PUBLIC RECORDS LEGAL INTERN - 66659

Executive Service

Department of Safety & Homeland Security

Legal Division

Nashville, TN

Salary: Unpaid

Closing Date: 05/09/2025

This will be a Fall Internship between the months of August - December, 2025.

Background Check:

This position requires a criminal background check. Therefore, you may be required to provide information about your criminal history in order to be considered for this position.

Who we are and what we do:

The Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security (the Department) Legal Division is the in-housel legal counsel for the Department. The Legal Division is responsible for rendering of legal opinions, legislative analyses, policy decisions and advice. In addition, the Legal Division advises the Commissioner and management on the impact of both state and federal policies, rules and statutes.

Job Overview:

The Tennessee Department of Safety Legal Division is seeking a motivated and detail-oriented Public Records Legal Intern (unpaid) to assist with the legal research, analysis, and daily handling of the Tennessee Public Records Act request lifecycle, from request intake to complex legal research regarding information confidentiality and statutory interpretation. This internship offers a valuable opportunity to gain hands-on experience in state government in-house legal counsel, records retention, records management, handling, and a wide range of legal skills.

Key Responsibilities:

Assist in researching, developing, and implementing public record act responses and analysis.

Participate in drafting and reviewing documents, reports, and policy recommendations.

Assist with planning and coordinating intra-agency legal discussions and trainings.

Analyze various legal matters and generate memoranda and legal summaries related to state government records request responses.

Assist with records collection efforts, including preparing drafts and document review.

Collaborate with various state agencies and intra-agency teams.

Perform administrative support tasks as needed.

Minimum Qualifications:

A bachelor's or master's degree.

Currently pursuing a juris doctor degree.

Strong interest in public service and state government.

Excellent research, analytical, and problem-solving skills.

Strong written and verbal communication skills.

Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).

Ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a team environment.

Pursuant to the State of Tennessee's Workplace Discrimination and Harassment policy, the State is firmly committed to the principle of fair and equal employment opportunities for its citizens and strives to protect the rights and opportunities of all people to seek, obtain, and hold employment without being subjected to illegal discrimination and harassment in the workplace. It is the State's policy to provide an environment free of discrimination and harassment of an individual because of that person's race, color, national origin, age (40 and over), sex, pregnancy, religion, creed, disability, veteran's status or any other category protected by state and/or federal civil rights laws.