Our Organization

IAALS, the Institute for the Advancement of the American Legal System, is a national, independent research organization that innovates and advances solutions that make our civil justice system more just.

We believe justice for all must be a reality for everyone. Every day, IAALS reexamines how the American civil justice system can better serve the needs of us all. Through purposeful collaboration, listening, and research, we jumpstart the groundbreaking and achievable solutions that will clear a path to justice for everyone. Because justice for all will never be a reality if those seeking justice cannot access the system designed to deliver it.

Our Work

IAALS’ unique approach depends on purposeful research, deep collaboration, and inclusivity of perspective, followed by evidence-based recommendations that take hold in courts and legal institutions across the country. IAALS works on solving problems with a broad view of the legal ecosystem, targeting changes in the courts and in the delivery of legal services. We conduct comprehensive analysis and work with stakeholders to design solutions, empower decision-makers, and measure outcomes and impacts to advance an accessible and trusted legal system.

In order to innovate our civil justice system to meet today’s challenges and opportunities, we need to better understand the problems people face.

• Nearly half of Americans experience legal problems for which they can’t find a solution.
• More than 70% of civil and family disputes in the United States include at least one side that doesn’t have an attorney.
• Incomprehensive legalese, limited legal support, and convoluted processes make fair legal resolutions increasingly unattainable.
• Businesses routinely choose arbitration rather than using the courts, jury trials are disappearing, and public confidence in our legal system is low.

Our modern society, with modern people and problems, demands the evolution of systems created hundreds of years ago. The status quo is rigid, inaccessible, slow, and costly—and doesn’t account for the people moving through it, rather than only those working within it. That is the work of IAALS.

IAALS has ongoing research projects in the areas of judicial reform, civil justice reform, family justice reform, legal education and licensure reform, and innovation in the delivery of legal services and the profession. We encourage applicants to learn more about our work at https://iaals.du.edu/.

Position Summary

This is a non-benefitted position that will not exceed 1,000 hours in a calendar year.

Please indicate in your cover letter if you are interested in a semester-long or year-long internship option.

IAALS is seeking a law student intern to assist with a variety of projects for 8-10 hours per week from September through December 2026, with the option to extend the internship into the 2027 spring semester. The start date is negotiable.

The person in this role will work with leaders of IAALS’ work on a wide variety of projects across the areas of civil justice, family justice, the judiciary, legal education, and the legal profession. Examples of projects this person may work on include the following:

• Engaging in legal research for projects across our various focus areas
• Drafting memos for programmatic directors detailing results of research
• Drafting articles and other external materials on legal system reform
• Attending legal reform events on various topics virtually and in-person
• Working with members of the programmatic team to complete other tasks as needed

Through this work, we aim to expose law student interns to all aspects of IAALS’ work across the civil legal system and enable them to obtain a better understanding of the local and national legal communities.

IAALS’ office is located on the University of Denver campus. This position is eligible for remote and in-person work. The intern’s primary supervisor works remotely full-time.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Excellent written communication skills.
• Excellent interpersonal communication skills with attention to detail.
• Demonstrated experience Bluebooking.
• Excellent legal research skills.
• Advanced computer proficiency in software programs relevant to legal research and presentations, such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Demonstrated successful experience working in and with a variety of individuals and groups.

Required Qualifications

• Full-time students must have completed at least two semesters of law school in the United States and part-time law students must have completed at least three semesters of law school in the United States.

Preferred Qualifications

• A demonstrated interest in improving the justice system through coursework, extracurricular activities, or prior work experience.

Working Environment

• Standard office environment.
• Unexpected interruptions occur often and stress level is moderate to high.
• Noise level is quiet to moderate.

Physical Activities

• Ability to work with a computer for extended periods of time.
• Occasionally required to move about the office/campus.

Work Schedule

Monday-Friday, 10 hours per week, schedule to be coordinated with supervisor

Application Deadline

For consideration, please submit your application materials by 4:00 p.m. (MST) March 1, 2026.

Special Instructions

Candidates must apply online through jobs.du.edu to be considered. Only applications submitted online will be accepted.

Hourly Range:
The hourly rate for the position is $22.50

The University of Denver has provided a compensation range that represents its good faith estimate of what the University may pay for the position at the time of posting. The University may ultimately pay more or less than the posted compensation range. The salary offered to the selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal salary equity considerations, and available market information, but not based on a candidate’s sex or any other protected status.

Benefits:
The University of Denver offers some benefits for non-benefited employees. The University of Denver is a private institution that empowers students who want to make a difference. Learn more about the University of Denver.

Application Deadline
For consideration, please submit your application materials by 4:00 p.m. (MST) ENTER DATE HERE.

Special Instructions
Candidates must apply online through jobs.du.edu to be considered. Only applications submitted online will be accepted.

Please include the following documents with your application:
1. Resume
2. Cover Letter. Please indicate in your cover letter if you are interested in a semester-long or year-long internship option.

3. Course list and/or transcript

The University of Denver is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including sex stereotypes, sex characteristics, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression), marital, family, or parental status, pregnancy or related conditions, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran. The University of Denver does not discriminate and prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, age, religion, creed, disability, sex (including sex stereotypes, sex characteristics, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression), marital family, and parental status, pregnancy, genetic information, military enlistment, or veteran status, and any other class of individuals protected from discrimination under federal, state, or local law, regulation, or ordinance in any of the University’s educational programs and activities, and in the employment (including application for employment) and admissions (including application for admission) context, as required by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972; the Americans with Disabilities Act; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; the Age Discrimination Act of 1975; the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967; the Equal Pay Act; the Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act; the Colorado Protecting Opportunities and Worker's Rights ("POWR") Act; and any other federal, state, and local laws, regulations, or ordinances that prohibit discrimination, harassment, and/or retaliation. For more information, please see the University of Denver's Non‑Discrimination‑Statement.

All offers of employment are contingent upon satisfactory completion of a criminal history background check