Unpaid Student Internship for Website Development

Associate Professor Benji Cover is looking for student interns to help build a website related to his research on cases involving voter mistake rather than voter fraud. The purpose of the website is to document laws and cases that punish ineligible voting with strict criminal liability, even if the defendant acted in good faith. The website's content will be based on a forthcoming academic article Professor Cover is currently preparing for publication in spring 2025. Professor Cover will collaborate with the student interns to develop and execute a vision for a user-friendly, feature-rich, and visually appealing website. Student interns may also help locate primary sources like court documents. Successful candidates will have strong skill sets in web development, graphic design, and program management.   

This is an UNPAID internship. Professor Cover is happy for students to earn credit for this internship subject to university and faculty approval. 

RESPONSIBILITIES

Website Development & Design:
Collaborate with Professor Cover to build and design a user-friendly, visually appealing website that documents legal cases and statutes. You will be responsible for implementing the overall structure, layout, and functionality of the site, ensuring an intuitive user experience that aligns with the research’s objectives.

Content Management & Organization:
Assist in organizing and presenting complex legal information clearly and accessibly for a broad audience. This includes structuring web pages, creating content categories, and ensuring the accurate display of legal cases, statutes, and other related data.

Primary Source Research:
Locate and gather primary legal sources, such as court opinions, case files, and legislative materials, related to cases of voter mistakes. You'll work with Professor Cover to verify and curate these sources for the website’s database.

Feature Development:
Work on developing specific features of the website, such as interactive timelines, searchable case databases, or infographics that visually represent key legal issues. Your work will help users navigate the site and understand the implications of various legal rulings.

Graphic Design & Visual Content:
Collaborate on creating visual content for the website, including graphics, charts, and data visualizations that simplify legal concepts for users. You may also be involved in creating logos, icons, or other branding elements that reflect the site’s purpose.

Quality Assurance & Testing:
Regularly test the website for usability, performance, and cross-browser compatibility. Identify and troubleshoot technical issues, ensuring the website is fully functional on various devices and platforms.

SEO & Website Optimization:
Ensure the website is optimized for search engines (SEO) to maximize visibility. This includes structuring content in a way that increases searchability and crafting metadata to improve rankings on platforms like Google.

User Feedback & Iteration:
Collect feedback from Professor Cover, users, and stakeholders to refine the website over time. You will participate in regular meetings to discuss user interface adjustments, new features, or content improvements based on feedback.

Documentation & Tutorials:
Develop documentation for future users and administrators of the website, including how-to guides or tutorials on updating the site. This ensures the website can be maintained and expanded after the internship period.

REQUIRED AND PREFERRED SKILLS

Web Development Expertise:
Proficiency in web development languages such as HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and familiarity with web frameworks (e.g., React, Angular, or Vue) is essential. You should be comfortable building responsive websites and implementing design elements that ensure a seamless user experience on both desktop and mobile platforms.

Experience with Content Management Systems (CMS):
Familiarity with popular CMS platforms (e.g., WordPress, Drupal, Joomla) is a plus, as the project may involve utilizing or integrating such systems to manage and update content efficiently.

Understanding of Databases & Search Functionality:
Basic knowledge of SQL or other database management systems to help structure and organize the legal cases, statutes, and research materials. Experience with developing or implementing searchable databases will be beneficial, as the website may include case databases or research archives.

Graphic Design & Visual Communication Skills:
Strong design sensibilities with experience using tools like Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign) or other graphic design platforms (e.g., Figma, Canva). The role requires creating visual elements that clearly and effectively convey legal information. Prior work with designing layouts, icons, infographics, and logos is ideal.

UI/UX Design Experience:
Knowledge of user interface (UI) and user experience (UX) principles, including wireframing, prototyping, and usability testing. You should be able to translate research content into an intuitive website that users find easy to navigate, with attention to accessibility standards (e.g., WCAG).

Project Management & Organizational Skills:
Strong organizational abilities and experience in managing complex projects with multiple moving parts. You should be able to prioritize tasks, meet deadlines, and communicate effectively with both technical and non-technical stakeholders. Prior experience in project management or with tools like Trello, Asana, or Jira is a plus.

Familiarity with Legal Research or Willingness to Learn:
While you are not expected to have a deep understanding of the law, some familiarity with legal research or prior work in a legal setting is advantageous. You should be willing to learn basic legal terminology and procedures related to voting rights, voter mistakes, and the criminal justice system.

SEO and Website Optimization Skills:
Understanding of search engine optimization (SEO) techniques and website performance optimization. This includes knowing how to structure content for search engines, use metadata, improve page loading times, and ensure cross-platform compatibility.

Attention to Detail & Analytical Thinking:
A keen eye for detail is essential, particularly in terms of accurately representing legal cases and statutes. You should be comfortable analyzing legal documents and ensuring the integrity of the information displayed on the website.

Problem-Solving & Adaptability:
Ability to troubleshoot technical problems, offer creative solutions, and adapt to changes in project scope or direction. This includes solving issues with website performance, implementing user feedback, and handling unexpected challenges as they arise.

Strong Communication & Collaboration Skills:
Excellent written and verbal communication skills are required to work effectively with Professor Cover and potentially other stakeholders. You will need to explain technical concepts clearly to non-technical team members and contribute constructively during discussions about website design and functionality.

Self-Motivated & Able to Work Independently:
As much of the work can be done remotely, you should be a self-starter who can manage your own time effectively. You should be comfortable working independently, taking initiative, and making progress without continuous oversight.

Experience with Version Control Systems (Git):
Experience using Git or other version control systems is beneficial to manage code and collaborate with team members on development projects. Familiarity with platforms like GitHub or GitLab for versioning and collaborative work is expected.

Prior Experience with Academic or Research-Based Websites (Preferred):
If you have experience developing websites for academic or research projects, this will be an added advantage. Prior work on projects that involve the presentation of data, legal documents, or research findings is ideal but not required.