Summer 2027 Legal Intern, Human Rights Program

ACLU - Internships • New York, NY

4h • Hybrid

About The Position

The ACLU seeks a Summer Legal Intern in the Human Rights Program of the ACLU’s National office in New York, NY. This is a full-time, hybrid position based in New York, NY. Qualifying applicants must currently be matriculated legal students and must be based in the U.S. for the entire duration of the internship. The Human Rights Program (HRP) is dedicated to holding the U.S. government accountable to its international human rights obligations and commitments. The Program uses human rights strategies to complement existing ACLU legal and legislative advocacy primarily in the areas of immigrants’ rights, prisoners’ rights, criminal law reform, free speech and racial justice. HRP conducts human rights documentation and related advocacy to combat human rights violations in the U.S., and it engages in advocacy and litigation before U.S. courts and international bodies, including the United Nations and regional human rights bodies (such as the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights).

Requirements

• Currently matriculated legal students who will have completed their 1L year before the internship commences.
• Must be based in the U.S. for the entire duration of the internship.
• Demonstrated commitment to the mission of the ACLU, including civil liberties, civil rights, social justice, and international human rights
• Demonstrate a commitment to diversity within the office using a personal approach that values all individuals and respects differences in regard to race, ethnicity, age, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, religion, disability and socio-economic circumstance
• A demonstrated / strong interest in protecting and expanding civil and human rights
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to work independently, as well as in a team
• Excellent research, writing, and communication skills
• Strong computer skills, particularly web-based research including proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (i.e. Word, Excel)
• The initiative to see projects through to completion

Nice To Haves

• Knowledge and experience using the human rights framework and the international human rights system are a plus
• Knowledge and experience working on immigration and criminal legal system issues, especially extreme punishment, sentencing and juvenile justice are a plus

Responsibilities

• Conducting legal and policy research
• Drafting memoranda, affidavits and briefs
• Researching prospects for new litigation, including both factual and legal claims
• Researching and drafting materials for public education and human rights documentation
• Researching and drafting materials for advocacy before regional and international bodies

Benefits

• A stipend is available for those students who are lawfully authorized to work.
• Students who receive outside funding are eligible for a partial stipend to bring their total funding up to the level of the ACLU’s stipend amount for the summer.
• Legal interns receive a stipend amount of $24/hour (stipends are taxed)

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Intern
• Education Level: No Education Listed