During the legislative session of the Maryland General Assembly,
approximately 150 college students are given the opportunity to serve as legislative
interns each year. Interested students apply
and interview for placement with legislators, committees, or caucuses.
SESSION
The General Assembly meets annually for a period of 90 calendar
days, beginning the second Wednesday in January through early April. The
busiest days are Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. Voting sessions are scheduled on Monday
evening and Tuesday through Friday morning.
Committee hearings are usually scheduled for the afternoon, with fewer
on Monday or Friday.
ELIGIBILITY
TO APPLY
Interested students must be presently
enrolled in a public or independent college or university in Maryland with a
3.0 or higher grade-point average and competency in composition. Students must be earning credit and be
sponsored by the instructor of an internship course. Students must be able to commit to at least
two full days weekly for the legislative session.
STIPEND
A stipend is awarded to each legislative
intern. The total stipend varies,
depending on the number of hours per week the student serves as an intern for
the legislative session. The
total stipend is payable in two installments.
The first half of the stipend is awarded midway through session and the
second half of the stipend is awarded at the end of session. The (newly increased) stipend amounts are listed below:
· 2 days (15-18 hours) weekly = $3,120 per
session
· 3 days (19-26 hours) weekly = $4,680 per
session
· 4 days (27-31 hours) weekly = $6,240 per
session
· 5 days (32-40 hours) weekly =$7,800 per
session
WORK ASSIGNMENTS AND DUTIES
· Research
· Writing Reports and Correspondence
· Tracking bills
· Communicating with witnesses
· Following committee hearings
· Preparing and reporting testimony
· Coordinating mailings & newsletters
· Responding to constituents’ inquiries
HOW
TO APPLY
Contact your college or departmental internship coordinator for an application and sponsorship. Interested students submit an InternApplication*, including their sponsorship information, resume, essay, and
transcript to the email address below. The target deadline to submit
applications is October 31. For an
extension, contact:
Carol Pelli, Intern
Coordinator
Phone: 410-946-5124
Washington, DC Area:
301-970-5124
Toll Free: 800-492-7122
Ext. 5124
Email: Carolyn.Pelli@mlis.state.md.us
*Find the intern application at ter.ps/internBSOS, the first "Helpful Link." Students who do not qualify for a GVPT internship course may email Kathryn Hopps to request that she serve as their "sponsoring professor."
