Unpaid Educational Internship

Internship Opportunity With City Of Durango

This position provides a structured, educational internship experience for high school students interested in municipal government, public service, or legal careers. The internship is unpaid and designed so that the primary beneficiary is the student, consistent with federal and Colorado standards for unpaid internships. Students learn about municipal law, public processes, and government operations through observation, guided projects, and supervised skill building exercises.

The following duties are typical for this position but are not all inclusive. Other duties may be assigned. Duties are educational in nature and are not intended to replace the work of paid employees.

• Observe staff activities within the City Attorney's Office, including meetings, document preparation, and municipal procedures.
• Assist with basic, age-appropriate tasks such as organizing documents, preparing simple summaries, or conducting introductory research using publicly available materials.
• Learn principles of recordkeeping, including confidentiality and legal retention requirements.
• Shadow staff in administrative workflows to gain an understanding of how municipal legal services support City departments.
• Participate in structured learning modules (e.g., "How ordinances are written," "Introduction to public records," "Basics of municipal court").
• Support non legal citywide projects that offer civic learning opportunities (e.g., communications, special events, customer service observations).
• Operate general office equipment under supervision (printer, scanner, copier).
• Complete a culminating project such as a reflection paper, presentation, or portfolio piece.

No fiscal responsibilities. Intern may observe, but not perform, activities related to budgeting, purchasing, or financial decision making.

• Represent the Department and City to other City staff and members of the public.
• Provide quality customer service to individuals needing directions or assistance.
• Uphold the City's mission, vision, and values in all daily tasks and interactions, ensuring our commitment to excellence is reflected in the work you do for the community.

Works under general supervision of the City Attorney or assigned staff mentor. Work is reviewed for accuracy, quality, and adherence to instructions. Intern completes tasks and asks questions within established guidelines.

• Interest in public service and local government.
• Basic principles of organization, recordkeeping, and written communication.
• English grammar, spelling, punctuation, and professional writing standards

• Basic operation of computers, printers, scanners, and phones.
• Tracking simple tasks or checklists related to internship assignments.
• Clear verbal and written communication.
• Data entry and document preparation under supervision.
• Using City-approved software to learn about public records, scheduling, and document management systems.

• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
• Follow instructions and ask questions when clarification is needed.
• Work the allocated hours of the internship.
• Learn to understand the organization and operation of the City and of outside agencies
• Prepare simple correspondence or summaries with guidance.
• Maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive information appropriately.
• Communicate professionally and respectfully

Work is performed in a typical indoor office setting; and is mostly sedentary with occasional mobility, including tasks such as filing, moving between departments, or attending meetings

• This work requires the occasional exertion of up to 10 pounds of force; work regularly requires sitting, frequently requires standing, speaking or hearing, using hands to finger, handle or feel and repetitive motions and occasionally requires walking, stooping, kneeling, crouching or crawling and reaching with hands and arms.
• Specific vision abilities…