One of the most politically active campuses in the country, Sarah Lawrence College is constantly pushing students to think about how they are impacting the world around them. A literature class on Willa Cather’s My Ántonia will also touch on the immigrant experience, while our politics courses bring students to rallies and marches.
This career community provides resources for students interested in public affairs, politics, and serving the community.
Activism
Inspired by courses in public policy, economics, and history, Sarah Lawrence College students seek to promote and create positive change in our community on- and off-campus. They devote themselves to their internships at leading organizations, from the American Civil Liberties Union to Human Rights Watch.
General Skills
- Team-work and people skills
- Cultural compentency
- Communication skills (oral and written)
- Advanced social media skills
- Administrative and organizational skills
- Proactivity and flexibility
- Community organizing
- Research skills
- Intervention skills
- Documentation skills
Sample Job Titles
- Advocate
- Community Educator
- Counselor
- Investigative Reporter
- Liaison Officer
- Organizer
- Policy Advisor
- Protection Officer
- Social Justice Specialist or Consultant
- Victim Advocate
- Voting Rights Coordinator
Industry Specific Resources
Past Student Internships
- American Civil Liberties Union
- Brand New Congress
- Brandworkers
- The Brennan Center for Justice
- Doctors without Borders
- Growth and Justice
- Human Rights Watch
- The Innocence Project
- Interfaith Coalition for Worker Justice
- Local 46 Metallic Lathers & Reinforcing Ironworkers
- Millennial Politics
- Movement for Justice in El Barrio
- National Domestic Workers Alliance
- Restorative Justice Initiative
Employers to Consider
- AFL-CIO
- American Civil Liberties Union
- Amnesty International
- Brandworkers International
- Children’s Defense Fund
- Equal Rights Advocates
- International Rescue Committee
- Human Rights First
Professional Associations
Students interested in public policy and NGOs should check out the following professional associations:
Government Offices & Agencies
Sarah Lawrence College alumni have reached the highest levels of government, becoming members of the United States House of Representatives as well as Chief of Staff to the President of the United States. Students interested in lobbying and campaigns combine their passion for politics with their coursework in presidential power and political theory, interning at organizations such as Americans United and the Drug Policy Alliance.
General Skills
- Negotiation
- Leadership
- Budget planning
- Ability to make difficult decisions
- Strong writing ability
- Public speaking
- Understanding of current political issues and public policy
Sample Job Titles
- Advocate
- Appointments Desk Assistant
- Campaign Manager
- Communications Strategist
- Congressional Liaison
- Department Administrator
- Field Organizer
- Legislative Assistant
- Lobbyist
- Policy Analyst
- Press Secretary
- Research Assistant
Industry Specific Resources
- USAJOBS
- Go Government
- USA.gov (All Federal Agencies)
- US State Governments
- US Local Governments
- Careers in Government
- NIRA’s World Directory of Think Tanks
- Lobby Data
- NYC Department of Citywide Administration Services
- The U.S. Government's Official Web Portal
- The Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars
Past Student Internships
- American Civil Liberties Union
- Assembly Member Shelley Mayer
- Assembly Member William Blake
- Brand New Congress
- Center for Constitutional Rights
- Citizen’s Climate Lobby
- Council on American-Islamic Relations
- Department of Commerce
- Drug Policy Alliance
- Freedom from Religion
- Hillary for America
- Growth and Justice
- New York City Department of City Planning
- New York State Supreme Court
- Orange County Food Access Coalition
- Represent Women
- Representative Adam Schiff
- Representative Jeff Fortenberry
- Representative Steve Womack
- Santa Clara Office of Public Defenders
- Senator Heidi Heitkamp
- Senator Kirsten Gillibrand
- Senator Richard Blumenthal
- The White House Internship Program
- Young Survival Coalition
Departments & Agencies to Consider
- Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)
- Corporation for National and Community Service
- Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA)
- Democracy Now
- Department of Defense Education Activity (DODEA)
- Department of Transportation (DOT)
- Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
- Do Something
- Federal Air Marshal Service (FAMS)
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
- Federal Election Commission (FEC)
- Federal Reserve Board
- Federal Reserve System, Board of Governors
- Foreign Commercial Service (DoC)
- Global Health Corps
- Government Accountability Office (GAO)
- Homeland Security Investigations (HSI)
- Military Sealift Command (MSC)
- National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA)
- National Maritime Intelligence Center
- National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)
- National Science Foundation (NSF)
- National Security Agency (NSA)
- Naval Acquisition Career Center or Naval Acquisition Intern Program
(NACC Interns also called NAIP interns) - Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)
- Office of the Solicitor (SOL)
- Peace Corps
- S. Supreme Court, Personnel Office
- United States Agency for International Development (USAID)
- United States Congress— Personal Office Staff
- United States Department of Justice (DOJ)
- United States Department of State
(Civil Service positions are competitive service, but Foreign Service positions are ES) - United States Election Assistance Commission
- United States Postal Service (USPS)
- United States Secret Service — Uniformed Division (USSS)
- US Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
- Transportation Security Administration (TSA)
Professional Associations
Students interested in government offices and agencies should check out the following professional associations:
International Relations
When they are not completing interdisciplinary coursework in geography, politics, religion, and psychology, Sarah Lawrence College students “think global, act local,” gathering materials and working as conversation partners with refugee and immigrant families. With the United Nations and other major organizations headquartered in NYC, students have the reverse opportunity at their internships, thinking local and acting global.
