Legal Intern - Summer 2024

This is a paid internship, range of $19/hr - $35/hr (depending on role and qualifications) for those currently pursuing undergraduate degrees and higher rates for those currently pursuing graduate level degrees. 

Sound Transit also offers a competitive benefits package with a wide range of offerings, including: 

• Health Benefits: We offer two choices of medical plans, a dental plan, and a vision plan all at no cost for employee coverage; comprehensive benefits for employees and eligible dependents, including a spouse or domestic partner. 
• Employee Assistance Program. 
• Paid Time Off: An accrual of up to 4 hours per pay period. Up to 2 floating holidays. 
• Full-time interns will receive an ORCA card at no cost. This card can be used on buses, trains, water taxis in the Puget Sound region, along with the Monorail and Seattle Streetcar. 
• In addition to compensation and benefits, you’ll find that we provide work-life balance, opportunities for professional development and recognition from your colleagues. 

Tentative 2024 Internship Dates:

• Semester students: May 20th to July 26th    
• Quarter students:  June 24th to August 30th

DEPARTMENT OVERVIEW

Sound Transit’s legal department provides legal advice to every department throughout the agency, which is responsible for operating multiple modes of public transportation throughout Puget Sound region – Link light rail, Sounder commuter rail, ST Express regional bus service, and Tacoma Link light rail – and planning and building the largest public transit expansion in the United States. The legal department includes 16 attorneys who both specialize their practice by subject matter, but also advise on novel topics outside of their specialty. The primary practice groups include real estate, land use, municipal law, eminent domain, contracts and agreements,
labor & employment, environmental, First Amendment law, civil rights, and construction. The interns will have an opportunity to work with each practice group and work on the legal issues necessary to build, operate, and manage a large regional transit system.

PRIMARY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The following duties ARE NOT intended to serve as a comprehensive list of all duties performed by all employees in this classification, only a representative summary of the primary duties and responsibilities. Incumbent(s) may not be required to perform all duties listed and may be required to perform additional, position-specific duties.

JOB DUTIES:

• Under the supervision of an attorney, the interns will conduct research, summarize statutes, and prepare reports on any of the following topics that may be presented to the legal department by a department within the agency: municipal law/litigation, development and land use regulations, environmental law, First and Fourth
  Amendments, intergovernmental agreements, real estate, construction, civil rights, or labor and employment law.
• Accompany attorneys in workgroups or client meetings where the attorney may present that advice.
• Attend and participate in professional development and other group meetings sponsored by the agency.
• Other duties as assigned. 

POTENTIAL PROJECTS:

• Revise and draft internal memoranda analyzing various legal subjects relevant to the agency, including various statutes, municipal codes, or workplace accommodation issues regarding Covid19.
• Draft and review various property agreements.
• Draft legislation and Board Resolutions.
• Conduct research and analysis of government purchase and sale agreements, and development agreements for affordable housing.
• Review documents to ensure compliance with all current laws, regulations, and other governing internal policies.
• Review a variety of permit applications and supporting documents to check for legal sufficiency.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Applicants must be a current college student in good academic standing enrolled in an accredited associate, bachelor's or graduate degree program in Communications, Business, Public Relations, Public Administration or legal related discipline, or non-technical discipline, or relevant two-year certificate. 

• Applicants are encouraged to read the ST3 plan approved by voters in 2016, which provides information about the agency and its current projects. The ST3 plan can be found on the agency's website at https://www.soundtransit.org/get-to-know-us/documents-reports/sound-transit-3.
• To be considered, please submit a current resume and a letter of interest addressing the following topics: 1. your interest in becoming an attorney (no special interest in transit law required); 2. After reviewing the ST3 plan, please share your interest in working for Sound Transit; and 3. What you hope to gain from this experience. 

ADDITIONAL SKILLS:

• Ability to perform research and write reports.
• Ability to establish and maintain collaborative working relationships with diverse groups and individuals.
• Ability to maintain perspective and a sense of humor while working in a demanding and ever-changing environment.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS/ WORK ENVIRONMENT:

• Work is performed in a standard office environment.
• The Agency promotes a safe and healthy work environment and provides appropriate safety and equipment training for all personnel as required.

Sound Transit is an equal employment opportunity employer. No person is unlawfully excluded from employment action based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status or other protected class.