The Legislative and Public Policy practice of Arnold & Porter offers a paid fall clerkship program for college students interested in careers in government policy and advocacy. Arnold & Porter is one of the world’s leading law firms, with more than 1,000 lawyers practicing in Washington, DC, eight other domestic offices, and international offices in Europe, China, and Korea. Many of our lawyers have served in key government positions and offer the firm’s clients a sophisticated understanding of the relationship between government and business with nearly 20% of the firm’s business being in regulatory and public policy work.

Responsibilities

This clerkship program is focused in the Legislative and Public Policy practice where the clerk’s professional development is a top priority. Participants in this clerkship program may also find an opportunity to gain exposure to other areas of legal practice. Some of the fall clerks’ responsibilities may include:

Monitoring health care, trade, tech, energy, education, financial services, appropriations, and defense policy developments;
Drafting background research and client memos relating to legislative efforts and regulatory policy; and
Shadowing teams for congressional, regulatory, and administrative stakeholder engagement.

Applicants are encouraged from all academic majors but must be able to demonstrate strong writing skills and an interest in public policy as a future career path. Previous government-related experience is recommended, although not required.

This Clerkship Is Only Available In Our Washington, DC Office And Will Consist Primarily Of In-person Work. To Be Eligible For This Program, Applicants Must Be

A rising junior or senior in their undergraduate education in the fall of 2026; and
Available to work 37.5 hours per week from mid-September through early-December.

To apply, eligible applicants must submit a resume with current cumulative GPA, a cover letter, and a 1-3 page writing sample on an advocacy/policy topic of their choosing (writing samples of more than 3 pages will disqualify a candidate for failure to follow directions). All interested candidates must submit their documents by 5:00 p.m. ET on Friday, July 24, 2026.

The hourly rate for this position is $18.40.

As a nonexempt position, this position is eligible for overtime.

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Legislative & Public Policy Clerk