Senior Legal Intern (Juris Doctor Students)

The Office of the General Counsel for MassDOT and the MBTA seek legal interns for the upcoming term. Working with an attorney supervisor, interns will have the opportunity to develop their legal writing and research skills and substantive knowledge while learning about the practice of law in the transportation, government, and in-house setting. While students will primarily work with one supervising attorney, there will be opportunities for interns to work with other attorneys within the Office of the General Counsel to get exposure to a number of practice areas.

The MassDOT and MBTA Office of the General Counsel seeks applicants who have completed at least the first year of law school (and are still currently enrolled or preparing for their Bar Exam), have strong academic credentials, excellent written and verbal communication skills, strong organizational skills and ability to collaborate, and are detail oriented.

interns will work at least two to three (2-3) days in-office (up to 40 hours per week) for at least three (3) months, depending on academic credit requirements. The Office of the General Counsel is located at 10 Park Plaza, Boston, MA 02116.

This position is paid at $24 - $28 / hour (depending on education level). Interns also have the opportunity to receive academic credit through their school’s externship programs (interns must apply and be accepted to an externship program separately through their school for this option).

A cover letter indicating practice area of interest is required to be uploaded as part of the application.

Duties & Responsibilities :

The Office of the General Counsel for MassDOT and the MBTA is structured into five Practice Area Groups: Commercial Transactions ,Real Estate, Employment and Labor, Corporate and Regulatory, and Litigation. Summaries of each Practice Area Group are below.

Commercial Transactions: All matters related to numerous and complex commercial transactions undertaken by both MassDOT and the MBTA which include reviewing, drafting, negotiating, and interpreting contracts and other legal documents. Transactions include contracts, procurements, developing complex solicitations and contracts, identifying risks and risk allocation and mitigation solutions; and the representation of MassDOT and MBTA in administrative hearings, bid protests, mediations, and other contract dispute resolution proceedings. Commercial Transactions COE includes the following practice areas: Contracts and Procurements; Capital Delivery-Construction; Alternative Project Delivery; Contract Dispute Resolution; Environmental and Energy; and Risk Management.

Real Estate: The Real Estate practice area group handles all matters related to real estate transactions including: air rights development projects, ground leases, licenses, eminent domain and takings, Right of Way, transit oriented development projects, and other major developments.

Employment and Labor: All matters related to employment and labor, including legal advice in employment and labor-related matters; drafting and revising employment-related policies and procedures to ensure compliance with state and federal law; conducting employment-related investigations; representing the MBTA and MassDOT before the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission; representing the MassDOT in labor arbitrations and before the Massachusetts Department of Labor Relations; representing the MBTA in employment-related litigation in state and federal court; and responding to complaints and requests for information from state and federal agencies, including the U.S. Department of Labor. Employment and Labor COE includes the following practice areas: Administrative Proceedings; Employment and Labor Counseling and Advice; Employment Litigation Employment Related Investigations; Employment and Human Resource Policies and Procedures; and Labor Arbitration.

Corporate and Regulatory: All matters related to the corporate governance and regulatory compliance of both MassDOT and the MBTA, including policies related to advertising and signage; internal and outside audits, investigations and reports; fares and tolls including fare and toll changes and driver and rider data privacy; finance, including bond issuance, reporting and disclosures; the evaluation and drafting of state legislation and regulation; public records and records retention issues; compliance with state and federal statutes and regulations applicable to MassDOT and/or the MBTA. Corporate and Regulatory COE includes the following practice areas: Advertising; Audits and Investigations; Fares and Tolls; Finance, Bond/Disclosure; Governance and Board; Interagency Agreements; Legislation; Public Records; Regulatory Compliance; and State Ethics.

Litigation: All matters related to litigation filed by or against MassDOT and the MBTA including tort, employment, and commercial contract, and eminent domain litigation in state and federal courts. Litigation COE includes the following practice areas: Business and Contract Litigation; Bid Protest Litigation; Eminent Domain and other disputes involving Real Property; Insurance Subrogation; Tort Matters involving Personal Injury and Property Damage; and Accident and Other Cost Recovery Litigation.

• Support and participate in a variety of administrative tasks related to assigned practice area group.
• Participate in team / staff meetings, organization events, fieldwork, project teams, or other duties as needed.
• Provide internal and external customers with courteous and professional experience.
• Perform all other duties and projects that may be assigned.
   

Additional responsibilities may include a focus on one or more departments or locations.  See applicable addendum for department or location specific functions.  

Supervision

• No direct reports.

Minimum Requirements & Qualifications :

• Enrolled, for entire duration of employment, in the Juris Doctorate degree program of an accredited college / university with the first year already being completed.
• Students seeking academic credit must also apply through their school’s externship program and have been accepted prior to applying to this position.
• Must submit cover letter indicating practice area of interest.
• Above average ability to communicate effectively in English, both in written and oral forms (writing sample may be requested).
• Above average academic credentials.
• Highly organized, motivated, and have great attention-to-detail.
• Interest in public service, transit, or transportation and how it operates.
• Ability to work effectively in diverse, collaborative, fast-paced environments as well as independently.
• Ability to independently commute to assigned work locations in the Boston, MA metro area, as required by the role.
• Authorized to work in the United States (international students in CPT, STEM, or OPT programs through a university are eligible to apply). The MBTA does not provide visa sponsorship, such as H1-B status.