Ben Burningham, who graduated with a degree in politics from Southern Virginia University earlier this month, has received a prestigious internship with the Institute for Justice, a non-profit public interest law firm in Washington, D.C.

“I am very excited to work with and learn from the Institute’s talented staff and clerk class,” said Burningham, who served as the 2008-2009 senior class president. “It will be a great experience that will provide me with valuable exposure to public interest law.”

Starting in June, Burningham will be a litigation intern. He will assist the Institute for Justice with research for several litigation projects, drafting affidavits and op-eds, interviewing clients and working directly with several different attorneys on various projects.

“I consider myself very fortunate to be given such a wonderful opportunity,” said Burningham. “I am thankful to the gifted professors I have learned from, and hope that I can represent the school well.  I am excited to apply the things I have learned from my Southern Virginia University education to a real life situation.”

The Institute for Justice is a public interest law firm dedicated to advancing economic liberty, school choice, property rights and free speech. Its mission is to provide free legal advice and representation, litigating strategically to pursue its free market ideas. Working in both courts of law and courts of public opinion, the Institute has been involved in numerous high-profile cases, like the landmark eminent domain Supreme Court Case Kelo v. City of New London--which was the subject of a recent book by Southern Virginia University Professor Jeff Benedict.