Location: Remote
Compensation: $15.00 per hour (or minimum wage in jurisdiction if higher)
Time Commitment: 10-29 hours per weekfor six months 6/16/25-12/12/25
Recruiting Timeline: This position will remain open for three weeks or until we receive 100 applications, whichever comes first.
ORGANIZATION DESCRIPTION
Best Friends Animal Society is a national non-profit focused on ending the killing of cats and dogs in America's shelters by 2025. Best Friends is leading the no-kill movement by running lifesaving community programs for dogs and cats, providing support and training for animal shelters and rescue groups, and mobilizing community members on behalf of pets in need across the country.The communities we partner with are diverse and multicultural – and we want that to be reflected within our organization. We welcome our employees’ unique wisdom, special skills, passion, and whole self to the workplace. We believe that our differences are pivotal to uniting the movement and achieving our mission.Our hiring practices are based on kindness and treating all living things, people, animals and the planet, as we would like to be treated. We encourage candidates who can enhance our culture and use their unique strengths and experiences to help us Save Them All.
POSITION DESCRIPTION
Best Friends legislative work occurs in diverse communities; we value diversity of all kinds on our staff, including our interns. The Legislative Advocacy intern willassistin monitoring and researching legislation related to current animal welfare issues.The Legislative Advocacy intern will have the opportunity to practice and improve their research and writing skills, strengthen their communication skills,meetand network with other professionals in the animal welfare field, andaddress regulatory and legislative issues as they relate to reducing the number of dogs and cats killed in America’s animal shelters.They will also attend internal and external meetings where legal and political strategy is discussed, solutions are crafted, and campaigns to end the killing of healthy and treatable pets are developed and launched.
The Legislative Advocacy Intern reports to a Legislative Attorney on the Advocacy teamand will receive weekly supervision and regular feedback. The minimum time commitment for the Legislative Advocacy Internship is 10 hours and the maximum is 29 hours; interns will have the ability to flex time and assignments based on other life commitments, such as exams or travel.Compensation is $15.00 per hour (or minimum wage in jurisdiction, if higher) forsixmonths. This is a remote internship. Students seeking college credit are welcome to apply.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
Monitor, track, and analyze legislation;
Conduct legal research and writing;
Attend hearings, briefings, and meetings;
Prepare reports for staff;
Assist staff in mobilizing membership on key legislative initiatives; and
Assist with administrative tasks such as updating and preparing Excel spreadsheets, proofreading, assembling folders for lobby visits, preparing mailings, etc.
Treat people around you with Kindness and Compassion, build trust by demonstrating authenticity and following through on your commitments, prioritize your well-being, and work to build strong inclusive relationships with your colleagues by participating in communication loops to share and receive honest feedback.
LEARNING OUTCOMES
Become knowledgeable aboutthe local and state legislative processes.
Gain a comprehensive understanding of legal issues resulting in the killing of dogs and cats in shelters and the impact those laws have on animals, people, and communities.
Learn how successful advocacy strategies are implemented through policy and methods for influencing decision makers.
Improve research, writing, communication, and networking skills.
Build and strengthen professional relationships with influential members of the animal welfare movement both inside and outside Best Friends.
QUALIFICATIONS:
Must be a student and matriculated in an ABA-accredited law school seeking a juris doctorate degree or LLM degreeor in a master's level program with an emphasis on public policy or public affairs
Preference will be given to students who have completed one calendar year of graduate-level schooling
Strong interpersonal communication skills
Excellent writing abilities (clear, professional, error-free writing)
Analytical and research skills, especially in summarizing and presenting complex information more simply
Professional work ethic and independent time management skills in a home-office environment
Proficient in Microsoft Office, including Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint
Interest in learning about public policy and the legislative process
Prior political experience or political science background is not necessary
Best Friends employees may only hold one compensated position at any time. Current employees are not allowed to hold another position and this internship position at the same time. If a current employee would like to apply for this internship, the employee would be required to resign from their primary position, with no guarantee of re-employment, if the employee wanted to accept this position.
Thank you for your interest in pursuing a career at Best Friends Animal Society. Best Friends Animal Society is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to their race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, marital status, or domestic partner status.
Applicants for employment in the U.S. must have valid work authorization that does not now and/or will not in the future require sponsorship of a visa for employment authorization in the U.S. by Best Friends Animal Society.
About Best Friends
Best Friends received a 2022 Top Workplaces USA award from Energage.
Thank you for your interest in pursuing a career at Best Friends Animal Society. Best Friends Animal Society is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to their race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, marital status, or domestic partner status. Applicants for employment in the U.S. must have valid work authorization that does not now and/or will not in the future require sponsorship of a visa for employment authorization in the U.S. by Best Friends Animal Society.