About the role#
The Legal Advocacy Department at the ACLU of Northern California invites law and policy graduate students to join the Criminal Law & Immigration Project. This externship focuses on core work streams including prosecutorial and police accountability, decarceration, and immigrants' rights. Externs contribute to ongoing projects that defend civil liberties and expand civil rights. You will work alongside staff to support impact litigation and policy change efforts.
What you'll do#
- Conduct legal and policy research and analysis.
- Help draft advocacy materials, portions of court documents, and pre-litigation demand letters.
- Assist with legislative or local campaigns.
- Attend hearings at the state and county level, as well as meetings with policy-makers and advocates.
- Participate in departmental meetings to discuss prospective litigation and policy strategies.
What you'll need#
- Current enrollment in law school or a graduate program in criminal justice, public policy, or a related field.
- Strong research, writing, and oral communication skills.
- Demonstrated passion for criminal justice and immigrants' rights.
- Ability to work with detail and creativity.
- Ability to articulate a commitment to social justice and the mission of the ACLU.
- Ability to earn academic credit for the externship.
Location & details#
- Location: San Francisco, California.
- Modality: Students near our offices in San Francisco, Sacramento, or Fresno may work in-person, remotely, or in a hybrid model. Students outside these areas may work remotely.
- Commitment: This is a full-time or part-time position. Students must commit to a minimum of 16 hours per week for 12 to 14 weeks.
- Compensation: This position is paid.
About ACLU of Northern California
Founded in 1934 and based in San Francisco, the ACLU of Northern California is a nonprofit organization focused on civil liberties, litigation, policy, and advocacy. The organization employs between 51 and 200 staff members to support a community of 100,000 activists and members. It operates throughout the state to defend and promote the rights of individuals.
