Winter-Spring 2027 Legal Internship-Externship

ACLU of Washington•Seattle, WA

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

The ACLU of Washington (ACLU-WA) offers a legal externship for law school students during the Winter-Spring 2027 term. The externship provides hands-on experience applying constitutional theories and case law to legal problems, investigating complaints, learning administrative regulations and agency protocols, and developing a practical understanding of constitutional law. Academic credit can be arranged; the position is unpaid, and externs should receive credit for hours worked. Externs gain exposure to racial justice, civil liberties, and civil rights issues and work closely with staff attorneys. The position is part- or full-time for a minimum of 10 weeks and requires working in the Seattle office at least two days per week. ACLU-WA follows a hybrid workstyle. The office is generally open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The work can be emotionally demanding and calls for thoughtful communication and resilience.

Requirements

Be a rising 2L or 3L during the Winter-Spring 2027 externship period.
Have an interest in civil liberties and civil rights.
Have good interpersonal and analytical skills.
Be able to write clearly and concisely.
Work in the office at least two days per week.
Have an effective Wi-Fi connection and a way to communicate by phone.

Responsibilities

Conduct legal research and write legal memoranda.
Draft correspondence to government agencies in response to documented complaints of civil liberties and civil rights violations.
Assist ACLU attorneys in developing cases for litigation.
Assist with litigation through pre-trial matters and trial.
Assist with submissions of amicus curiae briefs in state and federal appellate courts.
Conduct factual investigation of complaints.
Work with staff attorneys and engage with the voices and lived experiences of directly impacted communities.