Interns working directly with legislators during the 2027 legislative session
The UVM Vermont Legislative Internship Program is a professional opportunity–open to juniors and seniors studying at Vermont colleges or universities–that matches part-time interns with Vermont lawmakers from January to May. Interns complete tasks and provide support to legislators, committees, and staff at the Vermont State House in Montpelier.
Interns will engage not only with legislators, but also with professionals working directly on real-world issues that affect Vermont citizens across a wide range of fields, including the judiciary, education, energy, commerce, technology, corrections, health care, and more.
Nonprofits, for-profits, lobbying firms, and Vermont citizens regularly converge at the State House to debate policies that affect the lives of Vermonters. While the work will be particularly engaging for students interested in the political process, the experience will also appeal to students interested in research and policy on a wide range of areas. All students will develop professional skills while working in a fast-paced environment.
Our Mission
Unlike most legislators across the country, Vermont lawmakers do not have personal staff. This program aims to provide high-quality assistance to legislators—supporting them with tasks they would typically delegate to staff. Through this work, we strive to foster meaningful, non-partisan engagement among students, legislators, and Vermonters throughout the policymaking process.
Potential Intern Tasks and Projects
- Attend and summarize committee hearings
- Provide concise policy summaries and reports
- Track and summarize bills
- Provide constituent services
- Social media support
- Event planning
- Write press releases and letters
Application Process & Requirements:
Please review this section thoroughly before completing your application. On the application, you will be asked to answer short answer and multiple choice questions about your professional experience, skills, and upload a one-page writing sample.
If selected as a finalist, you will be contacted to schedule an interview with the course instructor.
Eligibility Requirements
- Must be in your 3rd or 4th year of college. Credit-standing does not apply.
- Have a 3.0 GPA or above
- Attend an information session prior to applying
- If selected, attend an interview with instructor. Final decision to follow.
- Travel to the State House 1 or 2 times a week for 17 weeks, from winter to spring. You are also expected to be in Vermont by Sunday, Jan. 3, 2027.
- We ask participants to commit to this internship and not hold another internship simultaneously. You will be asked to disclose any internships, jobs, or relationships that may conflict with your work at the legislature. If you plan to intern with another organization, please do so before or after participating in this program to avoid conflicts.
Program Requirements
Students must be prepared to meet professional expectations and take an active role in making the most of their internship experience.
Skills and Qualities Required
Successful legislative interns should demonstrate:
- Initiative: Ability to identify, develop, and organize tasks and projects, particularly during periods when a legislator does not have immediate assignments.
- Communication: Strong written and verbal communication skills, along with the ability to respond promptly and professionally.
- Attention to detail: Ability to carefully review information, identify important details, and produce accurate work.
- Research and analytical skills: Ability to research complex issues, evaluate information, and identify key points.
- Note-taking: Ability to stay focused and take thorough, organized notes during lengthy meetings and discussions on complex or technical issues.
- Summarization: Ability to synthesize and clearly summarize lengthy or complicated meetings, discussions, and information.
- Self-advocacy: Willingness to ask questions, seek clarification, communicate your needs, and take responsibility for your learning and professional development.
- Concise writing: Ability to communicate ideas clearly, accurately, and effectively using concise written language.
- Patience and flexibility: Ability to adapt to changing schedules, priorities, and assignments and remain engaged even when the work is routine or less exciting.
- Professionalism: Punctuality, reliability, time management, sound judgment, and a professional approach to working with legislators, staff, colleagues, and the public.
- Creative problem-solving: Ability to think independently, identify solutions, and approach challenges with resourcefulness.
How to be a strong candidate
- We strongly encourage students to participate in the Vermont Legislative Research Service (VLRS) program. VLRS is offered only during the fall semester. Participation in VLRS provides valuable experience that can help prepare students for the legislative internship. It is not required for eligibility.
- Students are asked to take no more than three other courses and this internship.
- Students who are abroad while applying must be prepared to go through the application process in the fall and fulfill fall requirements despite time differences.
Step One: Required Information Session
In order to apply for the Legislative Internship Program, you MUST attend a virtual information session or watch the recording prior to completing your application. If you cannot attend one of these sessions, please email Liz.First-Raddock@uvm.edu
5PM 10/11 – Student Info Session LINK TO JOIN HERE
2PM 10/12 – Student Info Session LINK TO JOIN HERE
5PM 10/13 – Student Info Session LINK TO JOIN HERE
3PM 10/14 – Student Info Session LINK TO JOIN HERE
Step Two: Apply
The application is open! Apply now. Deadline is October 19th, 2026.
(But first, review the Application Requirements below, including the required information session.)
This session’s application deadline is October 19th!
Program Expectations
Students must be prepared to meet professional expectations and deadlines which includes: punctuality, time management, initiative, attend take notes and summarize long, tedious or complex meetings, respond quickly, creatively problem solve, be detail oriented, and make the most of this unique experience, even if it’s boring. In return, you will have an unforgettable learning experience, expand your network, and develop in-demand professional skills that will prepare you for a future career in politics, policy or any work environment.
Internship Requirements & Logistics:
All interns are required to travel to the State House in Montpelier each week to complete 8 in-person hours and are responsible for arranging their own transportation. UVM students must also attend class on campus each Monday.
In addition, interns are expected to complete at least approximately 10 hours of legislative work each week for their legislator(s) or on other legislative-related work, for a total of 200 hours. Interns should expect to spend additional hours at the start of the program getting oriented, familiarizing themselves with the legislative process, and establishing their workflow. Class and travel time do not count toward the 200-hour requirement.
