Legislative Congressional Externship Program

If you hope to pursue a career in public service, our Legislative/Congressional Externship Program will give you a preview of what life is like on Capitol Hill. A semester-long externship for a member of Congress or a Congressional Committee in Washington, D.C. will help you develop your legal writing and advocacy skills while you make connections in the legislature. Projects will vary based on the office you are assigned to, but in the past, students have gotten a wide range of experience, including bill drafting, speech writing, and legal research for investigations.  

You will need to be able to commit to two full days each week to being on-site at your externship and concurrently register for a corresponding workshop. One month prior to the start of the semester you should be prepared with a polished resume and writing samples and available to interview with Congressional offices. Placements are not guaranteed. 

Recent Legislative/Congressional Externships

  • The Committee on Environment and Public Works, U.S. Senate 
  • The Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, U.S. Senate 
  • The Committee on Homeland Security, U.S. House of Representatives 
  • The Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, U.S. Senate 
  • The Committee on the Judiciary, U.S. Senate 
    The Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, U.S. House of Representatives 
  • The Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, U.S. House of Representatives 
  • The Committee on Veterans' Affairs, U.S. House of Representatives 
  • The Honorable Benjamin L. Cardin, U.S. Senate 
  • The Honorable Rodney Davis, U.S. House of Representatives 
  • The Honorable Dick Durbin, U.S. Senate 
  • The Honorable Andy Harris, U.S. House of Representatives 
  • The Honorable Ann M. Kuster, U.S. House of Representatives 
  • The Honorable Jan Schakowsky, U.S. House of Representatives 
  • The Honorable Jeanne Shaheen, U.S. Senate 
  • The Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations of the Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs, U.S. Senate 
  • The Subcommittee on Aviation of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, U.S. House of Representatives 
  • The Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice of the Committee on the Judiciary, U.S. House of Representatives 
  • The Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Human Rights of the Committee on the Judiciary, U.S. Senate 
  • The Subcommittee on Fisheries, Water, and Wildlife of the Committee on Environment and Public Works, U.S. Senate