Through the Lamar P. Higgins Internship and Fellowship Program, the Alabama House Democratic Caucus (AHDC) often has internship (for undergraduate students), and fellowship (for graduate students), opportunities open during Spring (Jan-May), Summer (June-Aug), and Fall (Sept-Nov) terms. We have worked with students ranging from college freshmen to 3L or LLM law students, MA students, and PhD students. Thus, any student who is interested in our work is invited to apply. It is worth noting that our intern and fellow selection is often based on the current needs of the caucus and legislative staff at the time applications are submitted; therefore, the education and skill sets needed will vary among application cycles.
As we seek to cultivate the next generation of leadership in our state, we have a strong preference for students who are attending school in Alabama or who are originally from Alabama. Our most successful interns and fellows are strong writers, good researchers, and independent thinkers who are able to quickly comprehend assignments and take ownership of their projects. Evidence of strong administrative, organizational, writing, and communication skills will also boost the strength of an application. The typical time commitment for these opportunities are 10-20 hours per week, but may vary.
Types of Positions Typically Available
- Policy Analyst / Legislative Support Role, responsible for: Assisting the staff with researching, tracking and analyzing policies, amendments and bills; Maintaining communication with Legislative Staff and representatives (when directed) on the status of the legislation you are assigned to; Working with organizations that can help promote the caucus’s legislative agenda and policies; Assisting in scheduling and attending meetings in support of the caucus agenda; Staffing legislative committees and preparing committee reports.
- Communications Role, responsible for: Assisting the staff in performing communications tasks; Maintaining communication with the Communications Director and members related to the status of legislation and daily floor activity; Documenting and capturing caucus events to share with constituents; Managing and updating the Caucus’ social media platforms with relevant news and updates; Assisting members in creating or increasing their social media presence; Providing images and graphics to coincide with social and blog posts; Assisting with video production and presentations (shooting, editing, etc.); Uploading videos onto the caucus website.
- Member and Constituent Services Role, responsible for: Assisting the staff in preparing written correspondence to constituents, agencies and advocacy organizations on behalf of Caucus, representatives and staff; Documenting and following-up on constituent requests in collaboration with agencies and officials; Assisting with planning and organization of Caucus town hall and community meetings and constituent outreach activities; Assisting the Legislative Staff and representatives with daily tasks; May assist policy staff by covering committees and preparing reports.
If you are interested in an internship or fellowship with the AHDC, we invite you to share some information with us. Completion of this form is a requirement for consideration as an AHDC intern or fellow, as is the submission of copies of (1) your resume, (2) a writing sample, (3) your undergraduate transcript(s), (4) your graduate transcript(s) – if applying as a fellow, and (5) your anticipated class schedule for the semester that you hope to have this intern/fellowship. Please submit all files in PDF format (using the upload links included in the form). Writing samples may be about any topic so long as they demonstrate your writing skill; we prefer these samples to be at least 500-750 words. When you upload your documents, please ensure that they are named in the following format: First Name Last Name _ Document Type (i.e., Jeremy Jones _ Resume; or Jeremy Jones _ Writing Sample; etc.)
Program Dates
Summer 2023:
Program Dates: 5/29-8/4
Application deadline: 3/17
Fall 2023:
Program Dates: 8/7-10/13
Application Deadline: 6/16
*Program dates and hours worked can be modified on a case-by-case basis in consultation with Legislative Staff to accommodate special needs such as students’ class schedules, requirements for school credit, etc.
All applicants for a given internship or fellowship cycle can expect to hear back from us within a few weeks after the stated deadline for that application cycle. Thank you for your interest in working with us. We look forward to reviewing your application materials!
(Please note that preference may be given to applicants that are able to receive school credit in exchange for working for the Caucus. While in most instances, we will work to ensure that applicants not receiving school credit or external funding will receive a nominal stipend at the completion of their time working with us, we prefer to assist applicants in completing documentation or paperwork otherwise necessary to obtain school credit, outside stipends, or other financial assistance available through school and external programs. Any pre-approved travel or expense incurred during work performed on behalf of the AHDC excluding commuting to and from the office, will be reimbursed.)