Center for Law & Policy Solutions
INTERNSHIP PROGRAM

Through internships for students at the University at Albany, Empire State College, and Hudson Valley Community College, the Center for Law & Policy Solutions introduces students to the politics of law and policymaking and, more broadly, helps them understand the effect government can have on people’s lives.
Now Accepting Applications for Spring 2022

We are now accepting applications from undergraduate students enrolled for the spring semester at participating schools—University at Albany, SUNY Empire State College, and Hudson Valley Community College—that are interested in pursuing work in public policy research and practice. Click here for more detailed information on the internship application. The interns selected for the spring will focus their research on infrastructure policy and practice.

This internship is a credit-bearing and paid internship for students who are enrolled full-time at their respective institution. Interns are paid $13.20/hour for ten hours per week for 15 weeks. Once applications are reviewed and placements for the program are offered/accepted students must register for the appropriate course at their institution and have paid the required tuition fees in order to receive credit for the internship. The application deadline is Friday, November 5, 2021. Please send an email to [email protected] with the following materials:

  • Your resume.
  • A cover letter regarding your interest, skillset, and relevant experience or goals with regard to the program.
  • Contact information for 2-3 professional or academic references (include email contact).
  • A copy of your transcript (unofficial copies are accepted, but official copies may be requested at a later date).

To apply (or if you have any further questions), please contact [email protected].

About the CLPS Internship Program

The Center for Law & Policy Solutions (CLPS) Internship Program is designed to give students hands-on/virtual exposure to policy analysis and advocacy, including research. The internship consists of: (1) a placement at the Center for Law & Policy Solutions; (2) a series of professional development workshops and trainings; and (3) networking opportunities with CLPS policy experts and legal professionals, as well as community leaders. Interns will work closely with the CLPS internship program director to collect and analyze data and write research deliverables such as blogs and policy briefs. General findings will be presented at a policy webinar sponsored by the Rockefeller Institute of Government.

For the fall 2021 semester, the CLPS Internship Program will particularly focus on how the State of New York communicated COVID-19 information to rural communities. The students will be led by Interim CLPS Internship Program Director Laura Decker.

Prior Research Topics

Spring 2018: An Analysis of Drug Treatment Courts in New York State

Fall 2018: Beyond Roe: Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare in New York State

Spring 2019: Prisoner Education Programs in New York State

Fall 2019: How Student Loan Debt Influences College and Career Decisions

Spring 2021: The Precedents and Potential of State Green Amendments

Fall 2021: How the State of New York Communicated COVID-19 Information to Rural Communities

Sponsorship Opportunities

Sponsor an Undergraduate Intern
$2,500

Sponsor a Law Intern
$5,000

Sponsor a Cohort
$10,000

Meet the Fall 2021 Cohort

Kira Brainard

Kira Brainard

Center for Law & Policy Solutions Research Intern

Kira Brainard is majoring in political science at the University at Albany. She is a member of the Presidential Honors Society and is the social media chair for Project Sunshine at UAlbany. Recently, Kira interned for New York State Assemblymember Linda B. Rosenthal where she dealt with constituent concerns and aided with unemployment, testing, and vaccine issues related to COVID-19. After completing her undergraduate degree, Kira hopes to attend law school and potentially continue with policy research.

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Joseph Creamer

Joseph Creamer

Center for Law & Policy Solutions Research Intern

Joey Creamer is majoring in political science and public administration at the University at Albany. On campus, Creamer served as the vice president of Generation Vote at UAlbany, an organization which promotes civic engagement. Most recently, he interned for US Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, aiding staff across the state on various projects. After obtaining his bachelor’s degree, Creamer’s goal is to pursue a master’s in public administration and continue a career in public service.

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Carmel Harwood

Carmel Harwood

Center for Law & Policy Solutions Research Intern

Carmel Harwood is in her final year at SUNY Empire State College, earning her BA in political affairs with a concentration in legal studies. She graduated summa cum laude from SUNY Adirondack with her AA in creative writing and is a member of the Phi Theta Kappa honor society. Harwood has extensive working experience in customer service roles and most recently interned in the human resources department of the largest solar manufacturing facility in the United States. She intends to pursue a career focused on composing and managing contracts, as well as contractual law.

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Justin Reynolds

Justin Reynolds

Center for Law & Policy Solutions Research Intern

Justin Reynolds is a community health navigation (CHN) student at Hudson Valley Community College (HVCC). He is the current president and vice president for fellowship & service of HVCC’s Alpha Xi Sigma, a chapter of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. Justin has previously interned with the Center for Employment Opportunities, connecting individuals returning from incarceration to social services that empower them to build stable lives. While at HVCC, Justin also began working to develop a transportation program that will provide subsidized bus fare for individuals in community reentry programs in the Capital Region. The project is ongoing and is gaining significant interest from area community-based organizations working in the community reentry field. After completing the CHN program at HVCC, Justin is committed to pursuing a bachelor’s degree in public health.

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