Racial Justice Program Legal Intern at the ACLU

FALL 2011 LEGAL INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITY
NOTICE TO SECOND AND THIRD YEAR LAW STUDENTS
AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION FOUNDATION
ACLU Racial Justice Program, NY

The American Civil Liberties Union Foundation (ACLU), founded in 1920, is a nationwide, nonprofit, nonpartisan organization, with more than 500,000 members and is dedicated to the principles of liberty and equality embodied in the U.S. Constitution. The Racial Justice Program (RJP) of the ACLU's National office in New York City seeks law students for a Legal Internship which will begin inSeptember 2011.

OVERVIEW

The Racial Justice Program aims to preserve and extend constitutionally guaranteed rights, as well as other rights, to segments of the population that historically have been denied those rights on the basis of race, ethnicity or national origin. Interns will work with an experienced team of racial justice attorneys on a broad range of issues, particularly in the areas of criminal justice and education.

In the area of criminal justice, RJP is dedicated to reducing the unwarranted targeting of people of color and the racially disproportionate imposition of incarceration. We have filed civil challenges to the inadequate provision of defense to adult and juvenile indigents and pre- and post-9/11 racial profiling.

In the area of education, we seek to ensure that all children have access to quality education, regardless of race or ethnicity. We have undertaken advocacy, including public education and community organizing, against the school-to-prison pipeline. We have sought to promote school desegregation and affirmative action programs. RJP also has advocated before international human rights bodies on behalf of formerly incarcerated people and people displaced by Hurricane Katrina.

INTERNSHIP OVERVIEW

Our Fall 2011 Legal Internship requires a 10-12 week commitment. The internship is part-time, with weekly hours negotiable. Interns are highly encouraged to seek alternate funding as the internship is unpaid. Arrangements may also be made for work/study or course credit.

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITES

The Fall Legal intern will have the opportunity to gain valuable experience by working on a wide variety of issues. Working closely with t he Racial Justice team, interns will have the opportunity to assist on all aspects of litigation. The intern will gain experience by working on the following:

• Handle written and telephone inquiries from persons seeking legal assistance.
• Conduct factual and legal research.
• Assist in the drafting of pleadings, affidavits, briefs, memoranda and other litigation documents.
• Other projects as assigned.

DESIRED EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS

This Legal Internship is open to second and third year law students who posses the following:

• Excellent legal writing, research, and communication skills.
• Ability to analyze complex legal issues.
• Must be self motivated and demonstrate the initiative to see projects through to completion.
• A demonstrated commitment to racial justice issues, civil rights and civil liberties.

Applicants should send a cover letter, resume, a legal writing sample and a list of two references via email to hrjobs@aclu.org - reference [RE: Fall 2011 Legal Internship - RJP] in subject line – or via mail to:

Human Resources Department
[ RE: Fall 2011 Legal Internship – RJP ]
American Civil Liberties Union Foundation
125 Broad Street, 18 th Floor
New York, NY 10004

Please indicate in your cover letter where you learned of this internship opportunity.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and candidates are encouraged to apply early.

The ACLU is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and encourages applications from all qualified individuals including women, people of color, persons with disabilities, and lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals.

The ACLU comprises two separate corporate entities, the American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU Foundation. Both the American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU Foundation are national organizations with the same overall mission, and share office space and employees. The ACLU has two separate corporate entities in order to do a broad range of work to protect civil liberties. This job posting refers collectively to the two organizations under the name “ACLU”.