Weekly Schedule
The Legislature meets from approximately 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Tuesday through Friday. Some committees meet before 8 AM. Students are required to spend a minimum of 8 hours per week in person at the State House. We ask that students arrange their schedules to include at least one weekday without classes in order to travel to the State House in Montpelier on a Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday to fulfill this in-person requirement.
Transportation Information
Interns are responsible for arranging their own transportation to the Vermont State House. Public transportation is available. For UVM students, the Green Mountain Transit (GMT) bus from Burlington to Montpelier takes approximately one hour each way. Non-UVM students should consult the GMT schedule for route and timing information.
Because legislators represent communities across Vermont, interns may occasionally be asked to travel to other parts of the state to visit local offices or meet with constituents. Attendance at a town meeting is required.
Carpooling with other interns in the program is strongly encouraged.
Program Schedule & Matching
The Vermont Legislative Internship Program follows UVM’s Winter & Spring semester schedules.
Intern-Legislator or Committee Matches: Interns will be matched with legislators or committee by mid-to-late November and will be expected to meet with your legislator at least once before December 19, 2026 to introduce yourself, discuss tasks and scheduling.
Weeks 1 & 2: Dec 28 – January 8
The first 5 days of the program (Dec. 28 – Jan. 1) will be remote and will consist of training modules designed to prepare you for the upcoming internship experience.
The 2nd week of the program will be in-person at the State House for Orientation (Jan. 4 – Jan. 5) and the official start of the session, so you must be back in Burlington by Jan. 3rd. The internship begins on Jan. 6th
Week 3: January 11 – May 7
Your internship will be in full swing come the third week of the program.
Internship continues as scheduled with the exception of:
- The Legislature does not meet during Town Meeting Day but interns are required to attend Town Meeting.
Credit Information (UVM Students)
Because the Vermont Legislative Session does not line up exactly with UVM’s academic calendar, students in this program will be required to enroll in the Winter Session in addition to the Spring course for a total of 5 credits.
Credit Details
The program awards a total of 5 internship credits:
- Winter session – 2 credits (CAS 2991 OL1/OL2)
- Spring session – 3 credits (CAS 2920 D/E)
The Vermont Legislative Internship Program counts as elective internship credit. However, if the program is related to a student’s major or minor, they can request that the credit count toward their major or minor by contacting their department chairperson.
Political Science students: With the approval of the chair or the director of undergraduate studies, this internship experience may be substituted for the POLS elective. Contact Peter VonDoepp to request approval.
Required Course Meeting Times
The academic course associated with this program, CAS 2920 D/E will meet every Monday from 3:30 – 4:45 PM on campus during the Spring semester.
Credit Information (Non-UVM Students)
Non-UVM students (those who are full-time students at another Vermont college or university) will not earn credit from UVM for this program.
You will be required to earn credit for this program through your home institution. You will be responsible for arranging credit at your home institution and relaying all requirements to Liz First-Raddock, program director.
Registration Details
Upon admission to the program, non-UVM students will receive a link through which they will register for the program. At the time of registration, a $25 fee will be collected (+ credit card processing fee, if applicable).
Non-UVM students MUST register by December 19, 2025 to participate in the upcoming session..
Non-UVM student expectations
Non-UVM students ARE expected to complete all aspects of the orientation, training, and internship. Access will be provided to all program materials via Brightspace, UVM’s Learning Management System.
Non-UVM students are NOT expected to attend the Monday 3:30-4:45pm academic course component of the program and are NOT expected to complete academic course assignments. However, if you are earning credit through Norwich for this experience, you may be asked to complete some of this work to be submitted to your Norwich faculty. This will be your responsibility to arrange.
If you wish to attend class sessions voluntarily, you will be welcome.
Student Testimonials:
“This experience is a good transition into the “work world”. I feel as though I am able to talk to adults in a professional manner without any anxiety or nervousness.”
“The skills I learned that have been particularly useful in this experience are how to advocate for myself when concerns/worries arise, clearly communicate when in need of clarification, and set boundaries when scheduling around my other work. Other skills specific to the internship that I have learned are how to track bills, answer constituents via email, take concise notes during committee meetings, and relay information.”
“This class has helped me solidify my belief that political science is definitely what I want to study as an undergraduate.”
Liz First-Raddock (she/her), Faculty
Liz First-Raddock has more than 25 years of experience in journalism and local government and advocacy. She has worked for radio stations including Vermont Public Radio, WBUR-FM 90.9, WAMU-FM 88.5, as well as the Burlington Free Press, VTDigger, and the Vermont Office of Legislative Operations. In her role as Legislative Internship Program Director and now faculty member, Liz has worked with more than 200 students, helping them engage and work directly with the Vermont Legislature, build confidence, and develop professional skills for the workforce.
What have students said about the UVM Legislative Internship Program?
“Highly recommend this experience to anyone interested in politics!”
Talia Goldstein
UVM 2022“This was an incredibly informative experience. I feel like I have learned more than I could have from any class. The skills that I have gained from this internship are things I will absolutely be using in my future.”
Intern
UVM 2024“Thank you for the opportunity. It was challenging, but I learned a lot and really am so grateful for the time I spent in the program.”
Matt Sorenson
UVM 2022“I think it is a great opportunity and gives you access to a variety of perspectives on issues that you may never hear of otherwise.”
Intern
UVM 2023“I have already recommended this program to a lot of my classmates and friends. I truly think this has been an invaluable experience in my college career.”
Intern
UVM 2025“The committee interns have been an essential element to our committee this session. Their weekly reports helped shape our policies throughout the session.”
State Legislator
AnonymousStill have questions?
Email cas.discovery@uvm.edu — our team would be happy to assist.
