Summer 2027 Democracy, Speech & Technology Internship
About The Position
The ACLU of Northern California’s Legal Advocacy Department invites law and graduate students to apply for its Democracy, Speech & Technology Internship. Students willing to work with intensity and focus will find an internship at ACLU NorCal to be a rewarding learning experience. Qualified applicants are enthusiastic, creative, and detail-oriented; have strong research, writing, and oral communication skills; and can articulate a commitment to work for social justice and the ideals of the ACLU. About the Legal Advocacy Department The Legal Advocacy Department promotes policy change and pursues cutting edge impact litigation to defend and expand the civil liberties and civil rights guaranteed by the Bill of Rights. The Department’s work focuses on three broad issue areas: Criminal Law & Immigration; Democracy, Speech & Technology; and Special Litigation & Appeals. The Department’s staff is based in San Francisco, Sacramento, and Fresno. Department staff work closely with other departments within ACLU NorCal, including Organizing, Communications, Development, as well as with ACLU California Action. Democracy, Speech & Technology Internship Democracy, Speech & Technology Interns work directly with one or more attorneys in support of the project’s litigation and policy work, which focuses on safeguarding free speech, privacy, and open government, in the digital world and beyond. Interns will be tasked with legal and policy research and analysis; helping to author reports, advocacy materials, portions of court documents, and pre-litigation demand letters; and/or assisting with legislative or other local campaigns. Interns may attend and participate in public hearings at the state and county level and participate in meetings with policy-makers and advocates as such opportunities arise. When possible, interns may also attend appellate arguments, trial court proceedings, and depositions. Interns are encouraged to attend and participate in departmental meetings, where prospective litigation and policy strategies are discussed. At times, assignments may arise that provide interns the opportunity to work across the Department’s three broad issue areas, including Criminal Law & Immigration and Special Litigation & Appeals. Applicants must currently be enrolled in law school or a graduate program in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Science, Public Policy, Political Science, Journalism, or a related field, and must demonstrate a strong interest in the intersection of civil liberties and free speech, technology, and privacy. The Legal Advocacy Department accepts two to three Democracy, Speech & Technology Interns per term.
Requirements
- Currently enrolled in law school or a graduate program in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Science, Public Policy, Political Science, Journalism, or a related field
- Demonstrate a strong interest in the intersection of civil liberties and free speech, technology, and privacy
- Enthusiastic, creative, and detail-oriented
- Strong research, writing, and oral communication skills
- Can articulate a commitment to work for social justice and the ideals of the ACLU
- Applications must include a Cover Letter, Resume, and Writing Sample in PDF format
- Cover Letter must include a brief statement about why you want to work on the particular Program/Issue Area you’ve applied for
- Cover Letter must include your preference and willingness to be based in each of our three office locations for the summer (San Francisco, Sacramento, and Fresno)
- Cover Letter must include how you encountered the internship opening
- Applications from undergraduate students are not considered
Nice To Haves
- Students willing to work with intensity and focus
Responsibilities
- Legal and policy research and analysis
- Helping to author reports, advocacy materials, portions of court documents, and pre-litigation demand letters
- Assisting with legislative or other local campaigns
- Attend and participate in public hearings at the state and county level
- Participate in meetings with policy-makers and advocates
- Attend appellate arguments, trial court proceedings, and depositions (when possible)
- Attend and participate in departmental meetings
Benefits
- Funding to compensate for work over the summer for students coming from schools that do not offer summer funding
Stand Out From the Crowd
Upload your resume and get instant feedback on how well it matches this job.
What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Intern
Education Level
No Education Listed
