Internships
Senator Murray is looking for legislative and press interns in D.C. and constituent advocacy interns in the Seattle, Spokane and Vancouver state offices. Applicants should be eager to learn more about the legislativeprocess, 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. Additionally, upperclassmen and students withstrong 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, a positive attitude anda willingness to complete tasks as assigned. 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).
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 while serving the constituents of Washington state. 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 members of the press office. Responsibilities include: preparing press clippings; drafting and distributing press releases, taping, editing and sending radio and television feeds, assisting at press conferences and hearings and performing a variety of administrative tasks including fielding calls from constituents and leading constituent tours of the U.S. Capitol.
Application Procedure
Applicants may contact the appropriate Intern Coordinator (see below) for an application or use the online DC application or State application. In addition to the application, the following supporting materials are required:
- Cover letter & Resume
- Writing Sample no longer than 2 pages.
- 2 Letters of Recommendation
Note: Due to mail screening delays e-mail is the only method of submission for applications for Washington, D.C. internships.
For more information on a Washington, D.C. internship, please contact:
Silke Mounts 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
Application Deadlines:
July 15 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.
DC Office Internship Application
State Offices
Internships are available in Senator Murray's state offices in Seattle, Spokane and Vancouver. Internships in the Bellevue, Everett, Tacoma, 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.
Seattle Office
Ryan Mace or Alyson Teeter-Baker, 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
Spokane Office
Kierra Phifer
10 North Post St., Ste. 600
Spokane, WA 99201
(509) 624-9515
Vancouver Office
David Hodges
1323 Officers Row
Vancouver, WA 98661
(360) 696-7797
Required materials:
- Cover letter & Resume
- Writing Sample no longer than 2 pages.
- 2 Letters of Recommendation
State internship applications are accepted on a rolling basis.