Spring 2027 Legal Internship

Roger Baldwin Foundation of ACLU • Chicago, IL

13h • Hybrid

About The Position

The Legal Department of the ACLU of Illinois seeks second- and third-year law students for part-time Spring 2027 legal internships. Applicants must seek funding through the Public Interest Law Initiative (PILI) or receive course credit from their law school. The internship is not available to undergraduates. The program combines remote and in-office work each week; interns must be located in Illinois and able to work from the Chicago office at least once a week.

The ACLU of Illinois is an affiliate of the American Civil Liberties Union, a national nonprofit organization devoted to protecting civil rights and civil liberties through litigation, legislation, and public education. Its Legal Department advances these rights through cases in federal and state courts and administrative entities, advocacy, and public education in partnership with colleagues across the organization. Attorneys provide legal interns with supervision and mentorship.

Legal interns will be exposed to and participate in developing and pursuing impact cases and non-litigation advocacy. Supervising attorneys are committed to providing mentorship and thorough, timely feedback on work products.

Requirements

• Be a law student who will have completed at least one year of law school before the internship begins; the program seeks second- and third-year law students.
• Be located in Illinois and able to come to the Chicago office at least once a week.
• Apply for PILI funding or receive course credit from the law school.
• Be self-motivated, take initiative, manage varied tasks, and complete projects in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.
• Be receptive to feedback, enthusiastic about learning and self-improvement, and able to incorporate feedback into future work.
• Have a strong foundation in legal research, including the judgment to identify relevant cases and thoroughness in addressing research questions.
• Be developing thoughtful legal analysis skills, including constructing logical and persuasive arguments, understanding legal decisions and statutes, and applying legal authorities to new facts.
• Be developing excellent legal writing skills, including presenting ideas clearly and organizing memoranda that explain legal research findings.
• Work collaboratively and respectfully to resolve obstacles and conflicts.
• Recognize and value all individuals in the workplace and respect differences in race, ethnicity, age, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, religion, ability, socioeconomic circumstances, and other factors.
• Have the empathy and interpersonal skills to connect with, listen to, learn from, and ask questions of clients and community members.
• Be committed to civil rights, civil liberties, social justice, and the ACLU of Illinois' mission.

Responsibilities

• Conduct legal, policy, and factual research for current and potential cases and non-litigation advocacy projects.
• Draft memoranda, affidavits, and sections of briefs.
• Cite-check legal documents.
• Interview potential clients and class members.
• Investigate facts related to specific cases.

What This Job Offers

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