Spring 2020 Criminal Justice Internship
Spring 2020 Criminal Justice Internship
Location: San Francisco, CA office
Deadline: Please apply early in the hiring cycle as decisions are made on a rolling basis.
The ACLU-NC invites applications for internships for law and policy graduate students in the Legal-Policy Department. Students willing to work with intensity and focus will find an internship at the ACLU-NC a rewarding learning experience. Qualified applicants are enthusiastic, creative, and detail-oriented; have excellent 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 pursues cutting edge impact litigation and promotes policy change in order to defend and expand the civil liberties and civil rights guaranteed by the Bill of Rights. The work of the Department covers a vast span of issues with particular emphasis in ten core areas: Criminal Justice, Education Equity, Equality (including economic, environmental, and racial justice, in addition to gender equality), First Amendment, Immigrants’ Rights, LGBT Rights, National Security, Reproductive Justice, Technology and Civil Liberties, and Voting Rights. The Department’s attorneys, policy directors, and assistants are based in San Francisco, Sacramento-metro office, and Fresno. Department staff work closely with the other departments within the ACLU-NC, including Organizing & Community Engagement, Communications, Development, Finance & Administration, as well as with ACLU of California Center for Advocacy and Policy in Sacramento.
Criminal Justice Internship
The Criminal Justice (CJ) Intern will participate in the CJ Project’s new Prosecutorial Accountability Project: Hey! Meet Your DA. The 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. Interns will conduct legal and policy research and analysis, help author reports, draft advocacy materials, and assist 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.
Applicants 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. This internship is only available for the San Francisco office.
Application Process
School Year Internships
School year internships are full- or part-time, generally requiring a 16 – 24 hours per week 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. Semester interns earn academic credit as determined by their law schools.
Application deadlines
Applicants are encouraged to apply early in the hiring cycle as decisions are made on a rolling basis.
- Spring term: Applications will be accepted beginning September 15 for the following spring term.
- Summer term: Applications will be accepted beginning October 15 for the following summer term.
- Fall term: Applications will be accepted beginning March 5 for the following fall term.
How to apply
Applications from all interested students are welcome. Applications must include the following in PDF format: (1) Cover Letter that includes a statement about (a) a brief statement about why you want to work on that issue at the ACLU-NC, (b) the office location you are interested in (applicable only to litigation intern applicants), and (c) how you encountered the internship opening; (2) Resume; (3) Writing Sample; and, (4) List of References with contact information.
The ACLU-NC 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 e-mail hr@aclunc.org. If you are selected for an interview, you will receive additional information regarding how to request an accommodation for the interview process.
The ACLU of Northern California advances equity and inclusion in the workplace by providing equal employment opportunity to support a work environment free from discrimination on the basis of race, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age (over 40), sexual orientation, military and veteran status, arrest or conviction record, and any other basis prohibited by law. The organization also provides reasonable accommodations for qualified applicants and employees with disabilities. This equal employment opportunity policy applies to all aspects of employment, including recruitment, selection, advancement, training, problem resolution, and separation from employment. Through this policy, the ACLU-NC strives to establish and maintain an equitable and accessible work environment that is supportive and free from discrimination.
Please apply here: https://boards.greenhouse.io/aclunc/jobs/4434113002