About the role#
The ACLU is seeking a Legal Intern for the Center for Liberty in New York City. This role focuses on reproductive freedom, LGBTQ rights, women’s rights, freedom of religion and belief, and disability rights. Interns contribute to priority projects such as promoting family integrity, preventing unnecessary separations, advancing veteran’s rights, and mitigating the use of religion to justify discrimination.
What you'll do#
- Conduct legal research and analysis to support new and active litigation.
- Draft and edit legal memoranda, pleadings, affidavits, motions, and briefs.
- Prepare public education and non-litigation advocacy materials.
- Provide support to ACLU affiliates and cooperating attorneys.
- Participate in outreach with impacted communities, discovery, and trial practice.
What you'll need#
- Current enrollment in a law school or LLM program.
- Completion of at least one semester of law school by the start of the internship.
- Strong research, communication, and time-management skills.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite.
- Demonstrated commitment to public interest law, civil liberties, and racial justice.
- Ability to conduct complex legal analysis and fact finding.
- Interest or experience in reproductive freedom, LGBTQ rights, women’s rights, freedom of religion and belief, or disability rights.
Location & details#
- Location: Remote or hybrid, based in New York City.
- Term: Winter 2027.
- Compensation: This is an unpaid internship for course credit only.
- Requirements: Applicants must be based in the U.S. for the duration of the internship.
About ACLU
The ACLU is a non-profit organization focused on the defense of civil rights and liberties. Founded in 1920, the group operates out of New York and Washington. It works on issues including voting rights, criminal justice reform, and freedom of speech. The organization employs over 1,200 people.
How to get in at ACLU
Securing an internship at the ACLU requires timing and persistence. Intern Insider sends an instant alert the moment a role matching your target is published anywhere, so you apply among the first, as early applicants get seen before the pile grows. This helps you avoid the frustration of submitting applications into a void. You can also use Intern Insider to surface the recruiters behind the company roles so you can reach out directly to ask about the position or a referral, which materially improves response rates. Connecting with a human recruiter often provides more clarity than a standard application portal.
