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
- Contact: Guadalupe Cruz
- The Maddy Scholar Intern Program
California State University, Fresno - Email: gcruz0521@csufresno.edu
- Phone: (559) 278-1133
- Website: www.maddyinstitute.org
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
United States Congressmember Salud Carbajal
- Contacts:
- San Luis Obispo Office: Caitlin.Cox@mail.house.gov
- Santa Barbara: Jesse.Ebadi@mail.house.gov
- Washington, DC: Tommy.Vo@mail.house.gov.
- District office: 1411 Marsh Street, Ste. 205
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 - Phone: D.C. internship: (202) 225-3601 / SLO internship: (805) 546-8348
- Website: https://carbajal.house.gov/
- Apply Here: https://carbajal.house.gov/forms/internships/
- Note: Internships available in Washington D.C. or in the District offices.
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: ranzures@crs.loc.gov
- Website: http://www.loc.gov/
- View "Career Opportunities" for information and application procedures for the internship programs.
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
- For more information on the program and how to apply, go to https://careers.state.gov/interns-fellows/ and click on Program.
Department of Transportation
- 1200 New Jersey Ave, SE
Washington, DC 20590 - Website: https://www.transportation.gov/careers/internships
Federal Aviation Administration
- Apply at USAjobs.gov for internship opportunities
- If you have questions about the internships, please email Cal Poly alumni Lindsey Constantino: lindseymconstantino@gmail.com
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
- 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.
City/County Government Internships
Description of Duties: special projects, research, cross-checking, updating forms, administrative duties.
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/
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
- 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/
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
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.
- Students can email resumes to victimwitness@co.slo.ca.us to set up an interview
- Website: https://www.slocounty.ca.gov/Departments/District-Attorney/Victim-Witness-Assistance-Center/Victim-Witness-Assistance-Program-Internship-Progr.aspx
- Contact: Beth Raub
- Phone: 805-781-5821
- email: braub@co.slo.ca.us
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.
Project Vote Smart
- 1153 24th St.
Des Moines, IA 50311 - Email: intern@votesmart.org
- Phone: (515) 989-6363
- Website: https://justfacts.votesmart.org/internships/
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
- 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
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
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.
Project on Government Oversight (previously Center for Defense Information)
- 100 G Street NW, Suite 500
Washington, DC 20005 - Website: https://www.pogo.org/careers/internships
- Any general questions concerning internships or the internship program should be directed to Shelby Brown at internships@pogo.org
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
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
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, 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.
Amber Heffner
- Immigration Attorney
- Amber Heffner Law
- 2087 10th St. Suite A, Los Osos, CA 93402
- (805) 316-0592
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.
- Contact: Megan K. Crosbie
- megan@harrispersonalinjury.com
- Phone: (805) 544-0100
- 1025 Farmhouse Lane, Suite 2F, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
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
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
Pick Law Office
- Contact: Michael R. Pick Jr.
- Phone: (805) 541-1855
- michael@picklawoffice.com
- Website: www.PickLawOffice.com
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 Internships
California Rural Legal Assistance
- SLO Contact: Sasha Aguilar
- Directing Attorney, CRLA-SLO
- saguilar@crla.org
- Office: 805.544.7994 (ext. 1515)
- Cell: 805.540.4375
- Santa Maria Contact: Corrie Arellano
- Email: carellano@crla.org
- Phone: (510) 267-0762
- Website: https://crla.org/careers/internships/internships
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
San Luis Obispo Legal Assistance Foundation
- Contact: Christy Ferioli, Staff Attorney
- Email: christy@slolaf.org
- Phone: (805) 543-5140
- Website: www.slolaf.org
- Two quarter commitment preferred.
Santa Maria Office of Legal Aid Foundation of Santa Barbara
Private Practice Internships
Curtze Legal Offices (Arroyo Grande)
- Contact: Doreen R. Curtze
- Email: drcurtze@gmail.com
- Phone: (805) 440-3454
- Website: www.drcurtzelaw.com
Shell Beach Law Group (Shell Beach)
- Contact: Brian Kreowski
- 1435 Shell Beach Rd., Shell Beach, CA 93449
- Phone: (805) 773-5661
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: dbarden@ksby.com
- 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
- SLO Contact: Frank Kopcinski
- Email: fkopcinski@crla.org
- Santa Maria Contact: Corrie Arellano
- Email: carellano@crla.org
- Phone: (510) 267-0762
- Website: www.crla.org
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
- 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: Katie Robinson
- 75 Higuera St., Ste. 180
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 - Email: krobinson@slocasa.org
- Phone: (805) 503-8336
- Website: www.slocasa.org
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
- PO Box 125
San Luis Obispo, CA 93406 - Phone: (805) 545-8888
- Website: www.luminaalliance.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