Internship Opportunities
Legislative Internships
Description of duties: constituent correspondence, legislative research, press releases, and event planning.
Office of Assembly Member Jordan Cunningham
- Contact: Keegan Koberl, District Director
- 444 Higuera St. Suite 100
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 - Email: Keegan.Koberl@asm.ca.gov
- Phone: (805) 549-3381
- Website: https://ad35.assemblygop.com
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:
- Contact: Nicole Charles, District Director
- Office of Senator Bill Monning
99 Pacific St., Suite 575-F
Monterey, CA 93940 - Email: nicole.charles@sen.ca.gov (preferred)
- Phone: (831) 657-6315
- FAX: (831) 657-6320
- Website: http://sd17.senate.ca.gov/
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
- Contact: Maria Jeans
- The Maddy Scholar Intern Program
California State University, Fresno - Email: mjeans@csufresno.edu
- Phone: (559) 278-1133
- Website: www.maddyinstitute.org
Capital Fellows Programs
- Sacramento State University
- Programs offered:
- Website: www.csus.edu
- Note: For graduating seniors only. Applicants must have completed their undergraduate degrees by September of the fellowship year.
The Panetta Institute for Public Policy
- 100 Campus Center, Building 86E
California State University, Monterey Bay
Seaside, CA 93955 - Email: info@PanettaInstitute.org
- Phone (831) 582-4200
- www.panettainstitute.org
Federal and State Government Internships
Description of Duties: special projects, research, press releases, and event planning.
White House Internship Program
- Contact: Jake Schierloh or Beeba Mathew
- Washington, DC
- Email: intern_application@who.eop.gov
- Phone: (202) 456-4247
- For application, visit www.whitehouse.gov/get-involved/internships/
- Please visit the website for additional information.
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
- Contact: Tom Davis
- Washington Headquarters Services
2521 Jefferson Davis Hwy., Ste. 3000
Crystal City, VA 22202 - Phone: (703) 617-7956
- Email: whsvolunteers@mail.mil
- Website: https://www.whs.mil/Directorates/Human-Resources-Directorate-HRD/Careers-with-WHS/Volunteer-Student-Internship-Program/
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
- 1200 New Jersey Ave, SE
Washington, DC 20590 - Contact: Lindsey Constantino
- Email: lindseymconstantino@gmail.com
- Website: https://www.transportation.gov/careers
Congressional Research Service
- Contact: Rosafelina Anzures
- 101 Independence Ave, SE
Washington, DC 20540 - Email: ranzures@crs.loc.gov
- 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
- Contact: Sharon Seitz
- 990 Palm St.
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 - Email: sseitz@slocity.org
- Phone: (805) 781-7254
- Web: www.slocity.org
City of Santa Maria
- Contact: Aryanna Reyes
- 110 E. Cook St., Room 1
Santa Maria, CA 93454 - Email: areyes@cityofsantamaria.org
- Phone: (805) 925-0951
- Website: http://www.cityofsantamaria.org/
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
- Contact: Chip Spence
- Administrative Office
County Government Center
San Luis Obispo, CA 93408 - Phone: (805) 781-5959
- Email: cspence@co.slo.ca.us
- Website: www.slocounty.ca.gov
City of Arroyo Grande
- Contact: Karen Sisko
- PO Box 550
Arroyo Grande, CA 93421 - Email: ksisko@arroyogrande.org
- Phone: (805) 473-5410
- Website: www.arroyogrande.org/
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.
- Contact: Beth Raub
- Phone: 805-781-5821
- email: braub@co.slo.ca.us
Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office – Santa Maria Branch
- Contact: Ann K. Young – Investigative Assistant
- Phone: (805) 346-7459
- Email: ayoung@co.santa-barbara.ca.us
- Website: https://www.countyofsb.org/da/index.html
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
- 3592 Broad St., Suite 100
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 - Phone: (805) 546-8499
- Website: www.slocdp.org/get-involved/internships
- Please complete the online form to begin the process.
San Luis Obispo County Republican Party
- Contact: Tom Bordonaro
- 531 Marsh St., Ste. B
San Luis Obispo, CA 93406 - Phone: (805) 541-4010
- Email: tjbordo1@gmail.com
- Website: www.rpslo.org
Project Vote Smart
- Contact: Melanie Magnatto, Internship Coordinator
- One Common Ground
Philipsburg, MT 59858 - Email: intern@votesmart.org
- Phone: (406) 859-8683
- Website: www.vote-smart.org
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: aca@armscontrol.org
- Phone: (202) 463-8270
- Website: www.armscontrol.org
- Internships are available in multiple disciplines. Please refer to the website for additional information.
