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Fall 2025 Intern, National Political Advocacy Department- Democracy and Technology Division

Hybrid- Washington D.C.

The ACLU seeks an Intern in the National Political Advocacy Department's (NPAD) Democracy and Technology Division of the National ACLU Office. This is a Hybrid position and can be full-time or part-time. Intern is required to be based in the U.S.

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 achieve change as profound in the legislative, administrative and electoral arenas as it has accomplished through the courts.

The Democracy and Technology Policy & Government Affairs team is made up of eight members who work with Congress, state legislatures, regulatory agencies and others to strengthen and protect free speech, national security, voting rights, privacy and racial justice.  


What You'll Do:

The interns will have the opportunity to gain valuable experience by working with NPAD. They will learn about creating change through advocacy of policy options which include outcomes that align with ACLU values and strategies to minimize opposition to those desired outcomes.

Your Day to Day

  • Conducting research and analyzing state and federal legislation, advocacy efforts, and related legal and policy issues 
  • Preparing advocacy and public education materials; drafting memorandum and partner correspondence 
  • Providing research and drafting reports concerning speech/protests, speech online, and AI, democracy and systemic equality, and Anti-DEI and anti-discrimination legislation.
  • Monitoring legal and legislative developments in state legislatures and in Congress, as well as regulatory and administrative actions by the Trump administration.

What You'll Bring:

  • Demonstrate commitment to the mission of the ACLU
  • Demonstrate a commitment to diversity within the office using a personal approach that values all individuals and respects differences in regard to race, ethnicity, age, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, religion, disability and socio-economic circumstance
  • A demonstrated/strong interest in protecting and expanding civil rights
  • Strong organizational skills and the ability to work independently as well as in a team.
  • Excellent research, writing, and communication skills
  • Strong computer skills, particularly web-based research including proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (i.e. Word, Excel)

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 Hybrid from our Washington D.C. National office.
  • Time Commitment: Part-time (20 hours/week) or Full-time (35 hours/week).
  • Internship Duration: Full-time internships span 10 consecutive weeks and part-time 12 weeks. This internship has a start date of: September 9th or September 23rd
  • Stipend: A stipend is available for students who are lawfully authorized to work. Arrangements can be made with educational institutions for work/study or course credit.
    • Below are the stipend rates:
      • $20/hr for undergraduate students or equivalent experience
      • $24/hr for graduate and law students or equivalent experience

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.

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