Senior Legal Intern (Juris Doctorate Students)

The Office of the General Counsel for MassDOT and the MBTA is seeking interns for the upcoming term. Working with an attorney supervisor, interns will have the opportunity to develop their legal writing and research skills, gain substantive knowledge, and learn about the practice of law in the transportation, government, and in-house settings. 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 multiple practice areas.

Applicants should have already completed at least the first year of juris doctorate 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, ability to collaborate, and are detail oriented.

We are looking to hire five (5) interns, who will work at least 2 – 3 days in-office (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 $24.00 - $28.00 / hour (depending on education and experience). Interns can also 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.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities 

The Office of the General Counsel for MassDOT and the MBTA is structured into four Practice Area Groups: Commercial Transactions, 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, complex real estate development projects, 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; Real Estate; Environmental; and Risk Management.

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.
• Additional responsibilities may include focusing on one or more departments or locations. See applicable addendums or hiring manager for department or location specific functions. 
• Perform all other duties and projects that may be assigned.

* The statements contained in this job description are intended to describe the general nature and complexity of the work being performed by staff assigned to this job and do not represent an exhaustive list of all duties, tasks, and responsibilities required of staff assigned to this position. The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here-in are representative of those an employee may encounter while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations can be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Minimum Education 

• Enrolled, for entire duration of employment, in the Juris Doctorate degree program of an accredited college / university with the first year already being completed.

Minimum Experience and Required Skills

• Above average ability to communicate effectively in English, both in written and oral forms (writing sample may be requested).
• Highly organized, motivated, and have great attention-to-detail.
• Above average 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.

* The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and complexity of the work being performed by staff assigned to this job and do not represent an exhaustive list of all duties, tasks, and responsibilities required.