[Fall 2026] Legal Internship

The Whitney’s Academic Year Internship program offers a semester-long paid internship for undergraduate and graduate students currently enrolled in an accredited academic program. The program includes training, direct work experience, professional development, and a weekly speaker series.  The Whitney’s Fall internship program is a full-time, paid, nine-week session primarily for undergraduate students. The internship is hybrid, with some onsite work. For Fall 2026, interns commit between 16–21 hours per week over 10–12 weeks for a total of 176 hours. The program will begin on September 15, 2026, and end on December 5, 2026 (this may vary depending on schedule). Participants must be available Monday through Friday for nine consecutive weeks, five days per week. Interns are assigned to a specific department at the Museum for the duration of the internship. For more information, including information on eligibility requirements, please visit our internships page.  The application window for our Fall 2026 Ostrover Family Academic Internship is now open through August 14. Please note that all candidates will be considered on a rolling basis, and as such, some opportunities may close before the deadline.     

The Whitney seeks a Legal Intern for the Fall 2026 semester. The Legal Intern will support the Whitney Museum’s Office of General Counsel (OGC) in providing legal services across the institution. The legal intern will Report to the General Counsel and Deputy General Counsel.

This role supports the Whitney’s mission by ensuring the Museum’s legal and operational frameworks enable it to collect, exhibit, and preserve American art for the public. The internship is designed for a law student seeking practical legal experience in the nonprofit arts sector.

Expected Projects & Assignments

• Assist with drafting and reviewing contracts, including artist agreements, loan agreements, licensing agreements, vendor contracts, and exhibition-related contracts
• Conduct legal research on intellectual property issues such as copyright, trademark, and right of publicity
• Support compliance efforts by reviewing and updating Museum policies and procedures
• Assist in drafting and reviewing policies related to gift acceptance, deaccessioning, data privacy, and employment
• Prepare legal memoranda, research summaries, and other written materials under supervision

Skills & Qualifications

• Currently enrolled in an accredited J.D. program (1L, 2L, or 3L)
• Preference for second- or third-year law students
• Demonstrated interest in art law, nonprofit law, or related fields preferred
• Coursework or experience in intellectual property, contracts, nonprofit law, employment law, or arts administration preferred
• Interest in visual arts, art history, or museums desirable
• Prior legal internship or research experience is a plus
• Strong legal research and writing skills
• Familiarity with legal research tools (Westlaw, LexisNexis, or similar)
• Excellent attention to detail and organizational skills
• Ability to manage multiple assignments in a fast-paced environment
• Strong interpersonal and professional communication skills
• Ability to handle confidential and sensitive information with discretion
• Interest in art and culture is highly valued

Outcome

• Gain hands-on experience in museum law, including contracts, intellectual property, compliance, and policy development.

CompensationInterns will be paid a stipend of $3000. Generous support for Ostrover Family Academic Year Interns is provided by Julie and Doug Ostrover.If you believe that you could excel in this role, we encourage you to apply. We are dedicated to considering a broad array of candidates. Whether you’re new to arts and culture administration, returning to work after a gap in employment, simply looking to transition, or take the next step in your career path, we will be glad to have you on our radar. Please use your cover letter to tell us about your interest in the arts and culture space and what you hope to bring to this role. About the Whitney:The Whitney Museum of American Art, founded in 1930 by the artist and philanthropist Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney, houses the foremost collection of American art from the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. From her vision arose the Whitney Museum of American Art, which has been championing the most innovative art of the United States for 86 years. The core of the Whitney’s mission is to collect, preserve, interpret, and exhibit American art of our time and serve a wide variety of audiences in celebration of the complexity and diversity of art and culture in the United States. Through this mission and a steadfast commitment to artists themselves, the Whitney has long been a powerful force in support of modern and contemporary art and continues to help define what is innovative and influential in American art today.EEO Statement:The Whitney Museum of American Art is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The Museum does not discriminate because of age, sex, religion, race, color, creed, national origin, alienage or citizenship, disability, marital status, pregnancy, partnership status, caregiver status, veteran status, gender (including gender identity), sexual orientation, genetic information, predisposition, or carrier status, arrest or conviction record to the extent required by applicable law, credit history, domestic violence, sexual violence, or stalking victim status, or any other factor prohibited by law.  The Museum hires and promotes individuals solely on the basis of their qualifications for the job to be filled. The Museum encourages all qualified candidates to apply for vacant positions at all levels.

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