Internship Testimonials

Internships are proven ways to get real world experience, understanding of career opportunities, and provide valuable networking contacts. Our department offers two internship programs, an internship scholarship for students who want to intern in Washington D.C., and we post relevant internships for students who may want to take an independent internship for class credit. We think internships are a valuable opportunity, but don't just take it from us! We have collected several testimonials from our students who participated in one or several internships opportunities 

"Throughout my time at the University of Louisville and as a Political Science major, I’ve been fortunate enough to participate in various internship programs organized through the Political Science Department. These opportunities largely facilitated my exploration of public service careers and helped expand my professional skills. The most significant internship I took part in was the Legislative Intern Program of the Kentucky Legislative Research Commission. The Kentucky Legislative Research Commission is the nonpartisan agency that supports the Kentucky General Assembly. Within the Legislative Research Commission, I was positioned in the Office of Budget Review. I relocated to Frankfort and worked as a full-time LRC employee for four months. I staffed the eight House Appropriations and Revenue subcommittees, reviewed fiscal legislation, contributed to House and Senate budget meetings, and much more. My experience in this position and with these public employees was invaluable. Thank you, UofL Department of Political Science!"
- Dillard Collier (Legislative Research Commission Program, Spring 2020)

"My internship experience was definitely one for the books. I had the opportunity to really dive deep into the day-to-day routine of a county prosecutor. Even though I am not a certified legal intern in law school, I was exposed to a lot of the background work that goes into prosecution in criminal law and helped where I could in gathering evidence for an argument. After taking Constitutional Law and spending time with my assigned prosecutor in court, I realized a lot. Of course I knew that different areas of law would bring about different cases, but watching how each court proceeds was extremely interesting. In the state courts, there is a much more relaxed atmosphere about it. Judges, public defenders and prosecutors have a close professional relationship that allows the spirits to remain high on times off the record. When dealing with matters of constitutional law, the court room requires a much more formal and strict environment. The experience was one I will forever be grateful for as it has allowed me to find a career path that I am now very interested in pursuing."
- Kaila Kolodkin (Hamilton County Prosecutor’s Office intern, Summer 2019)

"My senior year Frankfort internship was everything I thought it would be and led to opportunities that I never could have imagined. As an intern I was able to pull back the curtain on Kentucky politics and in doing so I gained immeasurable experience and insight on how Kentucky operates. It was hard work and also fun, from scouting support for legislation to enjoying FREE legislative lunches (don’t miss out on this - it’s not just free food guys - it’s also a great opportunity to network and watch lobbying in action). My time in Frankfort also brought me into contact with Representatives that I continue to speak with. When I graduated and began looking for my career path, multiple Representatives offered me paid opportunities in the State Capital with personal references."
- Tialisha Lumpkin (Frankfort Intern, Spring 2018)

"One of the most important aspects of the internship, in my opinion, is the introduction of college students to an extremely professional work environment. Students must monitor their own behavior to ensure that they are providing the best service to their office and ultimately the commonwealth. I will forever be thankful to the Frankfort internship for showing me how I will be expected to behave in my future career."
- Kylie Nethers (Frankfort Intern, Spring 2018)