Legal Intern at The American Institute of – Washington, District of Columbia

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

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

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.