Government Affairs & Lobbying Internship

One seat. Direct mentorship. Real work at the Capital.

The Frederick Group typically takes on one intern at a time — by design. Instead of joining a large summer class competing for attention, you’ll work directly alongside our team on live client issues from day one — sometimes with our president and senior staff, sometimes with other members of our team, always on real work. If you’re looking to hit the ground running, this internship will help you build real business and leadership skills — not just a line on your resume.

As our intern, you’ll work side by side with accomplished industry professionals, bring a fresh perspective to client issues, and help us develop the solutions that make the Frederick Group effective. We’re a hands-on firm, and because we only take one intern at a time, you won’t be shadowing — you’ll be doing. Every task matters here, whether it’s drafting a client memo or making copies before a hearing — nothing is beneath anyone, including us.

We are a hands-on firm. Our intern is one of the most important people at the Frederick Group, because they represent our future. We’re looking for a self-motivated, professional candidate who can work independently, take initiative, and isn’t afraid to ask questions.

Why intern with a small firm

Real team integration. You’ll work across our whole team — not siloed under one person or stuck shadowing.
Real client exposure. You’ll attend client meetings, present work reports, and sit in on legislative committee hearings — not just observe them.
One seat means real ownership. Because we only bring on one intern at a time, the projects you’re given are genuinely yours to run, not shared or duplicated across a group.
A track record of outcomes. Past interns have gone on to roles in the Michigan Legislature, state government, and public affairs, as well as law school — we’re proud of every one of their stories, and happy to share them.

What You'll Do

Conduct issue and policy research across a variety of client issues.
Attend legislative committee meetings and prepare reports for clients.
Attend client meetings and present work reports.
Prepare and draft amendments to legislation.
Track and communicate project status via emails, meetings, presentations, and reports.
Support day-to-day project work — meeting agendas, follow-up tracking, and documentation.
Participate in weekly team meetings and client check-ins.
Prepare biweekly internship work reports.

What We're Looking For

Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
A quick learner who’s comfortable in a fast-paced, high-expectations environment.
Ability to take initiative with minimal direction.
Proficient in Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Excel. Familiarity with Canva is a definite plus!
A positive, professional attitude.
Authorized to work in the United States.

Hours & Compensation

Schedule: A minimum of 20 hours/week, up to 39 hours/week, within our office hours (Monday–Friday, 8 AM–5 PM).
Compensation: We’ll talk pay directly with you as part of the process — it depends on the specific term and role.
Academic credit: We’re happy to complete any required paperwork or evaluations to help you earn academic credit for your internship.

How the Program Works

Because we only take on one intern at a time, we don’t run separate simultaneous groups. Instead:

We typically bring on a new intern each semester. That said, some interns have stayed on longer when the timing and workload lined up.
We’ll follow up directly with candidates when the position is open or about to open.

Get to Know Lansing Government Before You Apply

Ready to Apply?

Send your resume using the form below, or email it directly to our senior lobbyist, Michael Frederick, at mfrederick@frederickgroup.net. Instead of a general writing sample, qualified candidates will be asked to complete a short legislative writing exercise after their interview — details below.

About Our Writing Exercise

Instead of a general writing sample, candidates who move forward will complete a short legislative writing exercise after their interview. You’ll be given a current, narrowly-focused Michigan legal or legislative issue — for example, our current exercise centers on Section 31aa of the State School Aid Act, which has been the subject of extensive state and federal court activity through 2025 and 2026 — and asked to produce:

A one-page client memo — what the provision does, who it affects, its current legal status, and your recommended course of action, written as if advising a client.
3–5 talking points — supporting or opposing a related position, written as if prepping a client for committee testimony or a stakeholder conversation.

To keep this grounded in your own research and thinking (rather than a generic AI-drafted response), we’ll also share a specific detail with you after your interview — such as a particular client or program the issue actually applies to. Your submission should incorporate that detail directly, which means genuine research into the current legal landscape will produce a noticeably stronger memo than a generic summary.

This mirrors the actual work our team does for clients day to day: translating complex or evolving legal and legislative developments into clear, client-ready recommendations.