Summer 2025 Paid Legal Intern, Human Rights Program

The ACLU seeks Interns for the Human Rights Program in the Legal Department of the ACLU's National Office in New York, NY(Hybrid/Remote)

 The Team:

The mission of the Human Rights Program (HRP) is to integrate a human rights framework into ACLU advocacy and to use international law and accountability mechanisms, human rights documentation, and strategic litigation to effect change in U.S. law and policy as well as to seek remedies for victims. HRP is engaged in a campaign to end mass incarceration in the U.S., including the use of excessive and racially biased punishments. Working with other ACLU legal projects and departments, HRP uses a human rights framework to address racial inequity and systemic racism especially in policing and the criminal legal system. Interns will have the opportunity to conduct human rights and legal research and to work on all aspects of domestic and international advocacy HRP is working on. 

What You'll Do: 

Interns will have the opportunity to gain valuable experience by working alongside the Human Rights Program team.

Your Day to Day:

• 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 human rights bodies 

• Other projects as assigned 

What You'll Bring: 

The internship is open to current law students. Interns should possess the following: 

• Excellent research, writing and communication skills 

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, and conducting internet research 

• The initiative to see projects through to completion 

• A commitment to civil liberties, civil rights, social justice, and international human rights 

• Commitment to the mission of the ACLU 

• 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 

• Knowledge and experience using the human rights framework and the international human rights system are a plus 

• Knowledge and experience working on criminal legal system, racial and Indigenous rights and policing issues are a plus.     

Future ACLU-ers Will: 

• Be committed to advancing the mission of the ACLU 
• Center and embed the principles of equity, inclusion and belonging in their work by demonstrating commitment to diversity with an approach that respects and values multiple perspectives 
• Be committed to work collaboratively and respectfully toward resolving obstacles and conflict 

Internship Logistics:

• Location: Our internship program offers a limited number of in-person, remote, or hybrid intern positions. This internship is remote or hybrid from our NY or DC National office. 
• Time Commitment: Summer internships require a full-time commitment (35 hours a week)
• Internship Duration: Full-time internships span 10 consecutive weeks. This internship has a start date of May 27 or June 9, 2025.
• Stipend: A stipend is available for students who are lawfully authorized to work. Arrangements can be made with educational institutions for work/study or course credit. Below are the stipend rates:
  • $20/hour for undergraduate students or equivalent experience
  • $24/hour for graduate and law students or equivalent experience

Submissions should include:

• Cover letter discussing your qualifications, interest in HRP, and commitment to human rights and criminal law reform work
• Current resume
• Writing sample 

Applications will be considered on a rolling basis and accepted until the position is filled.

ABOUT THE ACLU

The ACLU dares to create a more perfect union – beyond one person, party, or side. Our mission is to realize this promise of the United States Constitution for all and expand the reach of its guarantees. For over 100 years, the ACLU has worked to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed by the Constitution and laws of the United States. Whether it’s ending mass incarceration, achieving full equality for the LGBTQ+ community, establishing new privacy protections for our digital age, or preserving the right to vote or the right to have an abortion, the ACLU takes up the toughest civil liberties cases and issues to defend all people from government abuse and overreach. 

Equity, diversity, and inclusion are core values of the ACLU and central to our work to advance liberty, equality, and justice for all. We are a community committed to learning and growth, humility and grace, transparency, and accountability. We believe in a collective responsibility to create a culture of belonging for all people within our organization – one that respects and embraces difference; treats everyone equitably; and empowers our colleagues to do the best work possible. We are as committed to anti-oppression and anti-racism internally as we are externally. Because whether we’re in the courts or in the office, we believe ‘We the People’ means all of us.

Why the ACLU:

For over 100 years, the ACLU has worked to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed by the Constitution and laws of the United States. Whether it’s ending mass incarceration, achieving full equality for the LGBTQ+ community, establishing new privacy

protections for our digital age or preserving the right to vote or the right to have an abortion, the ACLU takes up the toughest civil liberties cases and issues to defend all people.

Our Commitment to Accessibility, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion:

Accessibility, equity, diversity, and inclusion are core values of the ACLU and central to our work to advance liberty, equality, and justice for all. For us diversity, equity and inclusion are not just check-the-box activities, but a chance for us to make long-term meaningful change. We are a community committed to learning and growth, humility and grace, transparency and accountability. We believe in a collective responsibility to create a culture of belonging for all people within our organization – one that respects and embraces difference; treats everyone equitably; and empowers our colleagues to do the best work possible. We are as committed to anti-oppression and anti-racism internally as we are externally. Because whether we’re in the courts or in the office, we believe ‘We the People’ means all of us.

With this commitment in mind, we strongly encourage applications from all qualified individuals without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship, disability, veteran status and record of arrest or conviction, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. 

The ACLU is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If you are a qualified individual with a disability and need assistance applying online, please email [email protected]. If you are selected for an interview, you will receive additional information regarding how to request an accommodation for the interview process.