Common Cause
- Contact: Tracy Leatherberry, Youth Outreach Coordinator
- 1133 19th St., NW, 9th Floor
Washington, DC 20036 - Email: tleatherberry@commoncause.org
- Phone: (202) 833-1200
- Apply online at www.commoncause.org
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
- 702 H Street, NW, Ste. 300
Washington, DC 20001 - Email: usa-interns@greenpeace.org
- Website: www.greenpeace.org
- Internships are available in a number of cities and in a variety of disciplines within the Greenpeace Organization.
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: carias@chci.org
- Phone: (800) 392-3532 or (202) 543-1771
- Website: www.chci.org
Sierra Club Magazine (SIERRA)
- 85 Second St., 2nd Floor
San Francisco, CA 94105 - Email: communications.internships@sierraclub.org
- Website: www.sierraclub.org/sierra/internships/default.aspx
Sierra Club Legislative Office
- Contact: Joanne Tait
- 50 F St. NW, 8th Floor
Washington, DC 20001 - Email: dc-internships@sierraclub.org
- Phone: (202) 547-1141
- Website: www.sierraclub.org/careers/internships/dc
U.S. Chamber of Commerce
- 1615 H Street NW
Washington, DC 20062 - Email: internships@uschamber.com
- 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
- Contact: Luis A. Solis
- Email: lsolis@crla.org
- Phone: (510) 267-0762
- Website: http://www.crla.org/internship-volunteer
San Luis Obispo Legal Assistance Foundation
- Contact: Stephanie Barclay, Legal Director
- Email: stephanie@slolaf.org
- 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)
- Contact: Doreen R. Curtze
- Email: curtzelaw@gmail.com
- Phone: (805) 541-3100
- Website: www.curtzelaw.com/
Adamski, Moroski, Madden, Cumberland, and Green LLP (San Luis Obispo and Paso Robles)
- Contact: Sandy Tighe
- Email: sjtighe@ammcglaw.com
- Phone: (805) 238-2300
- Website: www.ammcglaw.com
Stein, Casciola, and Galambos, LLP (San Luis Obispo) (Criminal)
- Contact: Chris Casciola
- 1119 Palm St.
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 - Email: chriscasciola@hotmail.com
- Phone: (805) 541-4135
- Website: www.steinandcasciola.com/
- Specializing in criminal defense
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: Pamela Crabill
- Email: Pamela.Crabill@slo.courts.ca.gov
- Website: http://slocourts.net/
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: dbarden@ksby.com
- 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
- Contact: Alex Almeida
- 225 Prado Rd., Ste. A
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 - Email: alex.almeida@redcross.org
- Phone: (805) 543-0696
- Website: http://www.redcross.org/local/california/central-california/about-us/locations/san-luis-obispo.html
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: mbolin@fcni.org
- Phone: (805) 503-6278
- Contact Katie Robinson for additional information about this opportunity.
The Community Foundation of San Luis Obispo County
- Contact: Cecelia Mazelin
- 550 Dana St.
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 - E-mail: cecelia@cfsloco.org
- Phone: (805) 543-2323
- Website: www.sloccf.org/
Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA)
-
Contact: Aileen Foley
- 75 Higuera St., Ste. 180
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 - Email: afoley@slocasa.org
- Phone: (805) 541-6542 x113
- Website: www.slocasa.org
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
- Contact: Karen Borges
- PO Box 125
San Luis Obispo, CA 93406 - Email: kborges@standstrongnow.org
- Phone: (805) 781-6401 x205
- Website: www.StandStrongNow.org
Transitions Mental Health Association (TMHA) Homeless Outreach, Advocacy, and Meaningful Education (HOAME)
- Contact: Caity McCardell
- 784 High Street, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
- Email: tmhahoame@gmail.com
- Phone: (805) 540-1926
- Website: http://tinyurl.com/hoameinternship
- To apply: http://tinyurl.com/hoameapplication
- Internship Dates: Sept. 2019 - Mar. 2020
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
- Contact: Cory Black
- 3591 Sacramento Drive, Suite 114, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
- Email: cory@publicpolicyinc.com
- Phone: (805) 265-5401 (office)
- Website: www.publicpolicyinc.com
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: rwooley@brookings.edu
- 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
- Contact: Eric Trager, RA/Internship Program Coordinator
- 1111 19th Street NW, Suite 500
Washington, DC 20036 - Email: raintern@washingtoninstitute.org
- Website: www.washingtoninstitute.org