CERL’s Summer Internship Program
The application portal for CERL’s 2025 Summer Internship Program has closed. The next application cycle will open in spring of 2026.
ABOUT THE PROGRAM
CERL’s nine-week summer internship program prepares law, graduate, and undergraduate students interested in the national security field by providing an ethics and rule of law foundation so that their future perspectives, leadership, and decision-making are always rooted in the rule of law. Our interns help further CERL’s mission through research, writing, and conference planning, and gain valuable insights through conversations with national security experts on the critical issues facing our nation today. Former CERL interns have gone on to positions in the government including in the Department of Justice, Navy Judge Advocate General (JAG) Corps, and Space Force. The 2025 internship begins June 2, 2025, and ends August 1, 2025.
CERL is a non-partisan institute that preserves and promotes ethics and the rule of law in national security, democratic governance, conflict, and war. CERL draws from the study of law, philosophy, and ethics and unites scholars, policymakers, and practitioners to probe critical issues through the lens of ethics and the rule of law. Using the tools of interdisciplinary engagement and open dialogue, CERL experts answer the hard questions that arise when the rule of law is threatened or violated, and provides guidance that helps safeguard U.S. democracy. Read more about CERL’s mission.
CERL interns work in teams under the supervision of CERL’s leadership and have the opportunity to:
- Research critical ethical and rule of law issues affecting the United States today
- Help plan CERL’s conferences, workshops, and public programs
- Publish original works for CERL’s blog, The Rule of Law Post
- Help prepare CERL policy briefings and contribute to CERL academic publications
- Interact with leading academics and practitioners in the national security field and CERL Executive Board members
From CERL’s 2025 Summer Interns…
Top row left to right: Zeeshan Ali, Bariha Askery, Sofia Bazdekis, Sofía Franco, Ilai Gavish; Second row left to right: Marshay Harris, Andres Jurado Coral, Shlomie Katash, William Ledesma, Bedansh Pandey; Third row left to right: Rushabh (Rush) Patel, Theo Prawiradirdja, Gianni Quattrocchi, Sara Rajković, Evan Robinson; Bottom row left to right: Jared Schwartz, Grant Spears, Daniel Tierney, Zachary Wood, James Yeagley
“Through my internship at CERL, I was able to deeply engage with pressing issues at the nexus of law and national security, producing research that demanded both analytical rigor and creativity. The program’s emphasis on intellectual debate, exposure to leading experts, and interactions with an array of international issues offered invaluable insights into how scholarship directly informs real-world policy and practice.”—Zeeshan Ali, Duke University Sanford School of Public Policy, Master of Public Policy Program
“I am grateful for the opportunity to strengthen my research skills and deepen my understanding of critical legal and ethical issues through my work with fellow interns and the experts at CERL. The exposure to diverse perspectives and practical insights has not only expanded my knowledge but also provided valuable connections and experiences that will guide my future career.”—Sofia Bazdekis, Fordham University School of Law, Juris Doctor Program
“I loved my summer at CERL. It was a chance to work alongside some incredibly smart and passionate people, and to learn from some of the most accomplished people in the field. It was an amazing privilege to research and try to solve some of the most pressing problems in law and national security.”—Shlomie Katash, University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School, Juris Doctor Program
“CERL’s internship offers a unique perspective on novel and niche research questions in national security that are not taught in the classroom, along with hands-on projects that enable you to thoroughly explore and address some of the most pressing issues affecting U.S. national security today.”—William Ledesma, University of St Andrews, Masters Program
“Within the span of nine weeks, I developed expertise in new fields, collaborated with experts and peers whose resumes impress in any room, had direct access to a world class university, and presented in front of the world’s most renowned military academy, all without any background in national security and foreign affairs. This internship changed the course of my career and for that, I will always be grateful.”—Daniel Tierney, University of Virginia’s Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy, Master of Public Policy Program
“As an aspiring U.S. Army Judge Advocate, my time spent at CERL proved invaluable to my professional development, addressing what is arguably the most crucial cornerstone of the military legal field—the intersection of ethics and the rule of law. CERL distinguishes itself from other research centers through its network of accomplished scholars, military affiliated professionals, and legal practitioners who provide valuable insight and guidance. The opportunity to collaborate with such exceptional individuals and peers has fostered a professional support system that I will carry with me for years to come.”—Zachary Wood, University of Dayton School of Law, Juris Doctor Program