Legislative Internship Program

Applications are open to students majoring in Political Science and Public Administration

Application Requirements:

• Legislative Internship Application 
  • Reference Rating Form: Two references are required; one must be from a faculty member
  • Personal statement 500 – 1000 words
  • Resume
  • Up-to-date unofficial academic transcripts

• Ability to organize and prioritize multiple and competing tasks while maintaining attention to detail
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to effectively communicate both orally and in writing in a professional and collegial manner with a wide range of individuals and constituents
• Ability to operate independently and take initiative in a fast paced and highly visible environment
• Ability to have transportation to Tallahassee and legislative district office

• Legislative Interns represent the University of North Florida, and therefore, the highest conduct is expected
• Interns must adapt to a rigorous work schedule and develop an effective working relationship with legislators
• The internship offers a UNF shared experience in Tallahassee for our Osprey interns:
  • Interns will be paired as roommates (2/room)
  • Interns will get to share the legislative experience with interns from other Florida universities
  • Interns will have on-site contact in Tallahassee with UNF’s Governmental Relations team

• Must be enrolled as a full-time, degree-seeking, student at UNF
• Must possess a cumulative 3.0 GPA or greater
• Completion of 30 credit hours; Completion of 60 credit hours (preferred)
• Applications are open to students majoring in Political Science and Public Administration
• Must have access to reliable transportation

• Accommodations: The Internship Program will provide interns with furnished housing, which includes the payment of rent and utilities while they are interning in their assigned Legislator’s Capitol Office for the Legislative Session. Housing will be at a location with interns from other state universities.
• Stipend: Interns are eligible to receive a $2,000 stipend to be used for travel and meals. Additionally, UNF will reimburse gas expense for one roundtrip drive to Jacksonville during the Legislative Session

• Interest in, or knowledge of, the legislative process
• Ability to operate a personal computer with proficiency in Microsoft Office
• Ability to organize and prioritize multiple and competing tasks while maintaining attention to detail
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to effectively communicate both orally and in writing in a professional and collegial manner with a wide range of individuals and constituents
• Ability to operate independently and take initiative in a fast paced and highly visible environment
• Ability to have transportation to Tallahassee and legislative district office
• Proficiency in social media platforms: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram

• Expose and teach students the jurisdiction and responsibilities of the Florida State Legislature
• Expose and teach students the state legislative process
• Expose and teach students the activities and functions of a state legislative office

• Develop an enhanced understanding of the legislative process
• Develop an enhanced understanding of policy and constituent related research
• Develop written and oral communication skills
• Develop professional competencies in time-management, teamwork, organizational networking, and leadership

Interns will function as support staff to legislators, performing a wide range of tasks, such as, collecting press clippings, researching issues, analyzing bills, tracking legislation, attending committee meetings, responding to constituent letters, answering phones and more. As a result, interns learn about the legislative process and the many other functions of a legislative office.

A panel consisting of members from the Office of Government and Community Relations, the Department of Political Science and Public Administration and Student Government will review the applications and select semi-finalists to advance to the interview stage of the selection process. All applicants will be notified of whether they are advancing or not to the semi-finalist stage no later than October 14. The panel will conduct in person interviews during the week of October 17-21. All semi-finalists will be notified of whether they are chosen as a finalist by October 28.

• Interns will be required to attend an orientation in the UNF Office of Government and Community Relations in December. The orientation will cover topics such as the legislative process, bill research and drafting, bill analysis and tracking, legislative etiquette, communication and social media and House and Senate rules.
• Prior to end of fall semester, interns will travel with a representative from UNF Government and Community Relations to their assigned Legislator’s District Office for a Meet and Greet.

Interns who successfully complete the Legislative Internship Program will receive 6 credits in internship credit hours. Interns will have the option to work with their academic and faculty advisor within their major to supplement an additional 6 credits received for the internship by enrolling in online or independent study courses.

Interns are assigned to a professor in the Department of Political Science and Public Administration who will be responsible for the academic portion of the internship and final grade. The assigned professor will provide the intern with a syllabus outlining the academic course assignments, which are in addition to the hours worked in the Legislator’s office.

• The internship program will begin the first week of the spring semester and conclude on the last week of the spring semester.
• Interns are assigned to a Northeast Florida Legislator for whom they will work for in both their District Office and Capitol Office. The interns will work January – March in the Legislator’s Northeast Florida District Office and March – May in the Legislator’s Capitol Office in Tallahassee throughout the sixty-day Legislative Session.

A minimum of 270 working hours, including transit to and from the work site location, within the Spring academic semester are required to receive full academic credit for the internship. All hours must be logged.