Summer 2026 Legal Intern, Immigrant Right's Project

ACLU - Internships • New York, NY

106d • $24

About The Position

The ACLU seeks a Summer Legal Intern in the Immigrant Rights Project of the ACLU’s National office. This position may be remote or hybrid and can be based in New York City or San Francisco. Qualifying applicants must currently be matriculated legal students and must be based in the U.S. for the entire duration of the internship. The Immigrants’ Rights Project is part of the Legal Department of the national ACLU and has offices in New York and San Francisco. For nearly 40 years, the Project has litigated in trial and appellate courts across the country, including the U.S. Supreme Court, to protect the civil rights and civil liberties of immigrants and seek equal justice under the law. Our work has focused on due process, access to the courts, unfair detention, equal treatment, and state and local laws and policies. For example, we have challenged removals under the Alien Enemies Act; the targeting of student activists for arrest, detention, and deportation; family separation; the Muslim ban; multiple attacks on the asylum system; indefinite and mandatory detention; immigration detainers; state and local anti-immigrant laws; racial and language profiling connected to immigration enforcement; and attempts to eliminate judicial review. We work closely with partners at the national ACLU and affiliates, as well as allied organizations, to pursue litigation and to engage in and support other forms of advocacy and education.

Requirements

• Currently enrolled at a U.S. law school and 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

• Experience or interest in immigrant rights issues
• Previous internship or volunteer experience in legal settings

Responsibilities

• Drafting memoranda, affidavits, and briefs
• Conducting legal and policy research
• Researching prospects for new litigation, including both factual and legal claims
• Researching and drafting materials for public education
• Legislative bill tracking and analysis

Benefits

• A stipend of $24/hour for those lawfully authorized to work
• Partial stipend for students receiving outside funding to match ACLU’s stipend amount

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Intern
• Education Level: Bachelor's degree
• Number of Employees: 251-500 employees