In Spring Semester Students can do an internship with the Utah State Legislature.
Legislative internships in Salt Lake City begin the third Monday of January.
These internships last 45 days.
Students can receive 10 credits for this internship.
These internships pay from $1,800.00 to $2,400.00 a semester.
Things a Utah State Legislative Intern Should Know
By Chase Carter
1. In the words of Doug Foxley, “There are 104 legislators on the capital and not all legislators are created equal.” Your experience will depend upon who you are assigned to intern with.
2. When your legislator asks you to do something, but does not give you a timeline, assume that it should be done immediately and act accordingly.
3. ASK QUESTIONS, but be sincere in your questioning. Some legislators are all business and no play, so ask them about their business. If you're unsure as to how you should carry out an order, it's better to ask for directions than to risk doing it wrong.
4. Most of the time, State Legislators do not draft their own legislation. They present a State Attorney with an idea for the bill and oversee its creation.
5. I've had the best moments and most interesting conversations in the lunch room (The State Room in the East Senate Building). Eat lunch there, talk to other interns, talk to the lobbyists. The food isn't very good and somewhat pricy, but they have vending machines and microwaves if you want to bring your own lunch.
6. If you're unfamiliar with the intricacies of how the state legislative process works, don't worry, your legislator would love to tell you all about it. They can usually do it without boring you, which is much harder to accomplish in a classroom setting.
7. You are required to wear a suit coat every day if you are a male.
8. Go to your legislator's meetings, even the boring ones. They will appreciate you for that and just being instantly accessible is 90% of your job. You're almost like a fireman (or firewoman). You might be called upon very infrequently and unpredictably to perform a task, but you should still execute it with great pride and urgency.
9. Work hard, the session only lasts 33 week days from the third week in January to the first Wednesday in March.