Legal Intern - Center for Monetary and Financial Alternatives
To be considered for this role, you must apply directly through our online application.
About the Role
This paid, in-person internship in Washington, DC (25–40 hours per week over 12 weeks) joins Cato’s Center for Monetary & Financial Alternatives (CMFA). You’ll collaborate with CMFA staff on legal research and writing related to financial regulation, securities and capital markets, banking, fintech/crypto/CBDC, and monetary policy.
Day to day, you’ll compile literature reviews, draft and revise legal memos and briefs, and prepare publication-ready citations and citation-checks, providing timely analysis for policymakers and the public.
Responsibilities
- Assemble literature reviews and draft memos
- Research and draft legal memos and briefs
- Bluebook briefs and articles for submission
Qualifications
- Demonstrated interest in—and practical knowledge of—US financial regulation, banking and securities law, fintech/crypto/CBDC, and monetary policy; alignment with Cato’s principles of individual liberty, limited government, free markets, and peace.
- Excellent legal research and writing; proficient in Bluebook citation.
- Experience drafting memos/briefs and conducting publication-quality cite-checks.
- Awareness of current trends in fintech, AI, cryptocurrency/CBDC, and related regulatory developments.
- Proficient in Microsoft Excel (filters/sort, PivotTables); organized, well-labeled workbooks.
- Professionalism and reliability—meet deadlines, communicate proactively, exercise sound judgment, and incorporate feedback effectively.
The Cato Internship Program
Cato’s paid internships are available for undergraduates, recent graduates, graduate students, law students, and early-career professionals who are strongly committed to individual liberty, limited government, free markets, and peace—principles that together form libertarianism, also known as “classical liberalism,” “market liberalism,” or, to many of our international friends, simply “liberalism.”
All Cato interns participate in the same intensive seminar series, which covers a wide range of history, philosophy, policy, and professional development topics. Interns also assist with events and occasionally support Cato staff with other daily tasks.
Interns receive competitive pay. Part-time roles are adjusted accordingly and require a minimum of 25 hours per week. Program participants must be able to attend in person in Washington, D.C.
For more information about the internship program and experience, we encourage you to explore our website. If you have any questions, email studentprograms@cato.org.