American Civil Liberties Union

Summer 2010 Legal Internship Opportunity
American Civil Liberties Union
Drug Law Reform Project
Santa Cruz, California

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), America's foremost advocate of individual rights, is a non-partisan organization founded in 1920, with more than 5 National offices and over 50 affiliates throughout the country. The Drug Law Reform Project of the ACLU seeks highly motivated law students for internship positions for the Summer 2010 semester in Santa Cruz, California.

OVERVIEW:
Founded in 1998, the Drug Law Reform Project is a national project of the American Civil Liberties Union. Our goal is to end punitive drug policies that cause the widespread violation of constitutional and human rights, as well as unprecedented levels of incarceration.

The Project plays a unique role as the only national litigation program addressing the broad range of civil rights and civil liberties violations arising from America’s drug policies. We have three programs that focus on central aspects of the war on drugs: (1) racial disparities in drug enforcement and incarceration, (2) punishment of non-violent marijuana users, and (3) other government abuse of power in national and statewide drug policy. Filing impact lawsuits throughout the country, the Project is currently litigating constitutional and statutory claims in federal and state courts, as well as before administrative agencies.

INTERNSHIP OVERVIEW:
In past Summers, legal interns, under the supervision of the Project’s Staff Attorneys, have helped prepare testifying witnesses in support of the Project’s challenge to racially motivated prosecutions of South Asian storeowners who allegedly sold ingredients to manufacture methamphetamine. Legal interns have also drafted portions of an amicus brief supporting a prisoner’s right to receive medical treatment for Hepatitis C, prepared declarations of syringe-exchange clients who were victims of unlawful police harassment, and drafted portions of complaints that the Project filed in federal and state courts.

A commitment of 10-12 weeks is required. Students are highly encouraged to seek Public Interest Fellowship funds for the internship. Arrangements can also be made with the student's law school for work/study stipends. Summer interns who do not secure funding will be eligible for a stipend provided by the Project.

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Interns may work with one or more of our staff attorneys. Legal interns will assist in all aspects of the Project’s litigation docket including, but not limited to:

• Assisting with the full panoply of appellate and district-court litigation
• Assisting with the drafting of briefs and motions for litigation before the U.S. Supreme Court, Courts of Appeals and trial courts.
• Assist with discovery; meet with clients
• Assist in the preparation of expert and percipient witnesses for courtroom testimony
• Help to devise new litigation and assist with the Project’s non-litigation advocacy work.
• Some travel may be required.

EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS:

• The position is open to 1L, 2L, and 3L students.
• Applicants also should have excellent writing and communication skills
• Applicants must possess the initiative to see projects through to completion.
• Applicants should be self-motivated and committed to civil rights and civil liberties issues.
• Experience with drug issues is not required, but preferred.

HOW TO APPLY:
Please send a cover letter, resume, law-school transcript, the names and phone numbers of at least two references, and a legal writing sample to:

Neel Agrawal
Summer Legal Internship Coordinator
ACLU Drug Law Reform Project
1101 Pacific Ave., Suite 333
Santa Cruz, CA 95060

We strongly encourage first, second and third-year law students to apply no later than October 31, 2009, and first-year law students to apply no later than January 15, 2010.

Please indicate in your cover letter where you found this job posting.

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.”