Law Clerk Intern - Summer 2027

Roderick MacArthur Foundation • Chicago, IL

60d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Roderick and Solange MacArthur Justice Center (MJC), a national nonprofit civil rights organization, is seeking current 1L and 2L law students for summer internships in Chicago, Illinois, and New Orleans, Louisiana, and current 2L students for its Washington, D.C. office. Interns work on civil rights litigation and advocacy addressing harms caused by the criminal legal system. These are hybrid internships requiring 2–3 days per week in the office, and interns must live within commuting distance for the duration of the internship. A 40-hour-per-week commitment for 10 weeks is preferred; an eight-week full-time commitment may be considered.

In Chicago, interns work in a fast-paced civil rights litigation practice on issues including police misconduct, immigration enforcement, pretrial justice, mass imprisonment, racial injustice, and the criminalization of poverty. Activities may include drafting briefs and memoranda, working with clients and organizations, community outreach, legal research, drafting discovery, participating in expert discovery, preparing for depositions, and attending court hearings.

In New Orleans, interns support civil rights cases challenging mass incarceration and brutal prison and jail conditions, oppression by law enforcement, and use of the death penalty. The office also represents individuals in select post-conviction and habeas corpus cases. Each intern is assigned to a team of two lawyers and performs research, drafting, discovery, and similar tasks on pending cases.

In Washington, D.C., interns work under attorney guidance and supervision, principally on appeals before federal circuit courts, state appellate courts, and the U.S. Supreme Court. They may contribute to ongoing appeals through strategy discussions, legal research, and drafting sections of briefs and other filings. They may also participate in client meetings and strategic decision-making, evaluate cases and factual records, and take part in moot oral arguments.

Applicants must be JD students in good standing and should be committed to human rights and achieving justice for people harmed by the criminal legal system. Applicants must have and demonstrate the cultural competence needed to work with clients, coworkers, and community partners from different backgrounds and experiences. MJC encourages applications from people in communities underrepresented in the legal profession. Applications require a cover letter, resume, three references, and a writing sample, preferably a legal analytical sample such as a brief or memorandum. Applicants applying to multiple offices are encouraged to submit separate cover letters. Materials must be submitted through MJC’s application portal. Applications are due October 10, 2026, for 2L students and January 4, 2027, for 1L students. Interns are expected to apply for available law-school funding. If an intern is ineligible for or does not receive school funding, MJC will provide a stipend of up to $1,000 per full week of participation, offset by external funding, payable in two summer installments.

Requirements

• Be a current 1L or 2L JD student in good standing; Washington, D.C. applicants must be current 2L students.
• Demonstrate commitment to human rights and passion for achieving justice for people harmed by the criminal legal system.
• Have and be committed to the cultural competence required to work with clients, coworkers, and community partners from different backgrounds and experiences.
• Attend the office 2–3 days per week and reside within commuting distance for the internship.
• Commit to full-time work; 40 hours per week for 10 weeks is preferred, though eight weeks may be considered.
• Submit a cover letter, resume, list of three references, and a writing sample.

Nice To Haves

• A legal analytical writing sample, such as a brief or memorandum.
• Applicants from communities underrepresented in the legal profession are strongly encouraged to apply.
• Applicants applying to more than one office are encouraged to submit separate cover letters for each office.

Responsibilities

• Draft legal briefs, memoranda, and other filings.
• Conduct legal research and case-law research.
• Work with clients, organizations, and community partners.
• Conduct community outreach.
• Draft discovery and participate in expert discovery.
• Prepare for depositions and attend court hearings.
• Assist with pending civil rights cases through research, drafting, discovery, and related tasks.
• Contribute to appellate cases through strategy discussions, case evaluation, factual-record analysis, legal research, and drafting.
• Participate, as appropriate, in client meetings, strategic decision-making, and moot oral arguments.

Benefits

• A stipend of up to $1,000 per full week of participation may be provided if the intern is ineligible for or does not receive law-school funding; the stipend is offset by external funding and paid in two installments during the summer.

What This Job Offers

• Career Level: Intern
• Education Level: No Education Listed