Illinois Legislative Staff Internship Program Requirements

  • Internships are full-time and in-person, located in Springfield, IL
  • Must be a student at the University of Illinois Springfield (UIS), but you do not need to be a current UIS student to apply
  • Must have completed an undergraduate degree prior to the start of the internship, but can still be in progress at the time you apply
  • Must be able to commit to the full internship period (September 1 to June 30)

Completing the Application

A complete ILSIP application includes the following, submitted within the appropriate deadline:

  • Current resume
  • Three letters of recommendation. These may be from academic or professional references, and they must be dated and signed.
  • A personal statement highlighting how your interests, experience, and background would benefit you in the role of an ILSIP intern
  • A policy position paper discussing one issue facing Illinois government, and include suggested policy changes relevant to the issue. This paper should be a detailed description of a real issue facing Illinoisans, including suggested policy changes for improvements.
Apply

You may start the application and save it to return and complete at a later time. You can preview a PDF copy of the application before beginning, if you wish. If you have any difficulty with the online application, please contact Brandy Lane by phone at (217) 206-7163 or email at blane54@uis.edu.

Application Deadline and Process

Applications for ILSIP are due on March 15. Regardless of when an application is submitted, it will not be reviewed until after the deadline has passed. After an initial application screening, applicants will be contacted to set up virtual interviews in April or May. Interviews may not be offered to everyone who applies. Internship offers will generally not be made until a few weeks after the spring legislative session adjourns, around late May or early June. Once you accept an internship offer, you will be required to apply and be accepted to the University of Illinois Springfield as either a graduate student or a non-degree seeking student.

Student looking over state capitol building balcony
FY16 ILSIP Intern Grant Snyder, House Democratic Research and Appropriations Staff