ACLU-NC Legal Summer Intern

About the ACLU of North Carolina 

The ACLU of North Carolina (ACLU-NC) is an affiliate of the National ACLU. For over 100 years, the ACLU has worked in courts, legislatures, and communities to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution and laws of the United States. Whether it’s achieving full equality for LGBTQ+ people, working to transform our broken and racist criminal legal system, defending freedom of speech, religion, and the right to protest, 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. 

Two critical components of our work are centering the voices of impacted people and applying an anti-racist lens to all aspects of our internal and external functions including but not limited to recruitment and human resources, strategic planning, donor and volunteer relations, Board and committee processes, and deciding what cases to litigate. We are looking for candidates who share our commitment to our values. 

The ACLU-NC brings together litigation, legislative advocacy, communications, and organizing strategies to empower communities and achieve our objectives in major issue areas including criminal law reform, racial justice, LGBTQ+ equality, reproductive freedom, and the rights of immigrants. With nearly 30,000 members and supporters across the state, the ACLU-NC has a staff of more than 25 people with an office in Durham. 

The Opportunity 

The American Civil Liberties Union of North Carolina Legal Foundation (ACLU-NC) is currently accepting applications for Summer 2027 legal interns to work in our office.   

Interns will have the opportunity to work on all aspects of civil rights impact litigation and engage in relevant advocacy work as applicable. The internship is full-time and requires a 10-week commitment. Applicants from anywhere in the U.S. may apply, but interns are required to maintain a North Carolina residence during the duration of the internship. 

Key Responsibilities 

Interns will gain valuable experience by working with the ACLU-NC legal team on the following: 

• Conducting legal and policy research on a range of topics 

• Assisting with client interviews, and participating in collaborations with coalition partners and community members 

• Assisting with preparation of affidavits, briefs, and other court documents 

• Assisting with preparation for depositions and court appearances, and attending any proceedings during the 10-week internship period 

• Researching prospects for new civil impact litigation, including both factual investigation and developing potential legal claims 

• Assisting with community and other public education efforts  

To Be Successful in this role, the candidate will have

• Completed first year of law school before the internship commences 

• Ability to conduct thorough legal and factual research in a fast-paced litigation environment on short deadlines, identify relevant authorities, and succinctly summarize findings 

• Clear, direct writing and oral communication style, and ability to explain complex legal concepts in plain language 

• Initiative to trouble-shoot issues promptly in collaboration with your supervisor and team members, and ability to reliably see projects through to timely completion 

• Ability to take direction well and work collaboratively as part of a multidisciplinary team of other law students, supervising attorneys, and non-attorney staff members 

• Deep respect for others’ lived experiences, humility, and ability to work with, learn from, and interact respectfully with people from backgrounds different from your own 

• Commitment to civil rights and civil liberties issues and the mission of the ACLU, especially if coupled with a desire to work in the public interest after law school 

Compensation 

A stipend of $8,400 for ten weeks is available for up to two summer legal interns, but candidates are required to document attempts to secure funding through their law schools or external sources.  Any final stipend amount will be offset by amounts received through these external funding sources. 

What else you should know:

You are welcome here! The ACLU-NC/LF is committed to an inclusive work environment that reflects the population that we serve. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer and are committed to building an organization where all employees and North Carolinians can be proud. We eagerly anticipate 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, parental status, veteran status, or record of arrest or conviction. 

To Apply

Applications may be submitted via this link (ACLU-NC Legal Summer Intern - American Civil Liberties Union of North Carolina - Career Page) and should include the following materials in PDF format: (1) a cover letter describing your interest in interning with our office specifically and your commitment to civil rights work, including any relevant life or work experience gained before or during law school; (2) a current resume; (3) a short legal writing sample (no more than 10 pages in length); (4) a copy of your transcript; and (5) a list of at least two references. We will review applications on a rolling basis and reach out to qualified candidates.   

Students who are members of the National Black Law Students Association (NBLSA) are encouraged to apply through the ACLU-NBLSA Southern Legal Internship Program (SLIP). 

The ACLU-NC and the ACLU-NCLF is an equal opportunity employer. We value a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture. Recognizing that strict minimum requirements tend to disproportionately discourage women and people of color from applying for jobs for which they would otherwise be competitive, we encourage all qualified individuals to apply -- especially people of color; women; people from low-income backgrounds; people with disabilities; people who identify as LGBTQ+; and people who are formerly incarcerated or otherwise directly impacted by the criminal legal system.