Careers & Internships

EPIC is a public interest research center in Washington, DC. EPIC was established in 1994 to focus public attention on emerging privacy and civil liberties issues and to protect privacy, freedom of expression, and democratic values in the information age. EPIC pursues a wide range of program activities including policy research, public education, conferences, litigation, publications, and advocacy. EPIC routinely files amicus briefs in federal courts, pursues open government cases, defends consumer privacy, organizes conferences for NGOs, and speaks before Congress and judicial organizations about emerging privacy and civil liberties issues. EPIC works closely with a distinguished advisory board, with expertise in law, technology and public policy. EPIC maintains one of the most popular privacy web sites in the world—epic.org.

We welcome applications for jobs, fellowships, and clerkships. Please see the listings below for current openings and application deadlines.

EPIC is an equal opportunity employer. EPIC strongly encourages women, people of color, and underrepresented populations to apply for positions at EPIC. 

Jobs

Fellowships

EPIC LAW FELLOWSHIP

EPIC is no longer accepting applications for the 2024 EPIC Law Fellowship. EPIC will open the application process for the 2025 EPIC Law Fellowship this summer.

Other Fellowships

Each year, EPIC seeks qualified recent law graduates to apply for project-based fellowships. EPIC seeks to serve as a host organization for applicants for these fellowships, which are funded by outside organizations, including law schools (e.g., Georgetown Law’s Women’s Law and Public Policy Fellowship Program and Yale Law School’s Arthur Liman Public Interest Program), Equal Justice Works, the Skadden Foundation, and the Open Society Foundations. These project-based fellowships are highly competitive and seek to fund new and innovative public interest law projects. These fellowships are a chance to gain high quality public interest legal experience.

Applicants should contact EPIC describing their interests. Applicants should be aware of the outside funder organization’s deadline, and that it takes time for EPIC to evaluate and work with a candidate to develop a quality proposal. The earlier candidates contact EPIC with their proposal, the stronger the proposal can be developed.

Please direct inquiries about project-based fellowships funded by outside organizations to [email protected]. Please address correspondence to Jeramie Scott, EPIC Senior Counsel.

Internships/Clerkships

Internet Public Interest Opportunities Program (IPIOP) Clerkships

The EPIC Internet Public Interest Opportunities Program (IPIOP) is an intensive legal internship with EPIC that is held during the summer, fall, and spring terms. IPIOP seeks outstanding law students interested in public interest issues related to the Internet to spend a summer or a semester at the EPIC office in Washington, DC.

Description: Learn about the legislative process, public interest litigation, the Freedom of Information Act, online activism, and emerging Internet issues.

The IPIOP Program gives law students the opportunity to actively participate in valuable programs in Internet law, policy, and legislation. IPIOP clerks also attend weekly seminars led by eminent scholars and practitioners in the field of Internet policy. The goal of the program is to provide opportunities for clerks to experience first-hand the new and exciting intersection between Internet law and public policy.

Washington, D.C. provides an ideal location for an introduction to Internet law and policy. IPIOP clerks may attend agency proceedings, policy meetings, Congressional hearings, and visit many landmarks in the Nation’s Capital.

Legislation: IPIOP clerks research and draft memoranda on critical issues before Congress, and attend hearings. Clerks learn about the legislative process, which is the critical opportunity for public interest organizations to make a case directly to lawmakers, to engage in discussion about the details of proposed legislation, and to establish connections with critical committees and decision makers.

Government Oversight: The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) is a powerful tool for public interest organizations to learn about otherwise inscrutable governmental activities and to promote public oversight. IPIOP clerks research, draft, and submit FOIA requests on a controversial issue to one of many governmental agencies. Clerks also assist in litigating pending FOIA matters.

Litigation: Clerks assist EPIC staff in developing litigation strategy in key cases with significant impact on critical Internet issues. Clerk activities in this area include drafting memoranda, meeting with attorneys, and attending court hearings.

Collaboration: IPIOP works in association with public interest litigators and law school clinics across the country. A distinguished Advisory Committee oversees the work of IPIOP.

Qualifications: Energy, enthusiasm, and creativity. Currently enrolled in law school. (Students enrolled in non-US schools are welcome to apply.) Excellent writing and communication skills. Strong interest in civil liberties issues relating to the Internet, particularly free speech, privacy, open government, and democratic governance.

Application: Submit a letter of interest, resume, writing sample, law school transcripts, and three references as a combined PDF to [email protected]. Please use the email subject line “EPIC IPIOP Clerkship” and indicate semester or summer, e.g., “Spring 2024,” “Summer 2024.” 

Application deadlines: 

Spring Semester (typically for an internship from Jan through April or May): September 1 – November 15

Summer (typically for an internship from May through July or August): November 1 – February 22

Fall Semester (typically for an internship from August or Sept through Dec): April 15 – July 15

Applications will be evaluated as they are received. You are encouraged to apply early, as we will be accepting on a rolling basis. 

Compensation: Law schools routinely fund IPIOP clerkships. Upon law school approval, IPIOP clerks may also receive course credit for their time spent with EPIC. EPIC is happy to work with applicants to obtain funding from their respective law schools.

IPIOP Experiences

Siri Nelson, Northeastern Law School (Fall 2017) “An EPIC Experience”

Ruchika Agrawal, Stanford (IPIOP Science Policy Fellow) “Profiles of Success.”

Mark Pike, William & Mary (Summer 2007) “An EPIC Summer”

Caitriona Fitzgerald, Northeastern Law School (Spring 2007) “On the Cutting Edge”