General Skills
- Public speaking
- Strong writing ability
- Cultural competency
- Program management
- Social media
- Negotiation
- Detailed knowledge of world politics
Sample Job Titles
- Community Fellow
- Demographer
- Foreign Service Officer
- Human Rights Officer
- Policy Advocate
- Programs Assistant
- Research Officer
- Translator
Industry Specific Resources
Past Student Internships
- Amnesty International
- Argentine National Chamber of Commerce
- Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affairs
- Center for International Human Rights
- Coalition for the International Criminal Court
- Doctors without Borders
- Human Rights Watch
- International Rescue Committee
- Malaysia Forum
- Physicians for Human Rights
- The Council on Foreign Relations
- UN Watch
- UNICEF
- World Federalist Movement
Employers to Consider
- Center for Justice and International Law
- Central Intelligence Agency
- Council on Foreign Relations
- European Union Court of Justice
- International Center for Transitional Justice
- International Criminal Court
- International Crisis Group
- Peace Corps
- The International Monetary Fund (IMF)
- The United Nations
- The World Bank
Professional Associations
Legal Services
Before going on to top-tier law schools such as Columbia and Georgetown, Sarah Lawrence College students gain experience working in legal aid organizations like the Innocence Project and the ACLU. On campus, our pre-law program offers prerequisite courses for graduate studies, while our interdisciplinary education and conference work gives students advanced researching skills. The pre-law adviser provides tailored guidance and support to students interested in pursuing the legal profession.
General Skills
- Research
- Analytical thinking
- Strong writing ability
- Deep understanding of the law
- Advocacy
- Objectivity
Sample Job Titles
- Attorney
- Case Manager
- Contract Analyst
- Court Advocate
- Court Reporter
- Legal Adviser
- Legal Analyst
- Legal Assistant
- Paralegal
- Patent Agent
- Patent Examiner
- Victim’s Advocate
Industry Specific Resources
Past Student Internships
- American Civil Liberties Union
- The Brennan Center for Justice
- Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP
- Family Defense Center
- Her Justice
- Legal Momentum
- Michael Forbes Law Office
- My Sisters' Place
- National Lawyer’s Guild
- New York Lawyers for the Public Interest
- Pace Women’s Center for Justice
- Sylvia Rivera Law Project
- The Innocence Project
- The Legal Aid Society
- Urban Justice Center
Past Law School Placements
- Columbia University
- Fordham University
- Georgetown University
- Harvard University
- New York University
- Stanford University
- Tulane University
- University of California, Berkeley
- University of California, Los Angeles
- University of Chicago
- University of Oxford
- University of Virginia
- Yale University
Professional Associations
Students interested in legal services should check out the following professional associations:
- American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA)
- Association of Legal Administrators (ALA)
- Association of Prosecuting Attorneys (APA)
- National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL)
- National Association for Legal Professionals (NALS)
- National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG)
- National Association of Consumer Advocates (NACA)
- National Association of Patent Practitioners (NAPP)