Student Resources

Internship Opportunities

Legislative Internships

Description of duties: constituent correspondence, legislative research, press releases, and event planning.

Office of Assembly Member Jordan Cunningham


California State Senator Bill Monning

  • Internship opportunities are available for the academic year in the San Luis Obispo office. For summer internships, additional opportunities may exist in Senator Monning's other district offices located in Monterey, Gilroy and/or Santa Cruz.
  • To apply: Interested students should submit a cover letter and resume to the District Director, Nicole Charles, at the following address:

United States Congressmember Salud Carbajal

  • Contacts: Mannal Haddad for Washington D.C. internships or Caitlin Cox for San Luis Obispo internships 
  • District office: 1411 Marsh Street, Ste. 205
    San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
  • Email: D.C. internship: Mannal.Haddad@mail.house.gov  /  SLO internship: Caitlin.Cox@mail.house.gov
  • Phone: D.C. internship: (202) 225-3601 / SLO internship: (805) 546-8348
  • Website: https://carbajal.house.gov/
  • Note: Email resumes, cover letters, and references to Mannal or fill out the form online. Internships available in Washington D.C. or in the District offices.


United States Senator Kamala Harris

  • 112 Hart Building
    Washington, D.C. 20510
  • Phone: (202) 224-3553
  • Website: https://www.harris.senate.gov/
  • Internships are available in Washington D.C., Bay Area, Fresno, Inland Empire, Los Angeles, Sacramento and San Diego offices.


United States Senator Dianne Feinstein

  • 331 Hart Building
    Washington, D.C. 20510
  • Phone: (202) 224-3841
  • Website: www.feinstein.senate.gov
  • Apply online for internships in Washington, D.C. and in California: Click "For Students" tab, then click "Internships."
  • Internships are available in Washington, D.C., Fresno, Los Angeles, San Diego, and San Francisco offices.
     


The Maddy Institute

 
Capital Fellows Programs


The Panetta Institute for Public Policy

Federal and State Government Internships

Description of Duties:  special projects, research, press releases, and event planning.

White House Internship Program

 


U.S. Secret Service

  • Contact: Student Programs Coordinator
  • Office of Government and Public Affairs
    245 Murray Ln
    Washington, DC 20223
  • Phone: (202) 406-6420
  • Website: www.secretservice.gov
  • Please refer to the website for more information regarding the application process.
     


Department of Defense


Department of State

  • Intern Coordinator, Recruitment Division
    2401 E Street NW, Room H518
    Washington, DC 20522
  • Email: careers@state.gov
  • Website: www.state.gov
  • For more information on the program and how to apply, go to www.careers.state.gov and click on Student Programs.
     


    U.S. Department of Transportation


    Congressional Research Service

    • Contact: Rosafelina Anzures
    • 101 Independence Ave, SE
      Washington, DC 20540
    • Email: 
    • Website: http://www.loc.gov/
    • View "Career Opportunities" for information and application procedures for the internship programs.
       

    City/County Government Internships

    Description of Duties: special projects, research, cross-checking, updating forms, administrative duties.

    City of San Luis Obispo


    City of Santa Maria


    City of Pismo Beach

    • Contact: Debra Garcia
    • Administrative Office
      760 Mattie Rd.
      Pismo Beach, CA 93449
    • Phone: (805) 773-7928
    • Web: www.pismobeach.org
       


    County of San Luis Obispo


    City of Arroyo Grande

    Criminal Justice Internships

    San Luis Obispo County District Attorney's Office - Victim Witness Assistance Center

    Please note that criminal matters handled by the District Attorney’s Victim/Witness Assistance Division are confidential and may involve graphic and highly sensitive information. Completion of an application and a formal background check are required prerequisites.

     

    Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office – Santa Maria Branch     

     

    Election & Campaign Internships

    Description of Duties: analysis of voter registration and election results, writing/presenting reports, working with/on precinct voter lists, organizing volunteers.

    San Luis Obispo County Democratic Party


    San Luis Obispo County Republican Party


    Project Vote Smart

    Interest Group Internships

    Description of Duties: research, administrative duties, public relations, etc.

    Arms Control Association

    • 1313 L Street, NW, Ste. 130
    • Washington, DC 20005
    • Email: 
    • Phone: (202) 463-8270
    • Website: www.armscontrol.org
    • Internships are available in multiple disciplines. Please refer to the website for additional information.
       

     


    Common Cause

     


    Project on Government Oversight (previously Center for Defense Information)

    • Contact: Liz Hempowicz
    • 100 G Street NW, Suite 500
      Washington, DC 20005
    • Email: hr@pogo.org
    • Phone: (202) 347-1122
    • Website: http://pogo.org/straus/
       


    Cultivating New Frontiers in Agriculture (previously Citizens Network for Foreign Affairs)

    • Contact: Sara McEwan, Senior Talent Engagement Officer
    • 1828 L Street NW, Ste. 710
      Washington, DC 20036
    • Email: smcewan@cnfa.org
    • Phone: (202) 296-3920 x67
    • Website: www.cnfa.org
       


    Greenpeace Summer Semester


    Institute for International Education

    • 530 Bush St., Suite 1000
      San Francisco, CA 94108
    • Email: iiesf@iie.org
    • Phone: (415) 362-6520
    • Website: www.iie.org
    • Focus is on education, cultural exchanges, and international relations.
       


    Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute

    • Contact: Crista Arias, Internship Coordinator
    • 1128 16th St NW
      Washington, DC 20002
    • Email: 
    • Phone: (800) 392-3532 or (202) 543-1771
    • Website: www.chci.org
       


    Sierra Club Magazine (SIERRA)


    Sierra Club Legislative Office


    U.S. Chamber of Commerce

    • 1615 H Street NW
      Washington, DC 20062
    • Email: 
    • Phone: (202) 659-6000 or (800) 638-6582
    • Website: www.uschamber.com
    • Please refer to the website for application and additional information.
       


    Pre-Law Internships

    Description of Duties: client contact, legal research, office work, liaison with media, status reports from courts, research analysis.

    Government/Public Interest Internships

    California Rural Legal Assistance


    San Luis Obispo Legal Assistance Foundation

    • Contact: Stephanie Barclay, Legal Director
    • Email:
    • Phone: (805) 548-0792
    • Website: www.slolaf.org
    • Two quarter commitment preferred. Email resume to stephanie@slolaf.org
       


    Family Law Clinic

    • Contact: Alicia Valdez Wright, Family Law Facilitator
    • Superior Court of California, County of San Luis Obispo
    • 1035 Palm St, Room 385, San Luis Obispo, CA 93408
    • Phone: New (805) 706-3781 San Luis Obispo Courthouse Annex
    • Email: alicia.wright@slo.courts.ca.gov

     

    Private Practice Internships

     

    Shell Beach Law Group (Shell Beach)

    • Contact: Brian Kreowski
    • 1435 Shell Beach Rd.
      Shell Beach, CA 93449
    • Phone: (805) 773-5661


    Curtze Legal Offices (Arroyo Grande)


    Adamski, Moroski, Madden, Cumberland, and Green LLP (San Luis Obispo and Paso Robles)

     


    Stein, Casciola, and Galambos, LLP (San Luis Obispo) (Criminal)


    Judicial Internships

    Note: Students need at least a 3.2 GPA to be eligible for a judicial internship.

    San Luis Obispo County Superior Court (Paso Robles)


    Media Internships

    Description of Duties:  administrative, research, writing, and public relations.

    KSBY-TV

    • Contact: Doug Barden
    • 1772 Calle Joaquin
      San Luis Obispo, CA 93405
    • Email: 
    • Phone: (805) 597-8404
    • Website: www.ksby.com
       


    C-SPAN Internship Program

    • 400 N. Capitol St., NW Ste. 650
      Washington, DC 20001
    • Website: www.c-span.org
    • Fall, Spring, and Summer terms available.
       

    Non-Profit Internships

    Description of Duties: communications, government relations, research, writing.

    American Red Cross


    Big Brothers / Big Sisters

    • Contact: Sarah Rudd
    • 142 Cross St., Ste. 140
      P.O. Box 12644
      San Luis Obispo, CA 93406-3029
    • Email: sarah@slobigs.org
    • Phone: (805) 781-3226 x11
    • Website: www.slobigs.org/
       


    California Rural Legal Assistance

    • Contact: Luis A. Solis
    • 1011 Pacific St., Ste. A
      San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
    • Email: lsolis@crla.org
    • Phone: (510) 267-0762
    • Website: www.crla.org/
       


    California Youth Connection

    • Contact: Marie Bolin
    • Email: 
    • Phone: (805) 503-6278
    • Contact Katie Robinson for additional information about this opportunity.
       


    The Community Foundation of San Luis Obispo County


    Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA)


    Community Action Partnership (CAPSLO)

    • Contact: Hollie Wogan
    • 1030 Southwood Dr.
      San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
    • Phone: (805) 549-6857
    • Email: hwogan@capslo.org
    • To apply: Fill out the Volunteer Application form available on the CAPSLO website http://www.capslo.org/menus/volunteer.html. Note on the form that you're applying for an internship rather than a volunteer experience.

                        


    Stand Strong

     

    Transitions Mental Health Association (TMHA) Homeless Outreach, Advocacy, and Meaningful Education (HOAME)

     

     

    Political Consulting Internships

     

    Description of Duties: communications, public relations, research, and writing.

    McAllister & Quinn, LLC

    • Contact: Katie White
    • 1030 15th Street, NW Suite 590 West
      Washington, DC 20005
    • Email: Kwhite@jm-aq.com
    • Phone: (202) 296-2741
       


    Meridian Pacific, Inc.

    • Contact: Rita Hosmann
    • 212 S. Main Street, Ste. 206
      Templeton, CA 93465
    • Phone: (916) 648-1222 
       


    Public Policy Solutions


    Public Policy Internships

    Description of duties: Research, writing, communications, government relations. 

    The Brookings Institution

    • Contact: Rob Wooley, Internship Coordinator
    • Governmental Studies Program
      1775 Massachusetts Ave., NW
      Washington, DC 20036-2188
    • Email: 
    • Phone: (202) 797-6090
    • Website: www.brook.edu
       


    Institute for Policy Studies

    • Contact: Emily Norton, Internship Coordinator
    • 733 15th St. NW, Ste.1020
      Washington, DC 20005
    • Email: emilyn@ips-dc.org
    • Website: www.ips-dc.org
    • A variety of internships are offered. IPS encourages applicants to apply for more than one internship.
       


    Public Policy Institute of California

    • 500 Washington St., Ste. 600
      San Francisco, CA 94111
    • Phone: (415) 291-4400
    • Website: www.ppic.org
    • Summer internships only in San Francisco and Sacramento offices and last up to 3 months, ideally beginning June 1st. Application deadline is February 21st.
       

     

    The Washington Institute for Near East Policy

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