Internships

Senator Murray is looking for legislative and press interns in D.C. and constituent advocacy interns in the Seattle and Spokane state offices. Applicants should be eager to learn more about the legislative process, and want to be part of a hardworking team, dedicated to serving the citizens of Washington state.

Qualifications

Applicants must be undergraduate or graduate students who have completed at least one year of college. Students with strong ties to the state of Washington will be given preference in the application process. Interns should be interested in government and have excellent writing and research skills. Legislative interns must be willing to work at a variety of activities, and have the ability to work independently and as part of a team. For press interns, a communications or journalism background is preferred.

Program Outline

In order to best accommodate all applicants, internship sessions are scheduled both on academic quarters and semesters (i.e., an intern could work either a semester or quarter internship, based on their academic institution’s credit system). Internships are unpaid but are available for school credit if approved by a college/university. We encourage Washington, DC interns to work full time (40 hours/week), though this is not a requirement. In our state offices, internships are available primarily on a part-time basis (10-15 hours/week).

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DC Office

Legislative Internship

The Washington, D.C. intern experience is very structured. It is designed to immerse interns in all areas of a senate office while empowering interns to pursue their policy interests, form relationships with staff and work on independent projects for the office. Legislative internships are writing intensive and successful applicants will exhibit strong written and verbal communications skills. Typical legislative intern responsibilities include: research, writing and editing responses to constituent letters and requests; attending hearings and briefings in specific legislative areas; carrying out projects in specific issue areas, and performing a variety of administrative tasks including fielding calls from constituents and leading constituent tours of the U.S. Capitol.

Press Internship

In addition to many of the responsibilities above, press interns work primarily with the three members of the press office. Responsibilities include: preparing press clippings; drafting and distributing press releases, taping, editing and sending radio and television feeds and assisting at press conferences and hearings.

Guide to Finding Housing in Washington, D.C.

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State Offices

Internships are available in Senator Murray's state offices in Seattle and Spokane. Internships in the Bellevue, Everett, Tacoma, Vancouver and Yakima offices are available on a case-by-case basis.

Interns will have the opportunity to learn about the constituent advocacy process and the inside operations of a United States Senate Office. Responsibilities include verbal and written communication with constituents and government agencies, research into federal government concerns and general administrative duties. We also invite non students who are interested in constituent advocacy to apply for internships in our state offices.

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Application Procedure

Applicants may contact the appropriate Intern Coordinator (see below) for an application or use this form. In addition to the form, the following supporting materials are required:

• Cover letter & Resume
• 1-2 Page Writing Sample
• 2 Letters of Recommendation

DC Office applicants: Due to mail screening delays it is acceptable and even preferable to e-mail or fax a copy of your application materials.

For more information, please contact:

For a Washington, D.C. Internship

Amaia Kirtland, Intern Coordinator
Office of Senator Patty Murray
173 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
(202) 224-2621
Fax: (202) 228-4132
e-mail: dcinternship@murray.senate.gov

For a Washington State Internship

Beth Ann Hoover or Erika Whinihan, Intern Coordinators
Office of Senator Patty Murray
915 Second Avenue, Suite 2988
Seattle, Washington 98174
(206) 553-5545
Fax: (206) 553-0891
e-mail: interncoordinator@murray.senate.gov

Application Deadlines:

July 14 for fall
November 15 for winter
January 15 for spring
March 15 for summer

Late applications will be considered if positions have not yet been filled. All students are welcome to apply.