Legal Intern

Job Description

NOTE: To ensure a fair and equitable recruitment process, our Foundation Staff and Board do not host preliminary conversations with applicants outside of our standard interview process.

Position: Legal Intern - Summer 2027

Reports to: Associate General Counsel

Location: Chicago, Illinois (Hybrid)

Duration: June 8 - August 11, 2027

Compensation: Paid Internship (Hourly rate will start at $30/hour)

About the Foundation

The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation is one of the nation’s largest independent foundations. The Foundation supports creative people, effective institutions, and influential networks building a more just, verdant, and peaceful world. MacArthur invests in solving some of the world’s most pressing social challenges, including advancing global climate solutions, promoting local justice reform in the U.S., revitalizing local news, expanding who creates, uses, and benefits from artificial intelligence, and strengthening the well-being of Native communities. In addition to the MacArthur Fellows Program and the global 100&Change competition, the Foundation continues its historic commitments to the role of journalism in a responsive democracy as well as the vitality of our headquarters city, Chicago. The Foundation also maintains offices in Nigeria and India.

About the Office of the General Counsel

The Office of the General Counsel of the MacArthur Foundation plays a key role in all MacArthur’s day-to-day operations, including grantmaking, investing and impact investing, policy development, governance and contracting. The team currently consists of eleven staff, including the Foundation’s Vice President and General Counsel, a Deputy General Counsel, two Associate General Counsels, and a Resident in Nonprofit Law.

About the Internship

Responsibilities may include:

• Assisting the Office of the General Counsel on matters relating to the work of the Office, including state and federal tax-exempt law, general corporate law, intellectual property law, anti-terrorist financing laws, international law, and regulatory issues.
• Engaging with many of the legal activities that the team navigates and gain skills and experience in legal research, drafting memoranda and Foundation policies, grant agreements and other documents, reviewing contracts, and interfacing with Foundation staff.
• Gaining an understanding of the philanthropic sector and organizations working in different countries around the world supported by the Foundation’s national and international grantmaking programs.

Qualifications

• Interns should demonstrate a passion for the nonprofit sector and a desire to learn more about whether a career in tax-exempt organization law may be of interest to them. Working knowledge of United States tax law is a plus, but not required.
• At the time of the internship, applicants must:
  • be currently enrolled at an accredited U.S. law school through at least Fall 2027;
  • have completed at least a year (and preferably two years) of law school; and
  • be in good academic standing.
• Interns are expected to be in the office at least two days each week, in line with the expectation for the Foundation’s Chicago-based Staff. Further, all summer interns are expected to be in the Chicagoland area for the duration of the program.
• The Foundation is deeply committed to the values of diversity, equity and inclusion and expects interns to display a similar commitment. 

This internship is based in Chicago, Illinois. Our work environment is hybrid with designated in-office days and virtual days. Interns will be required to reside in the Chicagoland area for the duration of the program. Housing assistance for non-local students may be available and will be discussed during the interview process.

Application Process:

The application deadline is MONDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2026 AT 11:59 PM CST. Applicants should submit a cover letter and resume. As a requirement, students “must be returning back to school” to be eligible. Students meeting the minimum requirements should apply through the MacArthur Foundation website (www.macfound.org/jobs).

NOTE: To ensure a fair and equitable recruitment process, our Foundation Staff and Board do not host preliminary conversations with applicants outside of our standard interview process.

Work Environment and Reasonable Accommodations

The work environment is an office setting.  Requests for reasonable accommodations will be considered to enable a person with disabilities to perform the job.  Reasonable accommodations are also available during the interview process. 

The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, pregnancy, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local laws.