Arizona Legislature

Arizona Legislative Internships

Welcome! Arizona Legislative Internships

The Arizona Legislature provides many internship opportunities for qualified applicants, including our Legislative Internship and Legal Internship. Select a program on the left and discover which one is right for you!

General Information

Program Overview

The Legislative Internship is offered during the spring semester, from January through May. Interns are placed in various positions at the Arizona State Senate or House of Representatives. Interns may also be selected to work in the Governor's Office or with the Supreme Court.

Interns receive a stipend of $6,000, a tuition/fee waiver and earn 12 hours of undergraduate upper division credit or 9 hours of graduate credit upon successful completion of the internship.

Students from outside Maricopa County are eligible to apply for reimbursement of qualified relocation expenses up to $1,000, with receipts.

Description of Position

Duties include conducting research; writing summaries of bills; attending committee hearings; presenting bills in committees and caucus; preparing amendments; and communicating with legislators, liaisons of state agencies, lobbyists, constituents and members of the general public. Interns are supervised and mentored by a legislative staff person. Specific duties vary, depending on intern assignments.

What is different about being an intern in the Senate or House of Representatives?

Interns may be placed in the Legislature, Governor’s Office or Supreme Court. However, all three placements are LEGISLATIVE internships. This means that interns in the Senate and House are in the midst of the action, taking part in the crafting of legislation. Interns placed in the other branches observe this work.

The Senate and House each select approximately 20 interns. They analyze public policy either with a subject-area committee or the offices of the Republican Staff or Democratic Staff.

Senate and House interns participate directly in the legislative process, rather than monitoring the process as observers.

How do I Apply for the Internship?

Applications must be submitted to your University Coordinator. Please see the University Coordinator Contacts page for details.

Requirements

Eligibility

Applicants must be candidates for a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree at one of Arizona’s participating universities and have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher at the time of application.


Candidates for a Bachelor's degree must have at least 75 hours at the end of the fall semester prior to the internship. Individual universities may have additional eligibility requirements, please contact your university coordinator for information.


Qualifications

The position requires communication and writing skills, the ability to work in a team setting and self-starting independence.


Interns do not have to be political science majors or know anything about the legislative process; your supervisors will teach you everything you need to know. The most important attributes of an intern are enthusiasm, a willingness to learn through hands-on experience, and interest in the legislative process. Students from all academic disciplines are encouraged to apply.

University Contacts

Applications must be submitted to your University though their respective Application Portals (applications will not be accepted via email). Please click on the name of your University below to be directed to the application portal.

Please contact your University Coordinator with questions about the application process. Thank you for your interest and we look forward to receiving receiving your application!

Northern Arizona University
John Gartin
Director, NAU Career Development
john.gartin@nau.edu
(928) 523-3922

Tyler Lawhead
ALIP Campus Liaison
tyler.lawhead@nau.edu
(928) 523-7099

Arizona State University
Dr. Tara Lennon
School of Politics and Global Studies
Tara.Lennon@asu.edu
(480) 965-3627

Kayla Stamey
Program Coordinator
kayla.stamey@asu.edu

University of Arizona
Jane B. Hays
Director, State Relations
Assistant Director, Local and Rural Outreach
Governing & Community Relations
janesurgent@arizona.edu
(602) 510-7555

Barbara Quinlan
Executive Assistant State Relations, Government & Community Relations
bquinlan@arizona.edu
(602) 827-2024

Grand Canyon University
Marquis Scott
Director of Student Development
marquis.scott@gcu.edu
(602)-639-8037

Troy Wethe
ACE Career Advisor
troy.wethe@gcu.edu
0ffice (602) 639-8429

Embry Riddle Aeronautical University
Marissa Owens
Assistant Director of Career Services & Employer Relations
owensm17@erau.edu
(928)-777-6681

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to know about the government or be a political science major?
No! Students from all majors and disciplines are encouraged to apply. Former interns’ majors have included communications, religious studies, ecology and evolutionary biology, economics, finance, media arts and psychology, among others. Legislative Staff trains, supervises and mentors interns at all times.

What is the selection process?
There are two rounds of panel interviews. Campus interviews are conducted in October to determine which candidates will be interviewed at the State Capitol by the Legislative Selection Committee. Interviews at the State Capitol are the last week in October. Interns are selected and notified in November.

How many interns are hired?
There are between 40 and 50 interns who serve in various capacities at the Senate and House of Representatives.

How long does the internship last and do I get paid?
The internship lasts for 18 weeks during the spring semester, beginning the first week of January. Interns receive a $6,000 stipend, plus a tuition/fee waiver and credit hours. Students from outside Maricopa County may be eligible for reimbursement of moving expenses up to $1,000 (with receipts).

