Description:

Why choose between doing meaningful work and having a fulfilling life? At MITRE, you can have both. That's because MITRE people are committed to tackling our nation's toughest challenges—and we're committed to the long-term well-being of our employees. MITRE is different from most technology companies. We are a not-for-profit corporation chartered to work for the public interest, with no commercial conflicts to influence what we do. The R&D centers we operate for the government create lasting impact in fields as diverse as cybersecurity, healthcare, aviation, defense, and enterprise transformation. We're making a difference every day—working for a safer, healthier, and more secure nation and world. Our workplace reflects our values. We offer competitive benefits, exceptional professional development opportunities, and a culture of innovation that embraces diversity, inclusion, flexibility, collaboration, and career growth. If this sounds like the choice you want to make, then choose MITRE—and make a difference with us.

Department Summary:
MITRE's Legal Office upholds MITRE's purpose and legitimacy by providing the legal expertise and services needed to protect the company's interests. The Legal Office delivers strategic direction for current and new endeavors and executes functions essential to the company's ongoing operation.

Program Information
An Externship with MITRE's Legal Office is an opportunity for law students to gain insight into the work of in-house attorneys while supporting MITRE's mission of solving problems for a safer world. The variety of tasks and broad scope of this Externship will provide a comprehensive understanding of the critical role of in-house counsel in the nonprofit and government contracting context.

Hours/Duration: The Legal Extern will be required to work at least fifteen (15) hours per week for a minimum of eleven (11) weeks.

Under the supervision and guidance of expert lawyers, Externs will have the opportunity to:
  • Analyze and assess applicable laws, regulations, policies, and procedures to solve unique legal challenges arising out of innovation across many of MITRE's programs.
  • Draft research memoranda on key legal and business-related issues, including federal contracts, intellectual property, cross-border transactions, export controls, and regulatory compliance.
  • Review, revise, and draft new and creative commercial agreements to align with company strategic vision, evolving risk environments, and shifts in transactional priorities.
  • Perform ad hoc legal analysis for internal and external stakeholders.
  • Develop presentations that translate and communicate legal findings to inform impactful business decision-making.
  • Learn, interpret, and communicate corporate policy as related to crucial subject areas.
  • Coordinate collaboration and information sharing across the Legal Office.

MITRE's Legal Externship Program is intended to align with law students' enrolment in an externship course at their law school and will therefore be structured accordingly to facilitate the candidates' ability to obtain academic course credit. This generally includes spending 16 hours per week for a period of 8-12 weeks under the supervision of an attorney from MITRE's Legal Office.

Basic Qualifications:
  • Currently enrolled full-time law student, in an accredited JD program;
  • Demonstrated ability to work across varying groups and organizational levels;
  • Sustained excellence in academic performance; and
  • Adaptability and willingness to learn new areas of the law relevant to MITRE's work.

Preferred Qualifications:
Exposure or experience with one or more of the following: contracts, regulatory compliance, nonprofit governance, international legal research