Location: Arlington, VA
Duration: January to May 2027
Work Days in Office: 5 days onsite at HQ
Compensation: $22.00 per hour
FLSA Status: Non-Exempt (Hourly)
About Spirit of America:
Spirit of America is a privately funded 501c3 non-profit headquartered in Arlington, Virginia. Our mission is to engage citizens in preserving the promise of a free and better life. We do this by working alongside U.S. troops and diplomats and providing private assistance to defend freedom, strengthen America’s national security, and save and improve lives.
Spirit of America leverages an unprecedented partnership with the US military based on a groundbreaking agreement with the Department of Defense. Our agreement allows the military to collaborate with us, identify needs, receive and distribute our assistance, and provide us with logistical support. No other non-profit has such an agreement. Thus, every dollar invested in Spirit of America builds on and leverages investments made by the U.S. government and military. That leverage – combined with our entrepreneurial, venture capital capability – provides philanthropic investment in Spirit of America with asymmetrical impact and return on investment.
Our work saves and improves lives, prevents conflict, and strengthens America’s security. In the world’s toughest places, people experience the best of who Americans are and what we stand for.
About the Role
The Legal Intern supports legal and compliance activities within a mission-driven nonprofit organization. This role provides practical exposure to legal operations, contract management, nonprofit compliance, and legal research under appropriate supervision.
The Legal Intern will work closely with Chief Legal Officer and Associate Counsel on real-world legal matters that directly support organizational operations and strategic initiatives.
Key Responsibilities
- Support the organization, tracking, and records management of contracts, grants, export control reviews, and other legal documents
- Support risk reviews for partner vetting to carry out national security philanthropy activities around the world, including in many conflict settings.
- Organize and expand the department’s knowledge library that contains information on drafting contracts and grants, export control, and SOA guidance
- Help draft user guides and training materials for legal and compliance standard operating procedures
- Help track U.S. state corporate registrations, filings, and governance calendar deadlines
- Assist with legal research related to nonprofit law, federal regulations, and compliance
What You’ll Gain
- Hands-on Learning: Work directly on international and domestic in-house legal and compliance matters that support Spirit of America’s mission and operations.
- Legal operations and technology: Gain practical experience with legal intake, contract lifecycle management, and matter management platform that help a legal department scale its operations
- Mentorship & Exposure: Gain exposure to nonprofit in-house counsel roles, partnerships with government and private sector actors, and transactional law decision-making.
- Mission-Driven Experience: Learn how a legal professional can support national security, humanitarian operations, and ethical nonprofit management.
- Professional Networking: Participate in staff meetings and one-on-one mentorship sessions.
Required Qualifications
- Currently enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate degree program in International Relations, Political Science, Business Administration, Public Administration, Legal Studies, or a related field at an accredited college or university.
- Strong written communication, research, and analytical skills
- High attention to detail and organizational ability
- Professional judgment and ability to handle confidential information
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, Outlook, SharePoint) and legal AI tools
Preferred Qualifications
- Academic focus or demonstrated interest in international, humanitarian, trade, national security and/or nonprofit law
- Interest in public service or nonprofit operations
To Apply
Please submit your resume and a cover letter indicating in compelling detail why you are interested in this position and why you would succeed.
Equal Employment Opportunity
Spirit of America is an equal opportunity employer. Employment decisions are based on merit and business needs without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, veteran status, disability, or other protected characteristics in accordance with applicable law.
Skills Required
- Currently enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate degree program in International Relations, Political Science, Business Administration, Public Administration, Legal Studies, or a related field at an accredited college or university.
- Strong written communication, research, and analytical skills.
- High attention to detail and organizational ability.
- Professional judgment and ability to handle confidential information.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Excel, Outlook, and SharePoint, and legal AI tools.
- Academic focus or demonstrated interest in international, humanitarian, trade, national security, and/or nonprofit law.
- Interest in public service or nonprofit operations.
What We Do
Spirit of America is a privately funded nonprofit that works alongside U.S. troops and diplomats worldwide to identify unmet needs and deliver rapid, practical assistance. It provides humanitarian aid, expertise, equipment, and project support to help partners defend freedom, strengthen security, counter extremism, build goodwill, and save and improve lives. The organization describes its model as national security philanthropy, connecting private citizens’ resources with frontline missions.
