2013 Summer Legal Internship-ACLUF Program on Freedom of Religion and Belief, DC
October 5, 2012
2013 SUMMER LEGAL INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITY
NOTICE TO LAW STUDENTS
AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION FOUNDATION
Program on Freedom of Religion and Belief, DC
The American Civil Liberties Union Foundation (ACLU), founded in 1920, is a nationwide, nonprofit, nonpartisan organization with more than 500,000 members dedicated to the principles of liberty and equality embodied in the U.S. Constitution. The Program on Freedom of Religion and Belief (PFRB) of the ACLU’s National Office in Washington, DC invites applications for Legal Interns for the Summer of 2013.
OVERVIEW
The Program on Freedom of Religion and Belief was established by the ACLU in 2005. The Program is designed to help safeguard American constitutional principles by ensuring that laws and governmental practices neither promote religion nor interfere with its free exercise. The Program’s goal is to preserve religious liberty through an integrated strategy of litigation, education, and public advocacy.
INTERNSHIP OVERVIEW
The Summer 2013 Legal Internship requires a 10-12 week commitment and is full-time. Because this is an unpaid internship, students are highly encouraged to seek support for Public Interest Fellowship stipends. Arrangements can also be made with the student’s law school for work/study stipends or course credit. Interns who do not secure funding will be eligible for a stipend provided by the Program.
ROLES AND RESPONSIBLITIES
The Summer Legal Interns will have the opportunity to gain valuable experience by working closely with the Director, Staff Attorney and other staff of the Program. Interns will assist in all aspects of litigation, and will gain experience by :
- Conducting legal research and factual investigation.
- Drafting of memoranda, complaints, discovery materials, and briefs.
- Assisting ACLU affiliates, private attorneys, governmental entities, and others who seek the ACLU’s help.
- Screening potential cases and researching or drafting materials for public education.
DESIRED EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS
This Legal Internship is open to all law students who possess the following:
- Excellent research, writing, analytical, and communication skills.
- The initiative to see projects through to completion.
- The ability to work with a wide range of people.
- A strong interest and commitment to civil rights and civil liberties issues.
HOW TO APPLY
Applicants should send a cover letter explaining their interest in the internship, a resume, three references, an official or unofficial transcript, and a legal writing sample, no more than 10 pages in length, via email to hrjobsPFRB@aclu.org- reference [Summer 2013 PFRB Legal Internship] in the subject line. Please note that this is not the general ACLU applicant email address. This email address is specific to Program on Freedom of Religion and Belief postings. In order to ensure your application is received please make certain it is sent to the correct e-mail address. You can expect to receive an automatic response that acknowledges the submission of application materials.
Alternatively, applications can be mailed to:
Law Student Intern Program
American Civil Liberties Union Foundation
RE: Summer 2013 PFRB Legal Internship
915 15th Street, NW - 6th Floor
Washington DC, 20005
Please indicate in your cover letter where you learned of this internship opportunity.
Students are encouraged to submit applications as early as possible, as decisions are made on a rolling basis.
This job description provides a general but not comprehensive list of the essential responsibilities and qualifications required. It does not represent a contract of employment. The ACLU reserves the right to change the job description and/or posting at any time without advance notice.
The ACLU is an equal opportunity employer. We value a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture. The ACLU encourages applications from all qualified individuals without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship, disability, and veteran status. We encourage applicants with disabilities who may need accommodations in the application process to contact: hrjobsinclreq@aclu.org. Correspondence sent to this email address that is not related to requests for accommodations will not be reviewed. Applicants should follow the instructions above regarding how 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.”