The Metropolitan Opera Internship Program offers internship/externship opportunities to current law school students interested in hands-on experience at the Metropolitan Opera’s legal office. Students participating in this internship should expect exposure to a wide range of legal matters that arise at a fast-paced performing arts organization. Legal issues may include labor and employment, governance, contracts, litigation, copyright, safety, real estate, tax, and data privacy matters.

Internship Dates: May 19, 2025 – August 1, 2025

Application Deadline: Monday February 23rd, 2025 6 PM EST_

Primary Responsibilities

Support the in-house legal team on a variety of projects and administrative duties, including:
Researching legal matters and preparing memoranda and other written analyses.
Drafting and reviewing contracts and other legal documents.
Reviewing and assembling materials to support the review of legal questions.
Attending meetings with Met staff, when appropriate.
Reviewing, organizing, and maintaining records.

Skills and Qualifications

This position is open to current law students only.
Requires a resume, cover letter, and an academic transcript from law school.

Physical Demands

Ability to work in open office environment
Occasionally required to lift up to 15 pounds.

Interviews

Interviews are required for finalists only. If you are selected as a finalist, we will contact you directly to set up an interview by phone or video conference. You will not travel to The Met Opera house for an interview (even if you are a local student). Due to the high volume of requests, staff are not able to conduct informational interviews. Do not contact individual staff members about internships in their departments.

International Students

Undergraduate and graduate internships at the Met Opera are open to international applicants. Interns are responsible for ensuring that they have valid legal status under applicable U.S. visa regulations while participating in the Met Opera's paid internship program. All interns must have valid U.S. work authorization. The Met Opera does not sponsor visas for interns. If you require a visa, you may be eligible to participate in the Exchange Visitor Program (J-1 visa program), by going through an outside agency that has been authorized by the State Department to sponsor a J-1 trainee visa. These sponsors are responsible for supporting and monitoring foreign nationals during their exchange programs in the United States. Note: The J-1 visa program currently requires that interns work 32 hours per week; for this reason, individuals requiring a J-1 visa should only apply to the full-time Internship Program.

We recommend that you consult with the U.S. embassy in your home country to determine which visa will allow you to participate in this internship. Please be aware that obtaining a visa is usually a lengthy process and can cost upwards of US$1,500; it must be completed well in advance of the internship start date. If you are offered an internship but do not have work authorization before the start date of the program, your internship will be canceled.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

Are the legal internships at The Met Opera paid?

Yes, all internships at The Met Opera are paid. The Met does not offer unpaid internships. The hourly pay rate is $16.50.

If I am accepted for an internship will the Met Opera provide housing?

No. If you are accepted into the internship or fellowship program, it is your responsibility to arrange your own housing. We will provide a list of places to start looking.

Do you offer application and workplace accommodations for students with disabilities?

Yes. We are committed to ensuring that everyone can apply to the program and can participate fully if accepted. Please email questions about accommodations to hrtraining@metopera.org, and list INTERNSHIP in the subject line of your email.

If I am not accepted for an internship position, may I reapply the following year?

Yes, if you are still eligible the following year. You will need to resubmit a complete application, including letters of recommendation or references.

What happens after I submit my application for Met Opera Internship Program?

The Internship Program staff will read through all the applications to determine whether your interests and skills match an available intern project. If we think you are a good candidate for one of the projects, we send your application to the supervisor of the project for consideration. All applicants will be notified about the result of their applications by the date indicated on the internship program page.

Does the Met Opera sponsor visas?

No. The Met cannot sponsor visas for interns. Interns are responsible for ensuring that they have valid legal status under applicable U.S. visa regulations while participating in the Met Opera's program. If you require a visa, you may be eligible to participate in the Exchange Visitor Program (J-1 visa program) by going through an outside agency that has been authorized by the State Department to sponsor a J-1 trainee visa. These sponsors are responsible for supporting and monitoring foreign nationals during their exchange programs in the United States. We recommend that you consult with the U.S. embassy in your home country to determine which visa will allow you to participate in this internship. Please be aware that obtaining a visa is usually a lengthy process and can cost upwards of US$1,500; it must be completed well in advance of the internship start date. If you are accepted to the program and not granted a visa by the start date of your internship, your internship will be canceled.

Do I need to submit a transcript with my initial application?

Yes, an academic transcript from law school is required with your initial application.

I missed the application deadline. May I submit a late application?

No. We do not accept late applications; there are no exceptions.

May I contact an individual Met Opera staff member about being an intern with her/him/them?

No. Please do not contact staff about internships. All students interested in being an intern at The Met Opera house must apply. All internship inquiries should be directed to Internship Program. Individual Met Opera staff members will direct you to our office if you contact them directly.

How much does the internship pay?

The internship pays $16.50 an hour—plus funds for travel assistance in New York City – you will be expected to work 35 hours/week.

Notification and Interviews:

Will I be notified when my application is received?

Yes. You will receive a confirmation email once your online application has been successfully submitted. If you do NOT receive this confirmation, please contact us at hrtraining@metopera.org.

Will I have to interview?

Finalists will be contacted by the Internship Program for interviews with departments. All interviews will be conducted on the phone or Zoom conference. You will not be asked to travel to The Met Opera for an interview.

The Metropolitan Opera believes that diversity is critical to our success and growth as a leading performing arts institution and we seek to recruit, develop and retain the most talented people from a diverse candidate pool. Our goal is to be a diverse workforce that is representative, at all job levels, of the communities we serve.

The Metropolitan Opera is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants and existing employees without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy (including childbirth, lactation and related medical conditions), national origin, citizenship status, age, physical and mental disability, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information (including characteristics and testing), military and veteran status, or any protected category prohibited by local, state or federal laws.

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