ACLU-NC Legal Summer Intern

The Opportunity: The American Civil Liberties Union of North Carolina Legal Foundation (ACLU-NC) is currently accepting applications for Summer 2027 legal interns to work in our office. Interns will have the opportunity to work on all aspects of civil rights impact litigation and engage in relevant advocacy work as applicable. The internship is full-time and requires a 10-week commitment. Applicants from anywhere in the U.S. may apply, but interns are required to maintain a North Carolina residence during the duration of the internship.

Key Responsibilities: Interns will gain valuable experience by working with the ACLU-NC legal team on the following: Conducting legal and policy research on a range of topics Assisting with client interviews, and participating in collaborations with coalition partners and community members Assisting with preparation of affidavits, briefs, and other court documents Assisting with preparation for depositions and court appearances, and attending any proceedings during the 10-week internship period Researching prospects for new civil impact litigation, including both factual investigation and developing potential legal claims Assisting with community and other public education efforts To Be Successful in this role, the candidate will have Completed first year of law school before the internship commences Ability to conduct thorough legal and factual research in a fast-paced litigation environment on short deadlines, identify relevant authorities, and succinctly summarize findings Clear, direct writing and oral communication style, and ability to explain complex legal concepts in plain language Initiative to trouble-shoot issues promptly in collaboration with your supervisor and team members, and ability to reliably see projects through to timely completion Ability to take direction well and work collaboratively as part of a multidisciplinary team of other law students, supervising attorneys, and non-attorney staff members Deep respect for others’ lived experiences, humility, and ability to work with, learn from, and interact respectfully with people from backgrounds different from your own Commitment to civil rights and civil liberties issues and the mission of the ACLU, especially if coupled with a desire to work in the public interest after law school Compensation A stipend of $8,400 for ten weeks is available for up to two summer legal interns, but candidates are required to document attempts to secure funding through their law schools or external sources. Any final stipend amount will be offset by amounts received through these external funding sources. What else you should know You are welcome here! The ACLU-NC/LF is committed to an inclusive work environment that reflects the population that we serve. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer and are committed to building an organization where all employees and North Carolinians can be proud. We eagerly anticipate 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, parental status, veteran status, or record of arrest or conviction. The ACLU-NC and the ACLU-NCLF is an equal opportunity employer. We value a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture. Recognizing that strict minimum requirements tend to disproportionately discourage women and people of color from applying for jobs for which they would otherwise be competitive, we encourage all qualified individuals to apply -- especially people of color; women; people from low-income backgrounds; people with disabilities; people who identify as LGBTQ+; and people who are formerly incarcerated or otherwise directly impacted by the criminal legal system.