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Legal Intern

New York

About GiveDirectly

GiveDirectly (GD) aims to reshape international giving – and millions of lives – by providing cash grants directly to the world’s poorest. The Brookings Institution estimates that $70B of cash transfers would be required to eliminate the poverty gap; the aid sector currently spends $135B each year, much of it on evidence-free interventions. GiveDirectly wants to change that, establishing cash transfers as a benchmark for foreign aid – as the index fund is a benchmark for the financial industry – and in the process accelerating the end of extreme poverty.

GD has raised over $1B since launching in 2011, delivered cash to more than 1.5 million people in 15 different countries. We’ve also supported large-scale, experimental research that indicates strong recipient impact of our programs. As a result, GD has been celebrated as one of the most innovative non-profit companies by Fast Company, while the growing cash transfer movement (and GD’s leading role within it) have been featured in the New York Times Magazine, This American Life, Foreign Affairs, and The Economist.

Our culture is candid, analytical, agile, and non-hierarchical. Our global team of ~150, and country operations teams of ~650, together come from 21 different countries speaking 69 different languages. Team members bring experiences from the private sector, NGOs and government. From software engineers to seasoned humanitarian workers, former management consultants to public servants, researchers to field operations -- it’s an incredible group of people.

Our values are central and deliberately opinionated. We genuinely center the people we serve in our decision making, and strive to build an ambitious, fast moving and high performing environment. We strongly encourage you to read through our values carefully, if they reflect how you like to work and energize you, this could be a great fit.

We work hard to create an environment in which all our team members can thrive, succeed and grow.  We support flexibility, take care of each other, have fun, and create professional growth opportunities.

Intern pay will be hourly, and rate of pay will depend on level of education and experience.  The salary for this internship is as follows for U.S.-based interns. 

If not U.S.-based, there will be an adjustment to the hourly amount based on cost of living and local market rates of the country in which candidates are based:

  • Undergraduate student: $19.00/hour
  • Recent graduate: $22.00/hour
  • Master’s degree student: $29.00/hour

 

About this role

Location: Remote, but interns must be based in the US, Kenya, Liberia, Rwanda, Morocco, DRC, Uganda, Malawi, or Mozambique

Deadline: February 10th, 2025

Reports to: Legal Counsel

Responsibilities: 

Legal Research and Analysis:

  • Conduct research on multi-jurisdictional regulations affecting GiveDirectly’s operations, such as tax laws, data protection standards (e.g., GDPR), and employment laws in countries of operation.
  • Analyze and summarize legal frameworks to inform policy development and organizational decision-making.

Contract and Policy Review:

  • Assist with reviewing, drafting, and revising contracts, including grant agreements, subrecipient agreements, and procurement documents.
  • Identify potential risks or areas for clarification in contract templates and agreements.

Data Protection and Compliance Mapping:

  • Help map and analyze data protection laws across GiveDirectly’s operating regions.
  • Support development of tools for assessing compliance with data privacy regulations for staff, donors, and recipients.

Board and Governance Support:

  • Assist with researching legal best practices for board structures and governance, particularly in multi-country or in-country boards.
  • Support reviews of internal governance documentation and processes to ensure alignment with regulations.

Regulatory Filing and Documentation:

  • Help track and maintain documentation related to compliance filings, registrations, and licenses.
  • Draft memos and reports to summarize legal obligations and statuses.

Training and Awareness Materials:

  • Develop and refine materials for staff training on legal topics such as contract compliance, data protection, and intellectual property considerations.
  • Support preparation of legal guides or FAQs to educate teams on recurring legal issues.

Support for Special Projects:

  • Collaborate on initiatives like mapping organizational data usage, vendor due diligence processes, and regional compliance updates.
  • Provide legal insights for ongoing organizational transformation projects, such as procurement or policy streamlining.

Time frame:

Hours: approximately 30-40 per week

Education Requirement: 

  • Currently enrolled in or recently graduated from a law program (LL.B., J.D., or equivalent).
  • Coursework in contract law, international law, or nonprofit/NGO law is a plus.

Skills Requirement: 

  • Strong legal research abilities, including experience with legal databases (e.g., Westlaw, LexisNexis) and other academic/legal resources.
  • Ability to synthesize complex legal and regulatory information into actionable insights.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication.
  • Strong attention to detail with a focus on accuracy.
  • Proactive approach to problem-solving and a willingness to learn.

Experience: 

  • Previous experience or coursework related to nonprofit compliance, contract drafting, or international operations is a bonus.
  • Interest in working within a mission-driven organization.

    Why choose an internship at GiveDirectly?

    At GiveDirectly, we work to ensure that you have everything you need to excel in your role and on your team, including:

    • A positive and supportive team who likes to have fun 
    • A demonstrated commitment to helping interns develop and grow
    • Flexible work location

 

GiveDirectly is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants are considered for employment without regard to the person’s race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

US applicants only:  We invite you to "Know Your Rights" as an applicant.

 

Commitment to Safeguarding

As a global organization serving some of the world’s most vulnerable communities, GiveDirectly takes the safeguarding of its recipients, staff, and partners seriously. To that end, GiveDirectly is a member of the Misconduct Disclosure Scheme, and will systematically check with previous employers about any sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment issues relating to potential new hires. We may also employ other robust pre-hire screens, including in-depth reference checks, criminal background checks, and sanctions screens.

GD is committed to observing all local, national and international laws that protect children, vulnerable adults, and basic human rights of all. GD is committed to a policy of “zero tolerance for sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment (SEAH)” and expects anyone who works for GD to uphold the protection and safeguarding of our recipients as a priority.

These efforts help us continue to build and maintain trust with the communities we serve, and prevent harm to our recipients.

 

Interview Venue and Accessibility

We conduct interviews over Google Meet with camera on (unless communicated otherwise).

Closed captioning is available during all Google Meet interviews, and interviewers will also post interview questions in the chat box throughout the call. If you need assistance accessing either of these features, please let your interviewer know at the start of your interview! 

We’re committed to running an inclusive and accessible application process for all of our open roles. If there are questions or concerns you have about the accessibility of our hiring process, we warmly invite you to reach out to careers@givedirectly.org. Please include the word "Accessibility" in the email title.

 

Want to put your best foot forward on your GiveDirectly application? Take a look at our Candidate Application Prep Guide!

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