American Civil Liberties Union

SPRING 2009 LEGAL INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITY
AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION FOUNDATION
RACIAL JUSTICE PROGRAM, NY

OVERVIEW:
Founded in 1920, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), with 6 National offices and 53 affiliates across the country, is America’s foremost advocate of individual rights. The Racial Justice Program of the ACLU seeks highly motivated Law students for Spring 2009 Internship Opportunities.

The Racial Justice Program (RJP) aims to preserve and extend constitutionally guaranteed 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 in the ACLU’s New York City National Office 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 as well as racial profiling before and after the 9/11 attacks.

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 against the school-to-prison pipeline and in the area of school desegregation and affirmative action, including public education and community organizing. RJP also has engaged international human rights bodies to advocate for the rights of formerly incarcerated people and people displaced by Hurricane Katrina.

INTERNSHIP OVERVIEW:
The legal internship is unpaid, and school credit may be available. The position is part-time with weekly hours negotiable. A full semester commitment is required. Interns will assist in all aspects of litigation, including legal research, factual investigation, and the drafting of memoranda, affidavits, and briefs.

We strongly encourage applicants to apply by January 25, 2009, but applications will be accepted until internships are filled.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Second-year and third-year law students are encouraged to apply.
• Commitment to racial justice issues, civil rights, and civil liberties.
• Self-motivated, well-spoken and capable of performing complex legal analytical work.
• Excellent legal research and writing skills are essential.
• Experience conducting factual research is also beneficial.

HOW TO APPLY:
Applications should include a cover letter, a resume, the names and telephone numbers of two references, and a writing sample, and be sent to hrjobs@aclu.org, RE: RJP Spring Internship Program 2009 OR:

Marika Plater
Internship Coordinator
RE: RJP Spring Internship Program 2009
Racial Justice Program
125 Broad Street, 18^th Floor
New York, NY 10004

The ACLU is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and encourages women, people of color, persons with disabilities, and lesbians and gay men to apply.

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.”