Legal Intern (Summer 2025)

About Gusto

Gusto is a modern, online people platform that helps small businesses take care of their teams. On top of full-service payroll, Gusto offers health insurance, 401(k)s, expert HR, and team management tools. Today, Gusto offices in Denver, San Francisco, and New York serve more than 300,000 businesses nationwide.

Our mission is to create a world where work empowers a better life, and it starts right here at Gusto. That’s why we’re committed to building a collaborative and inclusive workplace, both physically and virtually. Learn more about our Total Rewards philosophy.

About the Role:

Are you a proactive, detail-oriented 1L law student eager to dive into the exciting world of in-house legal work? We're on the lookout for interns who thrive in fast-paced environments and are passionate about collaboration.

As a key member of our team, you will leave no stone unturned in your legal research, taking the initiative to tackle complex and novel tasks with confidence. When you say, “I’ll take care of it,” we know it will be done right! In this role, you'll enhance your skills in critical thinking, legal research and writing, and contract drafting, all while learning to translate legal concepts for non-legal audiences. You'll also gain valuable experience in legal operations and policy development.

If you're ready to make an impact and develop your legal expertise, we want to hear from you!

About the Team:

Legal & Compliance (L&C) partners with various teams across Gusto to enable innovation, drive responsible company growth, and accelerate the Gusto roadmap, all while navigating a heavily regulated environment through solution-focused counsel on legal and business risks. Our team plays a key role in supporting Gusto's overall mission, including our commitment to RISE.

Our Legal Internship is a 12-week hybrid summer program where you'll have the opportunity to make a meaningful impact by working directly with our L&C team. Interns will have a dedicated mentor and a Legal intern program manager from the L&C team who will be your support as you engage in projects that contribute to the team's roadmap and Gusto’s mission.

For a closer look at what it’s like to work with Gusto, check out this overview of our work culture. Learn more about Gusto's growth and innovation through our Series E Fundraising Announcement and our ongoing efforts to support small businesses and communities.

Here’s what you’ll do day-to-day:

• Conduct legal research on a wide range of topics, including Privacy & AI, advertising regulations, intellectual property, commercial transactions, employment law, international law, public policy, corporate governance, insurance, and financial services.
• Provide legal guidance to cross-functional teams, including Business, Product, Marketing, Operations, Security, and Engineering, based on the research conducted.
• Partner with Product Counsels to interpret and apply legal requirements into product development.
• Partner with Commercial Counsels to negotiate and revise vendor and partnership agreements.
• Document guidance and create trainings on legal topics for use by the whole company.

Here’s what we're looking for:

• Please include a resume, cover letter and writing sample (legal memo) in your application.
• Current 1L student at an accredited law school.
• Demonstrates strong legal writing and analytical skills, with the ability to communicate effectively to non-legal audiences.
• Experienced in researching and synthesizing complex legal topics.
• Highly organized with a strong attention to detail.
• Enjoys collaborating within cross-functional teams.
• Eager to learn and explore new disciplines while demonstrating critical thinking skills and the ability to devise creative solutions.
• This is a hybrid role and will require you to be in the office at least twice a week in our San Francisco, New York or Denver office and we are seeking candidates based out these locations as relocation assistance will not be provided.

Bonus points:

• Past employment experience, especially at a start-up or tech company.
• Demonstrated interest in fintech, privacy, employment, health, tax, payroll, benefits and/or insurance industries.

Pay and benefits:

Our cash compensation amount for this role is targeted at $38.00/hr in Denver & most major metro locations, and $45.00/hr for San Francisco & New York. Final offer amounts are determined by multiple factors including candidate location, experience and expertise and may vary from the amounts listed above.

Gusto has physical office spaces in Denver, San Francisco, and New York City. Employees who are based in those locations will be expected to work from the office on designated days approximately 2-3 days per week (or more depending on role). The same office expectations apply to all Symmetry roles, Gusto's subsidiary, whose physical office is in Scottsdale.

Note: The San Francisco office expectations encompass both the San Francisco and San Jose metro areas.

When approved to work from a location other than a Gusto office, a secure, reliable, and consistent internet connection is required.

Our customers come from all walks of life and so do we. We hire great people from a wide variety of backgrounds, not just because it's the right thing to do, but because it makes our company stronger. If you share our values and our enthusiasm for small businesses, you will find a home at Gusto.

Gusto is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate in hiring or any employment decision based on race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), marital status, ancestry, physical or mental disability, genetic information, veteran status, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, or other applicable legally protected characteristic. Gusto considers qualified applicants with criminal histories, consistent with applicable federal, state and local law. Gusto is also committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in our job application procedures. We want to see our candidates perform to the best of their ability. If you require a medical or religious accommodation at any time throughout your candidate journey, please fill out this form and a member of our team will get in touch with you.

Gusto takes security and protection of your personal information very seriously. Please review our Fraudulent Activity Disclaimer.