What are the responsibilities and job description for the Summer Legal Intern position at City of Port Townsend?
The City of Port Townsend City Attorney's Office seeks a Summer Legal Intern for summer 2026 with a strong interest in land use and municipal law. This internship provides hands-on experience supporting a small Washington municipal law practice with particular emphasis on land use/planning, public works, and public records.
Under the supervision of the City Attorney, the intern will conduct legal research and writing related to land use and environmental issues, including development regulations, comprehensive planning, and Growth Management Act compliance. There may be an opportunity to assist with an appeal of the City's Comprehensive Plan to the Washington Growth Management Hearings Board during the summer.
The intern will also assist with matters arising under the Washington Public Records Act and Open Public Meetings Act and support general civil municipal legal work such as code enforcement, administrative proceedings, contracts, real property matters, employment matters, and interlocal agreements. Opportunities may include observing City Council, Planning Commission, and other board or City Council meetings.
The position may be in-person, hybrid, or fully remote based on the selected candidate. If fully remote, the selected candidate must be a Washington state resident. If the selected candidate's law school prohibits compensation for summer internship/externships, the City may convert this position to an unpaid externship without further notice.
Compensation: $24.52 per hour
Schedule: Up to 40 hours per week
Duration: Up to 12 weeks (Summer 2026)
Benefits: 1 hour of sick leave accrued per 40 hours worked and access to the City's Employee Assistance Program (EAP). These benefits are only applicable to a paid internship not an unpaid externship.
Qualifications
Applicants must apply using the "Apply Now" feature to the right of this page and must submit the following additional material:
Working Conditions
Duties are performed primarily in an office environment with sitting for long periods of time, utilizing standard office equipment and personal computer. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderately quiet. This position typically requires movement around the office, reaching, pushing, grasping, finger dexterity, hearing, seeing and repetitive motions.
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Questions about the position may be directed to Austin Watkins, City Attorney. awatkins@cityofpt.us.
The City is an equal employment opportunity employer. The City employs, retains, promotes, disciplines and otherwise treats all employees and job applicants strictly on the basis of job-related qualifications and competence. These policies and all employment practices shall be applied without regard to any individual's sex, race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sexual orientation (including gender identity), pregnancy, age, marital status, military status, disability, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law.
This job description in no way implies that these are the only duties to be performed. The employee occupying the position will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform any other job-related duties requested by their supervisors. All employees must comply with all City policies and procedures relevant to their position as a condition of City employment.
This job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the City and the employee and is subject to change as the needs of the City and requirements of the job change.
Under the supervision of the City Attorney, the intern will conduct legal research and writing related to land use and environmental issues, including development regulations, comprehensive planning, and Growth Management Act compliance. There may be an opportunity to assist with an appeal of the City's Comprehensive Plan to the Washington Growth Management Hearings Board during the summer.
The intern will also assist with matters arising under the Washington Public Records Act and Open Public Meetings Act and support general civil municipal legal work such as code enforcement, administrative proceedings, contracts, real property matters, employment matters, and interlocal agreements. Opportunities may include observing City Council, Planning Commission, and other board or City Council meetings.
The position may be in-person, hybrid, or fully remote based on the selected candidate. If fully remote, the selected candidate must be a Washington state resident. If the selected candidate's law school prohibits compensation for summer internship/externships, the City may convert this position to an unpaid externship without further notice.
Compensation: $24.52 per hour
Schedule: Up to 40 hours per week
Duration: Up to 12 weeks (Summer 2026)
Benefits: 1 hour of sick leave accrued per 40 hours worked and access to the City's Employee Assistance Program (EAP). These benefits are only applicable to a paid internship not an unpaid externship.
Qualifications
- Rising 2L or 3L at an American Bar Association accredited law school
- Strong interest in land use and municipal law
- Coursework or experience related to land use planning, environmental law, administrative law, or state and local government is preferred
- Interest in practicing or learning Washington State law
- Ability to work professionally with attorneys, planners, City staff, elected officials, and the public
Applicants must apply using the "Apply Now" feature to the right of this page and must submit the following additional material:
- Cover Letter
- Resume
- Writing Sample (not to exceed 10 pages, double spaced)
- Unofficial law school transcripts
Working Conditions
Duties are performed primarily in an office environment with sitting for long periods of time, utilizing standard office equipment and personal computer. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderately quiet. This position typically requires movement around the office, reaching, pushing, grasping, finger dexterity, hearing, seeing and repetitive motions.
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Questions about the position may be directed to Austin Watkins, City Attorney. awatkins@cityofpt.us.
The City is an equal employment opportunity employer. The City employs, retains, promotes, disciplines and otherwise treats all employees and job applicants strictly on the basis of job-related qualifications and competence. These policies and all employment practices shall be applied without regard to any individual's sex, race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sexual orientation (including gender identity), pregnancy, age, marital status, military status, disability, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law.
This job description in no way implies that these are the only duties to be performed. The employee occupying the position will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform any other job-related duties requested by their supervisors. All employees must comply with all City policies and procedures relevant to their position as a condition of City employment.
This job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the City and the employee and is subject to change as the needs of the City and requirements of the job change.
Salary : $25