Tuesday, October 6, 2020
Applications are now open for the Indiana Senate Republican Caucus internship program for the 2021 legislative session, which include opportunities to serve as a legal or policy intern.
Through these tasks, interns obtain a strong understanding of the legislative process.
Alex Zimmerman, who served as a legal intern during the 2015 legislative session and now works full-time as a Senate Majority Legal Associate and Lead Intern Recruiter, said the following of his internship experience:
“Not only was the Indiana Senate Majority legal internship the highlight of my college career, but this internship was the catalyst that jump-started my professional career. Our interns do not just sit and observe their supervisors handle tasks – our interns get the opportunity to challenge themselves and grow as professionals as they contribute to the Senate through various tasks including policy and legal research. This internship provided me the opportunity of a lifetime to grow into the professional that I am today by networking with professionals in and outside of government along with learning lessons that I will carry with me into my future career.”
Elizabeth James, a 2017 legal intern and now Senate Majority Legal Assistant, had this to say:
“The legal internship gave me hands-on experience with tangible issues like conducting research for senators and their constituents. I really enjoyed the daily face-to-face interaction with all 50 senators by way of drafting author-add motions and preparing committee reports. It was by far the best professional experience I had in undergrad and has opened countless doors.”
Policy interns conduct legislative and policy research, track legislative proposals, write memos on legislation, and break down complex legislation into concise talking points. Interns are also responsible for covering various legislative committees.
This position allows interns to gain practical knowledge of state government by working firsthand with Indiana senators at the Statehouse.
Matthew Preston, who served as a policy intern during the 2018 legislative session, offered the following on the internship:
“Doing research on the bills helped me realize the different perspectives that various parties have on certain legislative issues, and I think that helped provide me with a lot of insight.”
The internship program typically begins with a mandatory orientation in late December and concludes at the end of the legislative session in April 2021, and is open to college and graduate students, as well as recent graduates.
Click here for more information and to apply by the Oct. 31 deadline.
