Fall 2026 Legal Intern, Human Rights Program

The ACLU seeks a Legal Intern in the Human Rights Program of the ACLU’s National office in New York City. This is a Hybrid, part-time position for course credit only.

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 is part of the ACLU’s Center for Democracy, which works to strengthen democratic institutions and values, including the values of government transparency and accountability, and to reinforce the United States’ commitment to human rights and the rule of law. The Center for Democracy includes – in addition to the Human Rights Program – the Speech, Privacy and Technology Project and the National Security Project, and also works closely with staff from the ACLU’s Communications Department, Affiliate Support and Advocacy Department, and Washington Legislative Office.

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, 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).

Our legal internship is designed to provide interns with the opportunity to conduct human rights and legal research and to work on all aspects of domestic and international advocacy HRP is working on. Interns will learn about creating change through an array of domestic and international advocacy opportunities, will work under the direct supervision of the Program’s Director, and will have the opportunity to learn from and interact with other Program staff.

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

• 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

This internship is open to law students from the United States who will have completed their first semester of school before the internship commences. Interns should possess the following: 

• 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
• 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

• 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 conflicts

• Location: Our internship program offers a limited number of hybrid intern positions. This internship is hybrid based in our New York City office.
• Time Commitment: This internship is part-time (10,15 or 20 hours/week)
• Internship Duration: Part-time internships span 12 consecutive weeks. This internship has a start date of September 8 or September 21.
• Stipend: This position is course credit only. This internship must be tied to the intern’s formal education program by integrated coursework or the receipt of academic credit.

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.