Spring 2027 Legal Intern, Human Rights Program

The ACLU seeks a Spring Legal Intern in the Human Rights Program of the ACLU’s National office in New York, NY. This position may be remote or hybrid and is offered for course credit only.

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, 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). 

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 1L year before the internship commences. Interns should possess the following: 

• 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 
• 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 remote or hybrid intern positions. This internship can be remote or hybrid based in our New York, NY office.
• Time Commitment: This is a part-time internship requiring a commitment of 10/15/20 hours per week.
• Internship Duration: This internship spans 12 consecutive weeks with a start date of January 11 or January 25.
• Stipend: This internship is being offered for course credit only. This internship must be tied to the intern’s formal education program by integrated coursework or the receipt of academic credit.

Priority Application Deadline: October 23

While there is a priority deadline, our project is committed to reviewing all applications on a rolling basis until the closing of posting. 

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.