Legal Intern

Reading Partners is changing the education landscape. We are a leader in working to solve the literacy crisis in our country by leveraging community volunteers in under-resourced schools. Our diverse and expansive volunteer base provides one-on-one tutoring to students twice weekly, and our program is proven to help children master the reading fundamentals they need to unlock their potential as successful, happy, and confident readers in school and in life. Our people are our heartbeat and our greatest resource; we are all passionately rallied around our mission to help children become lifelong learners by empowering communities to provide individualized instruction that truly works. Join our stellar, committed team leading the charge to deepen our impact and expand our service. Watch this video to learn more about the mission and core tutoring work of Reading Partners.


The high level:


Reading Partners is seeking motivated and detail-oriented legal interns to assist with organizational governance, compliance, and contract management. Working under the supervision of the Director of Legal and Compliance, the interns will gain valuable hands-on experience in nonprofit law, business development, and policy research. The internship begins in June 2026 and concludes in September 2026.


This position is remote but requires candidates to reside within one of Reading Partners' operating locations: San Francisco Bay Area, CA, Washington, DC, or New York City.

Responsibilities include:

• Conduct legal due diligence regarding prospective partners and vendors.

• Draft, review, and upload contracts to ContractBook, the organization's contract management platform.

• Develop a ContractBook User Manual to standardize internal processes and improve staff training.

• Assist in crafting and refining governance policies and compliance documents. Draft non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) in collaboration with business development and operations teams.

• Conduct legal and policy research and prepare memoranda as needed.

What you'll do:


Strengthen Legal Compliance and Governance: Ensure that Reading Partners' policies, contracts, and procedures align with nonprofit legal and ethical standards.

• Develop or update at least 3 governance or compliance policies (e.g., conflict of interest, document retention).
• Complete a comprehensive review of all active partner/vendor agreements within the internship period.
• Achieve 100% compliance with internal policy documentation standards in ContractBook.
• Draft one governance summary memo outlining areas for policy improvement or clarification.

Streamline Contract Management Processes: Improve the efficiency and accuracy of Reading Partners' contract creation, review, and storage systems.

• Create a ContractBook User Manual to standardize internal contract workflows.
• Upload and organize 100% of existing and new contracts into the ContractBook system by the end of the internship.
• Reduce average contract turnaround time by 20% through standardized templates and workflows.
• Conduct training or documentation sessions with staff to ensure consistent contract entry practices.

Enhance Collaboration Between Legal, Operations, and Business Development Teams: Strengthen cross-departmental collaboration through effective communication and shared legal tools.

• Draft non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) and other legal documents for at least 3 interdepartmental initiatives.
• Conduct biweekly updates or briefings to share progress and address legal needs across teams.
• Contribute to at least one cross-functional policy improvement project (e.g., partner onboarding, vendor selection).

Contribute to Legal Research and Knowledge Management: Provide actionable legal and policy research that informs Reading Partners' strategic and operational decisions.

• Produce 2-3 legal research memoranda on nonprofit or education policy issues.
• Ensure all research memos meet internal quality and citation standards.
• Present key findings to the legal or operations team to support decision-making.
• Compile a summary of legal research insights for future intern onboarding or knowledge continuity.

How you'll do it:


Legal and Analytical Expertise: You apply foundational legal knowledge, critical thinking, and research skills to evaluate organizational risk, ensure compliance, and strengthen governance.

• Conduct accurate, timely legal research on nonprofit compliance, contracts, and governance policies.
• Translate legal findings into actionable recommendations for internal stakeholders.
• Apply judgment in reviewing agreements and identifying areas that require escalation or clarification.
• Use precision and attention to detail in drafting, reviewing, and maintaining legal documents and policies.

Systems and Process Optimization: You understand how to streamline workflows, leverage legal technology tools, and build systems that increase efficiency and consistency.

• Manage and organize legal documents within ContractBook, ensuring accurate data entry and version control.
• Design and document processes that improve legal operations, including the development of the ContractBook User Manual.
• Identify inefficiencies and propose process improvements that reduce turnaround time and enhance cross-team collaboration.
• Apply a structured, solution-oriented mindset to balance multiple priorities and meet deadlines.

Collaboration and Communication: You build productive relationships and communicate complex information clearly and effectively across teams.

• Communicate legal concepts in plain language to non-legal staff and leadership.
• Demonstrate professionalism, integrity, and confidentiality in all internal and external interactions.
• Adapt communication styles to various audiences, ensuring understanding and follow-through on legal recommendations.

What we offer:


Reading Partners' compensation is designed to attract, motivate, engage, and retain top talent to propel our mission forward. This position is not eligible for full-time benefits.

This is a part-time, non-exempt, and hourly position up to 20 hours per week. The pay range for this position is $22.31 - $26.25 per hour and is contingent on geographic location. After applying, candidates who move forward in the hiring process are provided with the salary for their geographical location. We aim to set salaries based on objective, external, high-quality market data. Our salaries are adjusted for candidates in different geographic regions. We do our very best to ensure that we're bringing our best offer - therefore we do not engage in salary negotiations.

What's Next?


If you're interested in joining our Reading Partners team, please submit the following application materials to our online job posting :

• A cover letter describing your interest in Reading Partners and how your past experience has prepared you for this role.

Resume

About you!


Required Qualifications:

• Currently enrolled as a second- or third-year Juris Doctor (J.D.) student at an accredited law school.
• Minimum of one year of legal coursework or equivalent internship experience focused on contracts, compliance, or nonprofit/government law.
• Demonstrated research, writing, and analytical skills sufficient to support legal and policy development.
• Strong organizational and project management abilities, with the capacity to handle multiple priorities and meet deadlines.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook).
• Demonstrate a commitment to fostering an inclusive and collaborative work environment.
• Display a deep belief in our mission and root your work in our core values.
• Ability to prove eligibility to work legally in the U.S. and that you are at least 18 years of age.

Bonus Points (Preferred Qualifications):

• Prior experience working in a nonprofit, education, or social impact organization.
• Familiarity with ContractBook, LexisNexis, or similar legal research and contract management tools.
• Coursework or experience related to education policy, corporate governance, or contract law.
• Demonstrated interest in nonprofit management, policy advocacy, or organizational compliance.