Overview

FIRE’s 10-week, paid Summer Internship Program gives undergraduate students a hands-on opportunity to defend civil liberties and advance free speech.
 

FIRE interns do meaningful work alongside our staff, receive mentorship, participate in weekly seminars with leading experts on freedom of expression, and help execute some of FIRE’s most important student programs of the year.
 

Interns work full-time at FIRE’s Philadelphia office. The 2027 program will run from Tuesday, June 1 through Friday, August 6, 2027. Interns receive a $6,400 stipend and will receive additional compensation for their work as counselors during FIRE’s Free Speech Forum.
 

The program is highly competitive. FIRE typically selects just 8–12 interns from a pool of hundreds of applicants each year. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis and students are encouraged to apply early.

 

Applications open October 19, 2026 and close Sunday, January 3, 2027, at 11:59 p.m. ET.

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Qualifications and Responsibilities

FIRE is seeking passionate, team-oriented, and driven undergraduate students with a strong interest in free speech and civil liberties. The internship is open to rising sophomores, juniors, or seniors attending colleges or universities in the United States.

 

All interns are expected to demonstrate excellent research, writing, and communication skills. Strong candidates are responsible, organized, eager to take initiative, and are willing to engage with ideas and viewpoints they may agree with. The ability to work under pressure and a sense of humor are also important.

 

Because interns spend the summer working together closely as a cohort, we also look for candidates who are collaborative, open to feedback, and excited to contribute to a team.

 

FIRE interns:

• Work closely with our student development, defense, policy reform, legislation, development, and media teams to assist with research and administrative projects.
• Assist with the planning and execution of the FIRE Student Network Summer Conference, taking place in July 2027 in Philadelphia, and lead educational and interactive sessions for conference attendees.
• Serve as a residential counselor during the Free Speech Forum, providing supervision, mentorship, and facilitation of educational activities centered on free speech.
• Have the opportunity to contribute to FIRE’s Newsdesk.
• Learn the foundational arguments for protecting core rights in our free society through reading and discussion in weekly seminars with FIRE’s staff and other experts on civil liberties.

 

Written responses are evaluated not only on answers given, but also on clarity, style, and quality. We encourage applicants to thoughtfully prepare their responses to the questions.

 

Applications open Monday, October 19, 2026, and close Sunday, January 3, 2027, at 11:59 p.m. ET.

 

The selection process consists of two virtual interview rounds followed by an in-person finalist interview in Florida. Finalists will interview with FIRE staff and participate in FIRE’s Student Development Conference. FIRE covers travel and lodging for candidates invited to the final interview.

2027 Selection Timeline

• October 19, 2026: Applications open
• January 3, 2027, at 11:59 p.m. ET: Applications close
• By January 20, 2027: Finalists invited to the in-person interview round
• February 25–27, 2027: Final interviews and Student Development Conference in Florida
• Beginning March 5, 2027: Offers extended

 

Questions about FIRE’s Summer Internship Program can be sent to internship@thefire.org.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What does an average day in the life of a FIRE intern look like?

Interns typically start the day by catching up on and discussing recent news. Throughout the day, interns collaborate with various FIRE staffers in helping to support FIRE’s response to breaking news and our ongoing defense of free speech. Interns work both individually and in teams, and are involved in a variety of functions. This includes everything from development and conference planning to education and outreach. Interns also take part in educational sessions with FIRE’s staff and free speech experts. 

2. Is the FIRE internship open to high school students, graduate students, law students, or international students?

No. At this time, the internship is open only to undergraduate students who will be rising sophomores, juniors, or seniors and who attend colleges or universities in the United States.

For information about other opportunities at FIRE, please visit our jobs page.

3. Will FIRE provide housing?

No. Housing and transportation during the internship are the responsibility of individual interns.

FIRE’s office is centrally located in Philadelphia, with a variety of housing and public transportation options nearby. Past interns have found summer housing through university housing programs, sublets, and local housing groups.

4. Can I complete the internship remotely or in a hybrid format?

No. The Summer Internship Program is fully in person at FIRE’s Philadelphia office.

5. What are the required hours?

The internship requires a full-time commitment of 40 hours per week. FIRE’s regular office hours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

 

Interns must be available for the entire 10-week program, from June 1 through August 6, 2027.

6. Are the start and end dates flexible?

No. Interns must participate for the full 10-week term, and we cannot accommodate adjustments to the program’s start or end dates.

 

The cohort experience is an important part of the internship and we want all interns to begin and complete the program together. The summer has a full calendar of speakers, seminars, conferences, and professional development opportunities.For those reasons, interns should not plan vacations or other extended time away during the program.

7. Is previous camp counselor experience required?

No. Previous camp counselor experience is not required. Because FIRE interns serve as counselors during the Free Speech Forum, prior experience as a camp counselor, resident adviser, teacher, coach, mentor, or in a similar supervisory role can strengthen an application. However, we encourage qualified students to apply regardless of whether they have held a counselor position before.

8. What does the interview process look like?

The interview process consists of two virtual interview rounds followed by an in-person finalist interview in Florida.

 

Finalists will be invited to Florida to interview with FIRE staff and participate in FIRE’s Student Development Conference. FIRE covers travel and lodging associated with the trip. Additional details will be provided to applicants who advance to the final round. 

 

Students who are studying abroad during the final round will have the option to participate virtually via Google Meet.

9. What makes a strong application and FIRE intern?

Strong applicants demonstrate excellent writing and communication skills, intellectual curiosity, initiative, and an interest in free speech and civil liberties. We also look for candidates who enjoy working with a team, and are receptive to feedback.

 

Successful interns are self-starters who seek out ways to contribute and are just as willing to handle a small task as they are to lead a major project.

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