Summer Internships

Each summer, Hawai?i Appleseed hosts three to six graduate students and law students to conduct research on policy matters or investigate potential impact litigation relating to issues affecting low-income residents of Hawai?i. Students are typically given a single project to focus on during their 10 weeks at Hawai?i Appleseed. By the end of the summer, students will have usually developed an extensive memo detailing their findings and making recommendations on potential reforms and how they might best be pursued.

Students are given a high degree of responsibility and Appleseed staff rely heavily on the students’ work to develop new projects. Possible examples of projects include researching: (1) solutions for Hawai?i’s affordable housing crisis, (2) inequities in Hawai?i’s tax system, (3) language accessibility of the Hawai?i driver’s examination, and (4) issues in Hawai?i’s foster care system. The first two projects were developed into policy briefs and ultimately resulted in successful legislation. The third and fourth projects resulted in two successful class action cases.

To apply, please submit a resume, cover letter, and writing sample to Co-Executive Director Gavin Thornton at gavin@hiappleseed.org.