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Intern, Government & Legal Affairs (RILA)

Retail Industry Leaders Association
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About RILA

 

Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) is the trade association for retail leaders – retailers that have earned leadership status by virtue of their sales volume, innovation, or aspiration. We convene decision-makers to collaborate and gain from each other’s experience. We advance the industry through public-policy advocacy and promote operational excellence and innovation. And through research and thought leadership, we propel developments that foster both economic growth and sustainability.

The association has been supporting retailers since 1969. Today, our members (including companies like Target, Dollar General, Gap Inc., Home Depot, Walgreens, Best Buy, Ulta Beauty and many others) collect more than $1.5 trillion in annual sales and provide millions of jobs across the U.S. 

RILA has many focus areas including asset protection, finance, workforce, legal and compliance, government affairs, supply chain, sustainability and energy, and technology and innovation. The association also facilitates committees, leaders councils, and working groups—for CEOs, government affairs executives, supply chain leaders, ESG experts, and more—and hosts topic-specific conferences and forums nationwide. 

The RILA team and corporate office are located in the Navy Yard neighborhood of Washington, D.C. 

 

RILA Internship Program

 

RILA has a paid summer internship opportunity available for one student interested in government and legal affairs. 

We strive to offer a comprehensive and enriching internship program that provides valuable insight into association work and exposure to complex issues facing the retail industry. 

Interns will be based at our headquarters in D.C., where they will participate in initiatives such as advocacy, communications, and member engagement. Interns will participate in team functions like other employees to include training, development, and team building opportunities. The program can run from May/June through August. In addition to the competitive pay of $20 per hour, RILA will offer interns a transportation stipend of $50 per month to help absorb commuting costs.

The program can run from May/June through August based on student’s availability. 

The 2026 Internship Program will be “hybrid” with flexibility for in-office and at-home productivity. Our policy is three days in the office with an optional two days for telecommuting. Interns are responsible for their own health insurance, housing, and travel expenses to and from Washington, D.C.

 

Internship Opportunity --

 

Government & Legal Affairs Summer Intern Position 

 

A summer 2026 intern for RILA’s Government Affairs and Legal teams and RILA’s Litigation Center would have a front-row seat to RILA’s policy, advocacy, and retail compliance work. Ideal candidates are law students or pre-law undergraduates. 

 

Specific projects planned: 

  • Assist with issue-specific legislative tracking.
  • Support planning and participate in Committee calls for our RILA Government Affairs Committee, Consumer Products Committee, Environmental Compliance Committee, and corporate compliance/ethics communities.
  • Support drafting of weekly legal newsletter and monthly retail compliance newsletter.
  • Research RILA/RLC member prospects and develop a presentation for internal staff education.
  • Update RILA resource on State Packaging Extended Producer Responsibility compliance milestones.
  • Contribute to a research project focused on prospects for vacated Congressional committee positions and mid-term election prospects and deliver findings in a capstone style presentation.
  • Conduct legal research, review and revise legal briefs, and support the organization of the legal brief database.

Enrichment opportunities identified:

  • Join Government Affairs team members for meetings on Capitol Hill.
  • Attend semi-annual Government Affairs in person meeting (late June) where they will interact with government affairs leads from large US retail chains.
  • Exposure to broad cross-section of legal and policy issues facing the nation’s largest retailers from labor, privacy and transportation to product regulatory compliance, among many others. As well as emerging issues and risk areas such as gift card fraud, AI, and extended producer responsibility.
  • Participate in legal webinars focused on emerging legal trends.
  • Work alongside seasoned policy, legal, and trade association professionals.

Responsibilities may include but are not limited to: 

  • Research projects and oral/written presentations of findings
  • Newsletter drafting
  • Committee call organization and support

 

How do I apply? 

To be eligible, you must be an undergraduate or graduate student and available for the duration of the summer internship program. Candidates must be eligible to work in the U.S and have a strong interest in the retail industry. Interested candidates should submit a statement of interest and a resume by 5:00 pm EDT on April 24, 2026. Interviews will take place on a rolling basis and final decisions will be made no later than May 8, 2026. Application materials should be emailed to hr@rila.org with the subject “Internship Application – Name of Candidate – Position desired”.

 

RILA is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.