Law Intern Program - Contracts - Summer 2027

Company Description

At Northwestern Medicine, every patient interaction makes a difference in cultivating a positive workplace. This patient-first approach is what sets us apart as a leader in the healthcare industry. As an integral part of our team, you'll have the opportunity to join our quest for better health care, no matter where you work within the Northwestern Medicine system. We pride ourselves on providing competitive benefits: from tuition reimbursement and loan forgiveness to 401(k) matching and lifecycle benefits, our goal is to take care of our employees. Ready to join our quest for better?

Job Description

The Legal Intern reflects the mission, vision, and values of Northwestern Memorial, adheres to the organization's Code of Ethics and Corporate Compliance Program, and complies with all relevant policies, procedures, guidelines and all other regulatory and accreditation standards.

The Internship presents a valuable opportunity for 2nd year law students to gain experiential education and for Northwestern Memorial Hospital to benefit from the service, skills and knowledge that law students can offer. The law students will be placed in the Contracting department and will be exposed to various vendors, contracts and negotiations.  The internship is 10-12 weeks in length and is scheduled for the summer term only.

Interns are paired with a Director to complete a three month project aligned with NMH's strategic objectives. 

The Legal Intern’s duties would include but are not limited to the following:

• Shadow and support Contracting Services leadership and Contract Managers in day-to-day contracting activities, including contract review and negotiations, while gaining practical exposure to contractual, legal, and business considerations.
• Conduct legal and contracting research and assist with Contracting Services resources and process-improvement initiatives, including development and maintenance of the Contracting Handbook, templates, reference materials, and negotiation guidance.
• Participation in Internship program activities including: shadowing, senior executive lunches, management meetings and orientation sessions.
• Prepare and deliver a final presentation to senior leadership and the Contracting Services team summarizing the internship experience, key learnings, and contributions

See what our staff have to say about working in this department and at Northwestern Medicine! Be Part of Better: What It’s Like to Work at Northwestern Medicine

Program Dates & Schedule:

Application Due Date: November 29th, 2026

Start Date: May 12, 2027 (12 week internship) or May 26, 2027 (10 week internship)

Qualifications

Required:

• Legal Interns must be enrolled in an accredited program and have completed their second year by the start of the internship.
• Excellent communication skills, written and oral, including presentation skills.
• Strong quantitative and analytical skills.

Additional Information

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

Northwestern Medicine is an equal opportunity employer (disability, VETS) and does not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of age, sex, race, color, religion, national origin, gender identity, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation or any other protected status.

Background Check

Northwestern Medicine conducts a background check that includes criminal history on newly hired team members and, at times, internal transfers. If you are offered a position with us, you will be required to complete an authorization and disclosure form that gives Northwestern Medicine permission to run the background check.  Results are evaluated on a case-by-case basis, and we follow all local, state, and federal laws, including the Illinois Health Care Worker Background Check Act.

Artificial Intelligence Disclosure

Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools may be used in some portions of the candidate review process for this position, however, all employment decisions will be made by a person. 

Benefits

Internship roles are not eligible for benefits