Summer 2025 Paid Legal Intern, National Political Advocacy Department – Democracy and Technology, Policy & Government Affairs team

The ACLU seeks a Legal Intern in the National Political Advocacy Department – Democracy and Technology, Policy & Government Affairs team of the ACLU’s National office in Washington, DC. This position can be remote or hybrid.

The Team:

The National Political Advocacy Department (NPAD) works to strengthen the efforts of the ACLU at the federal, state, and local levels of government. The department harnesses the political power that comes from having more than eight million members and supporters, as well as affiliates in every state. By organizing grassroots lobbying and issue campaigns using modern tactics, the ACLU seeks to continue to achieve change as profound in the legislative, administrative and electoral arenas as it accomplishes through the courts. The Democracy and Technology Policy & Government Affairs team is made up of eight members, including seven attorneys, who work with Congress, state legislatures, regulatory agencies and others to strengthen and protect rights to voting, free speech, and privacy; to advance racial justice; and to ensure that emerging technologies (in artificial intelligence, algorithmic decision-making, and surveillance) are not used to deny rights or discriminate.

What You’ll Do:

The intern will work on legal and policy research and writing-related projects centered on free speech, privacy and technology policy, or democracy reform. They will assist members of our team with researching and analyzing legislation, elected officials, developments in the political and advocacy landscape on the state and federal levels, and emerging tech issues. They will help prepare advocacy and public education materials, correspondence, and reports as needed. They will also support our team's efforts to do congressional outreach through briefings, meetings on Capitol Hill, and letters.

Your Day to Day

• Conducting legal and policy research, drafting reports, and analyzing state and federal legislation, advocacy efforts, and related legal and policy issues
• Preparing advocacy and public education materials; drafting memorandum and correspondence
• Monitoring legal and legislative developments in state legislatures and in Congress, as well as regulatory and administrative actions
• Working with teammates to manage projects; engaging in special projects and other duties as assigned

What You’ll Bring:

• A currently enrolled law student
• Knowledge of government and policy, of technology and democracy reform, and of impacted communities
• Strong research, writing, analysis, and communication skills. The intern will be able to craft clear and concise messages for different audiences, within and outside of the ACLU
• Organized, proactive, and willing to learn; able to balance differing responsibilities and prioritize; able to manage projects and see them through to completion
• Able to work well independently, as part of a team; able to handle confidential information and exercise discretion
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite preferred

Future ACLU-ers Will:

• 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 conflict

Internship Logistics:

• Location: Our internship program offers a limited number of remote or hybrid intern positions. This internship is remote or hybrid from our Washington DC office.
• Time Commitment: Term-time internships may be completed on a part-time basis (10, 15, or 20 hours/week) or full-time (35 hours/week). Summer internships require a full-time commitment.
• Internship Duration: Full-time internships span 10 consecutive weeks and part-time 12 weeks. This internship has a start date of May 27th or June 9th 2025.
• Stipend: A stipend is available for students who are lawfully authorized to work and do not receive compensation from other sources. Students with external funding may receive a partial stipend to bring their total funding up to the level of the ACLU’s stipend amount for that term. Arrangements can be made with educational institutions for work/study or course credit. Below are the stipend rates:
• $20/hour for undergraduate students or equivalent experience
• $24/hour for graduate and law students or equivalent experience

Priority Application Deadline: February 28, 2025

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

When submitting, please include your CV, cover letter and a writing sample.

Why the ACLU: 

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.

Our Commitment to Accessibility, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion   

Accessibility, equity, diversity, and inclusion are core values of the ACLU and central to our work to advance liberty, equality, and justice for all. For us diversity, equity and inclusion are not just check-the-box activities, but a chance for us to make long-term meaningful change. We are a community committed to learning and growth, humility and grace, transparency and accountability. We believe in a collective responsibility to create a culture of belonging for all people within our organization – one that respects and embraces difference; treats everyone equitably; and empowers our colleagues to do the best work possible. We are as committed to anti-oppression and anti-racism internally as we are externally. Because whether we’re in the courts or in the office, we believe ‘We the People’ means all of us.  

With this commitment in mind, we strongly encourage 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, veteran status and record of arrest or conviction, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.  

The ACLU is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If you are a qualified individual with a disability and need assistance applying online, please email benefits.hrdept@aclu.org. If you are selected for an interview, you will receive additional information regarding how to request accommodations for the interview process.

The ACLU does not accept unsolicited calls or emails from candidates regarding their application status.