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Spring 2025 Criminal Justice Program Internship

San Francisco, CA

Location: For Spring 2025, students located in proximity to one of our three office locations (Fresno, Sacramento, or San Francisco) may work with us in-person, remotely, or in a hybrid model.  Students not located in proximity to one of our three office locations may work with us remotely.

Deadline: Open until filled.

The ACLU of Northern California’s Legal-Policy Department invites law and policy graduate students to apply for its Criminal Justice Program Internships.  Students willing to work with intensity and focus will find an internship at ACLU NorCal a rewarding learning experience.  Qualified applicants are enthusiastic, creative, and detail-oriented; have strong research, writing, and oral communication skills; and can articulate a commitment to work for social justice and the ideals of the ACLU. 

About the Legal-Policy Department

The Legal-Policy Department promotes policy change and pursues cutting edge impact litigation to defend and expand the civil liberties and civil rights guaranteed by the Bill of Rights. The Department’s work focuses on six broad program areas:  Criminal Justice; Democracy & Civic Engagement; Gender, Sexuality & Reproductive Justice; Immigrants’ Rights; Racial & Economic Justice; and Technology & Civil Liberties.  The Department’s staff is based in San Francisco, Sacramento, and Fresno.  Department staff work closely with other departments within ACLU NorCal, including Organizing, Communications, Development, Finance & Administration, as well as with ACLU California Action.

Criminal Justice Internship

Criminal Justice Program Interns will participate in one of three main project areas: Prosecutorial Accountability; Police Accountability; or Decarceration.  The Prosecutorial Accountability project aims to increase engagement in prosecutorial elections, increase accountability and prevent error, and draw attention to the immense power and discretion exercised by prosecutors. The Police Accountability project aims to reduce criminalization, police power and abuse of power, implementation of police reform at the state and local level, and effective oversight on police power. The Decarceration project aims to reduce incarceration and includes bail reform work and indigent defense advocacy.  Interns will be tasked with legal and policy research and analysis; helping to author reports, advocacy materials, portions of court documents, and pre-litigation demand letters; and/or assisting with legislative or other local campaigns. Interns may attend and participate in public hearings at the state and county level and participate in meetings with criminal justice policy-makers and advocates as such opportunities arise.  When possible, interns may also attend appellate arguments, trial court proceedings, and depositions.  Interns are encouraged to attend and participate in monthly program meetings, where prospective litigation and policy strategies are discussed. 

At times, work may arise that gives interns the opportunity to work across the Department’s six program areas, including in the areas of Racial & Economic Justice and Gender, Sexuality & Reproductive Justice. 

Applicants for the Criminal Justice Program Internship must currently be enrolled in law school or a graduate program in criminal justice, public policy, or a related field, and applicants must demonstrate a passion for criminal justice and a commitment to work for social justice and the ideals of the ACLU.  The Legal-Policy Department accepts two to three Criminal Justice interns per term. 

Application Process

School Year Internships (Spring and Fall Terms)

School year internships are full- or part-time, generally requiring a 16 hours per week minimum commitment.  Students on the semester system must be able to commit to working 12 – 14 weeks.  Students on the quarter system can serve shorter quarter-long internships.  We greatly prefer that part-time interns commit to work full days (i.e., two eight-hour days rather than four four-hour days) and recommend that students commit as many days a week as possible for the best internship experience.  Please note:  School year interns must earn academic credit for their participation in our Spring/Fall internship programs. 

Application deadlines

Applicants are encouraged to apply early in the hiring cycle. 

  • Spring term: Applications will be accepted beginning in mid-August for the following spring term.
  • Summer term: Applications will be accepted beginning in early September for the following summer term. ACLU NorCal staff will not begin to review applications from first year law students until December 2024.
  • Fall term: Applications will be accepted beginning in mid-March for the following fall term.

How to apply

Applications from all interested law and graduate students are welcome. Please note that ACLU NorCal does not consider applications from undergraduate students.  Applications must include the following in PDF format:  (1) Cover Letter that includes (a) a brief statement about why you want to work on the particular Program/Issue Area you’ve applied for, (b) whether you are interested in in-person work or remote work, and (c) how you encountered the internship opening; (2) Resume; and (3) Writing Sample.

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