Fall 2026 & Spring 2027 Academic Year Externship

The Center for Democracy & Technology (CDT) occasionally hosts externs during the academic year, who work to support CDT’s work championing civil liberties and international human rights issues related to technology and the internet, including online free expression, electronic surveillance, digital copyright, disability rights in technology, cybersecurity, internet governance, equity in technology, and consumer privacy.  

College, law, and graduate students with an interest in internet and technology policy, human rights, and/or civil liberties are invited to apply. Externships are unpaid and must be coordinated with the extern’s college or university for academic credit. Prospective externs must be enrolled at an academic institution at the time of application & during their prospective externship period.

Applications should include: 

• a cover letter explaining your interest in externing at CDT, the team you would like to work with, and tentative dates for your externship;
• a current resume or CV; and, 
• a writing sample.

The availability of positions for externs are determined by the current needs of CDT’s policy teams. We recommend that prospective externs apply at least six weeks before they would like their externships to begin. This opening is specific to the 2026 - 2027 academic year (Fall 2026 Semester & Spring 2027 Semester).

We accept applications for five types of externships: legal, policy analyst, research, technologist, and nonprofit communications and development. Responsibilities and requirements for these positions are described below. Please specify in your cover letter if you are applying for a legal, policy, research, technologist, or communications and development position.

Job Responsibilities:

• Law students and law graduates: Externs who are current law students – or who have recently earned a law degree – can contribute to CDT’s work by conducting legal and policy research, drafting reports and legal analyses, assisting in the preparation of testimony, presentations, legislative proposals, regulatory comments, and court briefs, and creating online educational resources.
• Policy analysts: Externs with training or experience in policy and advocacy can contribute to CDT’s work by conducting policy research, drafting reports and analyses, assisting in the preparation of testimony, presentations, and legislative proposals, and creating online educational resources.
• Researchers: Externs who are currently graduate students or PhD students can contribute to CDT by working with the Research Team in the development of research proposals, drafting literature reviews and issue-specific memoranda, data analysis, primary data collection, and translating research deliverables for policy-focused audiences. Students from all majors and degree programs are encouraged to apply.
• Technologists: Externs with technical training or experience can contribute to CDT’s work by conducting research, evaluating technical standards, drafting accessible policy papers about technical topics and reports, assisting in the preparation of testimony and legislative proposals, and designing online educational resources. Students from all technical or scientific majors and degree programs are encouraged to apply.
• Nonprofit communications, development, and management specialists: Externs with strong writing skills and an interest in learning about public policy communications and nonprofit management can contribute to the work of CDT’s Communications and/or Development and Finance teams. Work will include drafting and editing social media content; editing blogposts and reports; writing newsletters and other CDT communications; contributing to grant applications and reports; and office administrative tasks as assigned. Undergraduate or graduate students are encouraged to apply.

Qualifications:

Students from all majors and degree programs are encouraged to apply. Applicants should have an interest in internet and technology policy, civil liberties and/or human rights law, strong research and writing skills, the ability to take initiative and prioritize responsibilities in a fast-paced working environment, and a strong academic record.

This position is based in CDT’s Washington, D.C. office and is also available as a remote opportunity. Candidates should be comfortable working within Eastern Time Zone (EST & EDT) business hours. 

Compensation:

CDT is unfortunately unable to provide compensation for externships during the academic year. Externships are coordinated with the extern’s college or university for academic credit. We are only able to accept applicants who can coordinate with their college or university for credit. 

Due to the large number of applications we receive, only applicants selected for interviews will be contacted.