Spring 2027 Civil Rights Legal Internship

ArchCity Defenders • St. Louis, MO

7d • Hybrid

About The Position

ArchCity Defenders is a holistic legal advocacy organization dedicated to combating the criminalization of poverty and state violence, particularly in communities of color. Our work encompasses civil and criminal legal representation, social services, impact litigation, policy and media advocacy, and community collaboration to achieve justice and equitable outcomes. We envision a society free from oppressive systems, where public safety prioritizes well-being and transformation over criminalization and incarceration. Our Civil Rights Litigation team engages in federal Section 1983 litigation, including class actions and individual cases, focusing on issues such as debtors' prisons, police misconduct, cash bail, and jail conditions. Concurrently, our Direct Representation teams provide individual client representation in areas like housing, consumer, criminal, and municipal law. Legal interns will contribute to either the Civil Rights team, focusing on federal court experience and motion drafting, or the Direct Representation team, offering more direct client contact. All interns will conduct fact and legal research, draft legal documents, assist with discovery and investigation, and communicate with clients. Interns are also encouraged to attend court proceedings with staff attorneys. As part of an interdisciplinary team, interns will coordinate with attorneys and staff to support ArchCity Defenders' mission. A successful intern should be assertive, independent, persistent, empathetic, proactive, flexible, and self-directed, demonstrating initiative, problem-solving skills, and the ability to see projects through to completion.

Requirements

• Excellent written and verbal communication and interpersonal skills
• Excellent legal research and writing skills
• Detail-oriented approach to working in a team-driven organization
• High capacity for problem-solving and self-direction
• Ability to work independently within time constraints
• Flexible and able to respond appropriately to ACD’s changing needs
• Commitment to racial and economic justice and systems change
• Cultural awareness and sensitivity toward diverse populations
• Awareness of structures of power, privilege, and oppression
• Must be able to work part-time for 8-12 weeks.
• Not able to accept interns who seek to simultaneously engage in more than one internship.

Nice To Haves

• An intern seeking more individual client contact will likely prefer to work with the direct representation team.
• An intern seeking federal court experience or lengthier motion drafting experience would likely prefer to work with the Civil Rights team.

Responsibilities

• Perform fact and legal research to bolster understanding of claims and issues.
• Draft memos synthesizing findings, as well as motions, pleadings, and other legal documents.
• Assist with discovery and investigation.
• Interview and communicate with clients or class members.
• Attend court proceedings with staff attorneys, where applicable.
• Coordinate with attorneys and staff to support ArchCity Defenders' mission and expand reach.
• For undergraduate interns: engage in research and drafting, with a greater focus on discovery, document review, investigation, and administrative work.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time
• Career Level: Intern
• Education Level: No Education Listed