Legal Fellow

Launch Your Legal Career with Wikimedia: A Fellowship in Free Knowledge

Are you a law student or recent graduate eager to dive into the dynamic world of Internet law and open source? The Wikimedia Foundation invites you to apply for our Legal Fellowship Program, an immersive opportunity to gain hands-on experience within a leading free knowledge organization.

Your Role as a Wikimedia Legal Fellow

This isn’t your typical internship. As a Legal Fellow, you’ll be an integral part of our team, tackling real-world legal challenges that span complex copyright law, international freedom of expression, mobile development, and internal corporate compliance. You’ll be assigned projects based on your unique interests and strengths, providing opportunities for both professional development and contributing meaningfully.

Expect to:

• Conduct in-depth legal research.
• Draft licensing agreements and policies.
• Develop internal and external guidelines.

Mentorship and Collaboration

You won’t be on your own. Each fellow is paired with a supervising attorney from our Legal Department who will provide guidance, feedback, and support throughout the program. You’ll attend internal and external meetings, collaborate on projects, and gain invaluable insight into the practical aspects of practicing law in-house at a prominent web-based organization.

Where possible, we’ll work with your university to help you earn academic credit or secure funding for your fellowship.

Who We’re Looking For

We’re seeking enthusiastic and driven individuals who are:

• Passionate about the Wikimedia Foundation’s mission to provide free knowledge to the world.
• Interested in free culture, digital rights, and Creative Commons licensing.
• Equipped with a good sense of humor and able to thrive in a fast-paced, demanding environment.
• Intellectually curious and flexible, with a knack for creative problem-solving. A strong research background is highly valued.
• Experienced working with large online user communities (or eager to learn!). Familiarity with wikis or Wikimedia projects is a plus.
• Able to collaborate effectively within a diverse team. Multilingual candidates are encouraged to apply!
• Possess excellent writing skills and can communicate complex legal concepts clearly to a wide audience.

Ideally, candidates will have completed coursework in areas such as internet law, freedom of expression, intellectual property, contract drafting, international law, privacy, data security, and licensing. Prior experience in these areas is preferred.

Bonus Points

Being a Wikimedian! Share your username in your cover letter and tell us about your contributions.

Program Details

• Duration: 18 weeks
• Hours per Week: 40 hours
• Start Date: January 2026

About the Wikimedia Foundation

The Wikimedia Foundation is the nonprofit behind Wikipedia and other free knowledge projects. We envision a world where everyone can freely share in the sum of all knowledge. We build software, support volunteer communities, and advocate for policies that enable free knowledge to thrive.

We are an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion. We encourage applications from people with a wide range of backgrounds.

Compensation

The Wikimedia Foundation is a remote-first organization. Salaries are competitive, equitable, and aligned with our values. The anticipated hourly pay range for this fellowship is US$36 to US$44, depending on location and experience.