Fall 2026 Legal Intern, Disability Rights Program

ACLU - Internships • Washington, DC

15h • Hybrid

About The Position

The ACLU seeks a Legal Intern in the Disability Rights Program of the ACLU’s National office in Washington D.C. or San Francisco, CA. This position is part-time, course credit only and may be remote or hybrid. Qualifying applicants must currently be matriculated legal students and must be based in the U.S. for the entire duration of the internship.

The Disability Rights Program’s mission is to achieve an America free of discrimination against people with disabilities; where people with disabilities are valued, integrated members of society who have full access to education, homes, health care, jobs, families, voting and civic engagement. We fight to ensure that people with disabilities are no longer segregated into, and over-represented in, civil and criminal institutions such as nursing homes, psychiatric hospitals, jails, and prisons.

The ACLU has fought for decades for the rights of people with disabilities - achieving key wins to stop coerced mental health treatment and unnecessary institutionalization, as well as playing a role in the drafting of the ADA. DRP litigates and advocates to use disability rights laws to end the overrepresentation of people with disabilities in the criminal legal system, including pursuing first of its kind litigation to ensure that municipalities provide trained, non-police responders to people experiencing mental health crises. We also litigate and advocate to promote alternatives to guardianship and to secure equal access to the ballot. We also provide support to affiliates and the National office on disability rights issues that intersect with core civil liberties.

Requirements

• Currently matriculated legal students
• Based in the U.S. for the entire duration of the internship
• Completed at least one year of law school before the internship commences
• Excellent research skills, including conducting internet and legal database research
• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and writing
• Attention to detail, excellent organizing and time-management skills
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite
• The initiative to see projects through to completion

Nice To Haves

• Personal, professional, and/or academic experience with disability and disability rights, including candidates with disabilities

Responsibilities

• Assisting in legal research and writing
• Factual investigation
• Strategic advocacy to advance litigation and integrated advocacy
• Participate in litigation, advocacy, and internal meetings and discussions
• Support DRP litigation work and integrated advocacy across priority areas
• Legal research
• Legal writing, such as memos and portions of court submissions
• Fact investigation
• Support in preparation for and during court cases, such as depositions, oral argument, hearings, or trial

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time
• Career Level: Intern
• Education Level: Associate degree