What are the working hours for the internship?
Interns normally begin work at 8:00 a.m. and work until 5:00 p.m. or until their work is complete, whichever is later. Interns generally work long hours, so additional coursework and second jobs are not encouraged.

Does the Legislature set up my housing?
No. Reimbursement of up to $1,000 is available for students from outside Maricopa County, but interns are responsible for setting up their own housing.

Are there job opportunities?
Yes! Many former interns have succeeded in obtaining positions at various state agencies, with lobbying groups, law firms and the private sector. Several former interns are currently on permanent staff with the House of Representatives and the Senate and some have gone to various federal agencies in Washington, D.C.

How do former interns describe the experience?
“The Arizona State Legislative internship was one of the greatest experiences of my college career.”
“…way more than I expected… an invaluable experience.”
“This exclusive internship gives a great inside view to state policymaking…”
“I didn’t feel like an intern. I felt like a member of a team…”
“…the experiences I had, the skills I gained, and just participating so hands-on in the legislative process has really positively impacted my life.”
“I learned more about the inner workings of government during this program than I ever could have in a classroom setting.”

How do I apply?
Contact your university coordinator for more information. Their contact information can be found on the Contacts tab.

Download Application:

How do I find the Arizona State Capitol?

2025-2026 Legislative Internship Dates


  • Application Deadline:
  • September 19 by 5:00 p.m. – Submit to the University
  • Campus Interviews:
  • September 30 – October 17
  • Capitol Interviews:
  • October 27, 28, 30, and 31
  • Internship Begins:
  • January 5, 2026
  • Internship Ends:
  • May 8, 2026

Campus Interviews:

  • University of Arizona:
  • October 8 – 10
  • Grand Canyon University/Embry-Riddle University:
  • September 30
  • Arizona State University:
  • October 15 – 17
  • Northern Arizona University:
  • October 2 - 3


Legal Internship Program

When is the Legislative Legal Internship?

The Arizona Legislative Legal Internship program occurs during the annual Regular Session beginning the second Monday in January and lasts throughout the spring semester.

What does the Legislative Legal Internship program consist of?

The legal internship provides a unique opportunity to 2L and 3L students from Arizona State University Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law and the University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law to learn about constitutional law, state government, current legal issues and the legislative process. The program affords participants intensive legal research and writing opportunities.

What are the working hours for the Legislative Legal Internship?

Legal interns generally work 20 hours each week. A flexible schedule can be accomplished with the supervising attorney to accommodate your law college class schedule.

What positions will I be considered for?

Positions are available in the Arizona Senate and the House of Representatives with the non-partisan Rules Committee legal staff and the Republican and Democratic legal staff. A position is also available with Legislative Council, which is the Legislature’s non-partisan bill drafting and legal research agency.

Is this a paid internship and will I receive college credit?

If selected for the legal internship, students may receive up to 6 pass/fail credits for completion of up to 330 hours (20 hours or less per week for 18 weeks) from their law college. * Legal interns receive a stipend of $6,000. Additionally, the legislature may provide reimbursement to students for reasonable out-of-pocket costs associated with the legal internship.

How can I apply?

Click on the "Application" link to download the form and additional information. You will submit your application and all other materials through the designated online portal at your law college. The deadline to submit your application is 5:00 P.M. on Thursday, September 4, 2025.

  • ◈ Arizona State University Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law contact:

Teri Adam, Externship Director at the Office of Career and Employment Services

  • ◈ University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law contact:

Chantal Johnson, Director of the Career Development office

What is the selection process?

After applications have been reviewed, students will be contacted by Darci Johnson to schedule an interview which will be held in late September at the Arizona State Capitol. Interviews are approximately 20 minutes per applicant, and they are conducted by a panel of legislative attorneys and staff. The applicants selected to participate in the program will be notified within the same week of the interviews.


1 Financial aid, including scholarships, loans, or tuition waivers may be available to students depending on applicable law college policy and participation.

2025-2026 Legislative Legal Internship Important Dates


Open House Recruitment

August 25, 2025
(Monday)		   Arizona State University Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law
12:15 p.m. – 1:15 p.m.
Join us ON CAMPUS in Rm. 450!
August 26, 2025
(Tuesday)		   University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law
12:00 p.m. – 1:15 p.m.
THIS WILL BE A HYBRID EVENT.
Join us ON CAMPUS in Rm 156!
Or join us on Zoom via this link: https://arizona.zoom.us/j/84667026286 Password: 169735

*Application Deadline: THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2025 by 5:00 p.m.

(*Please Note: Applications must be submitted to the law college's designated online portal by the deadline to be considered).

If you know of any missing documents from your application, please notify Darci Johnson djohnson@azleg.gov as soon as possible.

Interview date at the Capitol: THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2025

(Interviews will be held in 20-minute intervals at the Arizona Senate building beginning at 9:00 a.m.)