discuss how our academic work intersects with issues that emerge over the course of the internship. After the legislative session ends, students will produce an integrative essay reflecting on their experience and the implications of their learning for future civic engagement. A final self-evaluation is required. 

Student performance for the internship is evaluated by the faculty sponsor, field supervisors, and legislative office staff.