Fall 2026 Legal Intern, Human Rights Program

<h2><strong>About the Role</strong></h2> <p><span style="font-size: 14pt;">The ACLU seeks a <strong>Legal</strong> Intern in the <strong>Human Rights Program</strong><strong>&nbsp;</strong>of the ACLU’s National office in <strong>New York City.&nbsp;</strong>This is a Hybrid, part-time position for course credit only.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>Qualifying applicants must currently be matriculated legal students and must be based in the U.S. for the entire duration of the internship.</strong></span></p> <h2><strong>The Team:</strong></h2> <p>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.</p> <p>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).</p> <h2><strong>What You’ll Do:</strong></h2> <p>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.</p> <h2><strong>Your Day to Day:</strong></h2> <p>Interns will have the opportunity to gain valuable experience by working alongside the Human Rights Program team on the following:</p> <ul> <li>Conducting legal and policy research</li> <li>Drafting memoranda, affidavits and briefs</li> <li>Researching prospects for new litigati