Summer Legal Internship (Two positions)

Location: Richmond, VA/Hybrid

Position Overview:

At the ACLU of Virginia, law students gain exposure to a broad range of civil liberties and civil rights issues and the legal, policy, organizing, and other integrated tactics we use to advocate for change. Students will be embedded in the Legal team and will work with staff attorneys on active and potential litigation, including: conducting legal research, drafting legal memoranda and court documents, conducting fact investigations, and assisting with discovery and the preparation of cases for trial. Students may also have the opportunity to attend oral arguments or evidentiary hearings in state and federal court and work with the Policy and Organizing teams on projects involving policy research and analysis, community engagement, and legislative drafting.

The ACLU of Virginia’s current legal docket includes a wide range of active matters, including several class action cases in the areas of prison conditions, criminal legal reform, First Amendment, voting rights, LGBTQ rights, immigrants’ rights, and other issues. The ACLU of Virginia also employs an integrated advocacy model, where the organization’s legal, policy, organizing, and communications departments work hand-in-hand to advance the affiliate’s priorities. 

Educational benefits of the internship include obtaining hands-on experience in applying constitutional theories and case law to legal problems and learning how to conduct factual investigation of complaints in support of litigation or other advocacy strategies. Students may also develop experience in non-litigation advocacy work.

The ACLU of Virginia is an equal opportunity employer. We strongly encourage applications from Black, Indigenous, and other people of color, immigrants, people with disabilities, bi- or multi-lingual (including Indigenous languages) speakers, multi-cultural individuals, members of the LGBTQ community, those who have been formerly incarcerated or are currently under supervision, and other people from underrepresented and historically marginalized groups. We seek to build a diverse team and an inclusive organizational culture. All qualified applicants who share our vision and who have a desire to contribute to our mission are encouraged to apply. 

REQUIREMENTS

Skills & Qualifications

Applicants must be a rising 2nd or 3rd-year law student during the duration of the internship period. Priority is given to rising 3rd-year students. Applicants should be able to articulate a commitment to working to expand and defend civil rights, civil liberties, and the ideals of the ACLU. Qualified applicants are enthusiastic, creative, proactive, and detail-oriented; have excellent research, writing, communication, and interpersonal skills; and can work independently.

Compensation & Schedule

This Summer Legal Internship position is a full-time, 10-week position (averaging 400 hours over the course of the summer). ACLU of Virginia policy states that summer internships must be no less than 300 and no more than 400 hours total, and part-time internships are not available during the summer. 

ACLU-VA office hours are 9:00 am – 5:00 pm Monday - Friday. Interns will be paid a rate of $20 per hour. Interns are encouraged to apply for academic credit and/or seek funds through public interest fellowships. 

Interns must reside in the Commonwealth of Virginia or within 150 miles of our downtown Richmond headquarters and must be able to work in person in Richmond in accordance with ACLU-VA's remote work policy and must be able to attend other in-person events in various locations in Virginia as needed.

Application Process

Applicants are encouraged to apply early in the hiring cycle but no later than 11:59 p.m. September 22,2024 

Applications from all interested students are welcome. Applications must be in PDF format and include the following: 

(1) Cover Letter that includes:

a. A statement describing why you want to work at the ACLU of Virginia, and 

b. Any particular civil rights or civil liberties issues that interest you and why. 

(2) Resume.

(3) Writing Sample. Note: the writing sample should be no more than 10 pages and should demonstrate the applicant’s legal research and writing ability. The writing sample must reflect the applicant’s own abilities and should not have been substantially edited by another person.

How to Apply:

Visit our career job posting site and apply online. Please have the above-mentioned pdf documents ready for upload before starting your application. If problems are encountered with the Internship Application Form, please contact hr@acluva.org.