Summer 2027 Legal Intern (Special Litigation & Appeals)
About The Position
The ACLU of Northern California’s Legal Advocacy Department invites law students to apply for a legal internship with a focus on appellate advocacy. 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 National and California Action.
Requirements
- Currently attending law school.
- Demonstrate a passion for and a commitment to work for social justice and the ideals of the ACLU.
- Strong research, writing, and oral communication skills.
- Enthusiastic, creative, and detail-oriented.
- Ability to articulate a commitment to work for social justice and the ideals of the ACLU.
Nice To Haves
- Preference and willingness to be based in San Francisco, Sacramento, and Fresno.
Responsibilities
- Work directly with the Director of Appellate Advocacy and Senior Supervising Attorney to advance the goals of the Legal Advocacy Department.
- Contribute to litigation at the Department level and/or within one of the Department’s issue-based programs.
- Focus on appellate advocacy projects.
- Work on projects at various stages of litigation, including investigating, developing, and initiating affirmative cases.
- Draft pleadings, motions, and briefs.
- Participate in strategy meetings with other ACLU staff and coalition partners.
- Attend monthly department meetings where prospective litigation and policies strategy are discussed.
- Potentially work across the Department’s three broad issue areas, including Criminal Law & Immigration and Democracy, Speech & Technology.
Benefits
- Funding to compensate for work over the summer for students coming from schools that do not offer summer funding.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Intern
Education Level
No Education Listed
