Legal & Compliance Extern (Unpaid) - Current JD or LLM Candidates Only
Summary
Unpaid part-time legal externship for current J.D. or LL.M students at Great Gray, a retirement-services trustee firm. Over ~10 weeks in Spring 2027, the extern reviews, drafts, and tracks governance and legal documents for collective investment funds, working from the Boston or Wilmington office on a hybrid 4-days-onsite schedule.
The Role
Great Gray is seeking a temporary, part-time, Legal & Compliance Extern to support the Legal and Compliance departments during the Spring 2027 semester. The Legal & Compliance Extern will meaningfully assist with a large-scale governance documentation project including reviewing, analyzing, revising, tracking, and inventorying governance and legal documents supporting Great Gray's collective investment fund business.
This externship provides a unique opportunity for a law student to gain practical hands-on experience within the legal and compliance function of a leading retirement fund trustee while working closely with attorneys, compliance, investment, business and operation professionals on matters involving fund governance, corporate documentation, regulatory compliance, and investment management.
The extern will work closely with, and be supervised by, senior members of the Legal and Compliance teams. Through this experience, the extern will gain exposure to fiduciary, legal, regulatory, governance, and operational issues affecting investment products (specifically collective investment funds) and financial services organizations.
Location
This position will work from our Boston, MA or Wilmington, DE office. Great Gray currently supports a hybrid work model with 4 days onsite, and 1 day remote.
Visa sponsorship or transfer of an existing visa is not available for this position. Applicants must be authorized to work directly for any employer in the United States without visa sponsorship or transfer.
Hours and Duration
- Expected Start Date: January/February 2027 - based on the student's academic calendar and law school program requirements.
- Expected End Date: Conclusion of the Spring semester, generally late April or early May 2027.
- Duration: Approximately 10 weeks.
- Hours: Approximately 10–20 hours per week.
The specific start date, end date, weekly schedule, and total hours worked will be determined in coordination with the selected candidate and their law school's program requirements to ensure eligibility for academic credit.
Academic Credit
This is an unpaid externship. The selected candidate will receive academic credit through their law school's approved externship program in lieu of financial compensation.
Candidates must be enrolled in and satisfy the requirements of their respective law school's externship or field placement program, including any eligibility requirements, faculty approvals, documentation, reporting obligations, and minimum hour requirements necessary to receive academic credit.
Responsibilities
- Assist with the review, revision, and updating of collective investment fund governance documents and related legal records.
- Draft, edit, and proofread legal documents, governance materials, and internal memoranda.
- Review documents for consistency, accuracy, completeness, and compliance with legal and organizational standards.
- Organize, track, and maintain legal documents, templates, and governance records.
- Assist Legal and Compliance team members with special projects and ongoing departmental initiatives.
- Participate in meetings with Legal and Compliance personnel and assist with follow-up action items.
- Collaborate with attorneys, compliance professionals, and business partners across the organization on governance-related projects.
- Perform other legal and compliance-related duties as assigned.
Qualifications & Experience
- Current J.D. or LL.M candidate enrolled in an accredited law school.
- Eligible to participate in, and receive academic credit through, their law school's internship/externship or field placement program.
- Strong legal research, writing, and analytical skills.
- Excellent attention to detail and organizational abilities.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to manage multiple assignments and meet deadlines in a professional environment.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Word and Excel.
- Professional proficiency in written and spoken English, with the ability to review, draft, and edit legal and business documents.
- Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with a team.
- Experience drafting, reviewing, or editing legal documents is strongly preferred.
- Coursework in Contracts, Business Organizations, Corporate Law, Securities Regulation, Investment Management, or related areas is preferred.
- Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment and manage multiple priorities effectively.
- Exhibit Great Gray’s core values: Growth Mindset, Disciplined Curiosity, Grit, Results Ownership, Collaboration.
Skills
As published by lever · 13 questions · 2 written answers
Basics
Which location are you applying for?, Resume/CV, Full name, Email, Phone, Current location, Current company, LinkedIn URL, Other (e.g. portfolio, etc.) URL
Short answers (6)
- Full Legal Name
- Preferred Name optional
- What are your salary expectations for this position?
- Are you subject to any restrictive covenants that would preclude you from fully performing your work with another employer?
- When are you available to start a new position?
- Were you referred for this opportunity by a current employee at the organization? If yes, which employee? optional
Pick from a list (5)
- Are you legally authorized to work in the country you are applying to?
- Do you now or will you in the future require visa sponsorship or transfer of visa sponsorship (e.g., H-1B, O-1, TN, E-3) from another employer to maintain work authorization in the United States?
- Are you currently located within commuting distance to the assigned office location for this role?
- Great Gray's Hybrid Work Policy, which currently requires in-office attendance four (4) days per week, applies to this position. Please indicate your understanding of and ability to comply with this requirement below. optional
- By checking the box below, I certify that I have read and understand the applicant instructions included with this application and that the answers given by me to the foregoing questions and statements made by me are complete and true to the best of my knowledge and belief. I understand that any false information, omissions or misrepresentations of facts called for in this application, whether on this document or not, may result in rejection of my application or discharge at any time during my employment. I understand that this application form is intended for use in evaluating my qualifications for employment and that this application is not an offer of employment. I further understand that if hired, my employment will be considered "at-will" and that my employment may be terminated for any reason, with or without cause or notice, at any time by me or the Company and that this application is not intended to constitute a contract of continued employment. optional
Written answers (2)
- Address
- If no, what is your anticipated timeline for relocating? optional
