Internship Opportunities

Legislative Internships

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

    Capital Fellows Programs

    • Sacramento State University
    • Programs offered:
      • California Senate Fellows
      • Executive Fellowship
      • Judicial Administration Fellowship
      • Jesse M. Unruh Assembly Fellowship
    • Website: https://www.csus.edu/center/center-california-studies/capital-fellows/
    • Note: For graduating seniors only. Applicants must have completed their undergraduate degrees by September of the fellowship year.

     



      The Maddy Institute

       



      The Panetta Institute for Public Policy

       


         

        United States Congressmember Salud Carbajal

         


           

          United States Senator Dianne Feinstein

          • 331 Hart Building
            Washington, D.C. 20510
          • Phone: (202) 224-3841
          • Website: https://www.feinstein.senate.gov/public/
          • 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.
          • If you plan to apply, please email Cal Poly alumni RJ Abarquez: philipabarquez@uchastings.edu

           


          Federal and State Government Internships

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

          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.

           


             

            Department of Defense

             


             

            Department of State

             


             

            Department of Transportation

             


               

              Federal Aviation Administration 

               



              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: https://www.secretservice.gov/careers
              • Please refer to the website for more information regarding the application process.
                 

               

              White House Internship Program


                 



                  City/County Government Internships

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

                  City of Arroyo Grande

                   



                  City of Pismo Beach

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

                   


                     

                    City of San Luis Obispo

                     


                       

                      City of Santa Maria

                       


                         

                          County of San Luis Obispo

                           



                          Election & Campaign Internships

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

                          Project Vote Smart

                           


                           

                          San Luis Obispo County Democratic Party

                          • 3592 Broad St., Suite 100
                            San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
                          • Phone: (805) 546-8499
                          • Website: https://slocdp.org/internships-2/
                          • Please complete the online form to begin the process.
                             


                          San Luis Obispo County Republican Party

                          • 531 Marsh St., Ste. B
                            San Luis Obispo, CA 93406
                          • Phone: (805) 668-2064
                          • Website: www.rpslo.org
                             


                            Interest Group Internships

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

                            Arms Control Association

                            • 1200 18th Street NW, Suite 1175
                            • Washington, DC 20036
                            • Email: internships@armscontrol.org
                            • Phone: (202) 463-8270
                            • Website: www.armscontrol.org
                            • Internships are available in nuclear weapons policy and communications. Please refer to the website for additional information  


                            Common Cause


                             

                            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

                               

                              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.
                                   

                                 

                                Project on Government Oversight (previously Center for Defense Information)


                                   

                                  Sierra Club Legislative Office


                                     

                                    Sierra Club Magazine (SIERRA)



                                      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, legal analysis, reading legal documents, writing letters and motions, attending court (if applicable).

                                      Students must contact Ron Den Otter (denotter@calpoly.edu) or Jennifer Denbow (jdenbow@calpoly.edu) before applying to pre-law internships. Note: Dr. Den Otter will be on sabbatical for the 2022-2023 academic year. 

                                       

                                      --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     

                                       

                                      --Private Practice Internships--

                                      Amber Heffner

                                      • Immigration Attorney
                                      • Amber Heffner Law
                                      • 2087 10th St. Suite A, Los Osos, CA 93402
                                      • (805) 316-0592

                                       

                                      Curtze Legal Offices (Arroyo Grande)

                                       

                                      Egan Family Law

                                      • Contact: Kristin Black
                                      • Kristin@judeeganlaw.com
                                      • Phone: (805) 332-3984
                                      • 420 E. Cook Street, Santa Maria, CA 93454

                                       

                                      Harris Personal Injury Lawyers, Inc.

                                       

                                      Irene V. Moore

                                      • Office Administrator
                                      • Hall, Hieatt & Connely, LLP
                                      • 1319 Marsh Street, Second Floor, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
                                      • (805) 544-3830
                                      • IMoore@HHC-SLO.com

                                           

                                          Law Offices of William Ausman

                                          • Contact: Tammy Campbell
                                          • Email: bookkeeper@atownlaw.com
                                          • Phone: (805) 466-4800
                                          • 8320 Morro Road, Atascadero, CA 93422

                                           

                                          Pick Law Office

                                           

                                          Shell Beach Law Group (Shell Beach)

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

                                           

                                          Victor J. Herrera

                                          • Carmel & Naccasha
                                          • Contact: Lori Ingan
                                          • 694 Santa Rosa St., San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
                                          • (805) 546-8785
                                          • lingan@carnaclaw.com

                                             

                                            --Government/Public Interest Legal Internships--

                                            California Rural Legal Assistance

                                             

                                            Deputy County Counsel

                                            • Contact: Brian J. Stack
                                            • Email: bstack@co.slo.ca.us
                                            • Phone: (805) 781-5400
                                            • 1055 Monterey Street, Suite D320, San Luis Obispo, CA 93408

                                             

                                            Lumina Alliance (formerly RISE and Stand Strong)

                                            • Legal Services for Survivors of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault in SLO
                                            • PO Box 125
                                              San Luis Obispo, CA 93406
                                            • Phone: (805) 545-8888
                                            • Website: www.luminaalliance.org

                                             


                                            San Luis Obispo Legal Assistance Foundation

                                             

                                            Santa Maria Office of Legal Aid Foundation of Santa Barbara

                                                   

                                                  --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)

                                                  • Contact: Dr. Den Otter or Dr. Denbow for more information.

                                                   




                                                  Media Internships

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

                                                  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.

                                                   


                                                     

                                                    KSBY-TV

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

                                                       


                                                      Non-Profit Internships

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

                                                      American Red Cross

                                                      • 225 Prado Rd., Ste. A
                                                        San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
                                                      • Phone: (805) 543-0696 x4
                                                      • Website: www.redcross.org


                                                      Big Brothers / Big Sisters

                                                      • Contact: Mark Ibrahim
                                                      • 142 Cross St., Ste. 140
                                                        P.O. Box 12644
                                                        San Luis Obispo, CA 93406-3029
                                                      • Phone: (805) 329-1956
                                                      • Website: www.slobigs.org/
                                                         


                                                      California Rural Legal Assistance



                                                      California Youth Connection

                                                      • Contact: Lupita Ducharme, Intern Supervisor
                                                      • Email: Lducharme@fcni.org
                                                      • Phone: (805) 503-6278
                                                      • Contact Lupita Ducharme for additional information about this opportunity.
                                                         


                                                      The Community Foundation of San Luis Obispo County



                                                      Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA)



                                                      Community Action Partnership (CAPSLO)

                                                      • 1030 Southwood Dr.
                                                        San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
                                                      • Phone: (805) 534-3668
                                                      • Email: volunteer@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.

                                                                          

                                                      Lumina Alliance- Formerly RISE & 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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