Spring 2013 Undergraduate Internship-ACLUF Immigrants' Rights Project, NY and SF
October 22, 2012
SPRING 2013 INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
NOTICE TO UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS
AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION FOUNDATION
Immigrants’ Rights Project, NY and SF
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 Immigrants’ Rights Project (IRP) of the ACLU’s National Offices in New York City and San Francisco invites applicants for the Spring 2013 Undergraduate Internship, which will begin in January 2013.
OVERVIEW
The Immigrants’ Rights Project (IRP) is a national project of the American Civil Liberties Union with offices in New York and California. Using targeted impact litigation, advocacy and public outreach, the Project carries on the ACLU’s commitment to protecting the rights and liberties of immigrants. In federal district and appellate courts, including the Supreme Court, the Project conducts the nation’s largest impact litigation program dedicated to defending and expanding the rights of immigrants, enforcing the guarantees of the Constitution, and achieving equal justice under the law.
The Project has focused on challenging laws that deny immigrants access to the judicial system, impose indefinite and mandatory detention, and constitute discrimination on the basis of “alienage” by governmental and private entities. In addition, the Project has been challenging constitutional abuses that arise from immigration enforcement at the federal, state, and local levels, including litigation against worksite and home raids, local anti-immigrant employment and housing laws, and improper enforcement of federal immigration laws by local sheriffs. IRP’s efforts in the enforcement arena seek to ensure the constitutional protections of the Fourth, Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments, combat racial profiling arising from actual or pretextual immigration enforcement that subjects immigrant communities to racism and hostility, and challenge government policies and practices that undermine or deny immigrants’ ability to effectuate their existing legal rights.
INTERNSHIP OVERVIEW
The Internship requires a 12-16 week commitment. The internship is part-time, with weekly hours that are negotiable. Since this is an unpaid internship, students are highly encouraged to seek funding from outside sources. Arrangements can also be made with the student’s school for a work/study stipend or course credit.
ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Interns will work under the direct supervision of the Project's paralegals and will have the opportunity to work with attorneys and other staff of the Immigrants’ Rights Project on a range of significant issues and projects. The work will include:
- Conducting factual research.
- Developing web-based informational updates.
- Providing assistance to the department.
- Responding to inquiries from persons seeking legal assistance.
- Assisting in the maintenance of case files and compiling of press files.
- Tracking current legislation related to immigration.
- Working on other projects as assigned.
DESIRED EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS
- Commitment to civil liberties and immigrants’ rights.
- Strong interest in social justice and legal issues.
- Excellent writing and communication skills.
- Strong computer skills, particularly web-based research and facility with Microsoft Office Suite.
- Proficiency in Spanish a plus.
- Demonstrated initiative to see projects through to completion.
- Ability to perform administrative tasks as well as research and writing.
HOW TO APPLY
Applicants should send a cover letter, resume, the names and telephone numbers of three references, an official or unofficial transcript, and a writing sample (no more than ten pages in length) to HRJobsIRP@aclu.org, reference “IRP - NY Spring 2013 Undergraduate Internship” or “IRP - CA Spring 2013 Undergraduate Internship” in the subject line to indicate the office where the internship placement is desired. Please note that this is not the general ACLU applicant email address. This email address is specific to Immigrants’ Rights 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:
New York
Spring 2013 Undergraduate Internship Selection Committee
ACLU Immigrants’ Rights Project
125 Broad Street, 18th Floor
New York, NY 10004
California
Spring 2013 Undergraduate Internship Selection Committee
ACLU Immigrants’ Rights Project
39 Drumm Street
San Francisco, CA 94111
Please indicate in your cover letter where you learned of this internship opportunity.
All materials should be sent in PDF format.
Students are encouraged to submit application materials as early as possible, since 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."