October 11, 2012
2013 SPRING AND SUMMER UNDERGRADUATE INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
NOTICE TO UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS
AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION FOUNDATION
Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender & AIDS Project, NY
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 Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender and AIDS Project (LGBT) of the ACLU’s National Office in New York City seeks undergraduate interns for the spring and summer of 2013.
OVERVIEW
The ACLU brought its first gay rights case in 1936, and has been a leading advocate on LGBT rights ever since. Through the LGBT & AIDS Project, founded in 1986, the ACLU works to create a society in which lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people and people with HIV/AIDS enjoy the basic rights of equality, privacy, personal autonomy, and freedom of expression and association. This means an America where people can live openly without discrimination; where there is respect for our identities, relationships, and families; and where there is fair treatment in employment, schools, housing, public places, health care, and government programs.
The Project litigates in state and federal courts throughout the country in cases designed to have a significant effect on the lives of LGBT people and people living with HIV/AIDS. Its legal strategies are built around the idea that fighting for civil rights means not just persuading judges but ultimately changing the way people think about our issues. The Project frames its litigation and other advocacy around targeted media, online advocacy, and outreach campaigns designed to change public attitudes and to give people on the frontlines the tools they need to fight for their civil rights.
Today, the ACLU and its 53 state affiliates bring more LGBT cases and advocacy initiatives than any other national civil rights organization. Doing this work as part of the broad civil liberties agenda of the ACLU reflects the reality that the LGBT and HIV/AIDS communities must work in concert with other social change movements in order to achieve a just society for all. The ACLU strives to ensure that the racial and economic diversity of the LGBT community is reflected in its work and continues to explore ways to make its efforts more sensitive to the needs of people of color and people who are economically disadvantaged.
INTERNSHIP OVERVIEW
The Spring 2013 Undergraduate Internship requires a 12-16 week commitment. The internship is part-time, with weekly hours that are negotiable. Because this is an unpaid internship, students are highly encouraged to seek funding from outside sources. Arrangements can be made with the student’s school for work/study or course credit.
The Summer 2013 Internship requires an 8-12 week commitment. The internship is full-time. Because the internship is unpaid, Interns are highly encouraged to obtain funding from outside sources. Arrangements can be made with the student’s school for work/study or course credit.
ROLES AND RESPONSIBLITIES
The internship program is designed to provide interns with the opportunity to learn about public interest work. Interns will work under the direct supervision of the Project's paralegals and will have the opportunity to work with other staff of the LGBT and AIDS Project on a range of significant issues and projects.
Assignments will include:
- Responding to legal intakes and tracking requests for assistance.
- Assisting in the maintenance of case files and compiling press files.
- Conducting general, legal and policy research relating to current and prospective cases.
- Supporting the Project in outreach to potential clients.
- Working on other projects as assigned.
DESIRED EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS
This internship is open to students who are currently enrolled in an undergraduate program and who will have completed their first year of college before the internship commences.
- Familiarity with civil rights and civil liberties affecting LGBT people and those living with HIV is desirable; commitment to those issues is essential.
- Excellent research, writing and communication skills
- Familiarity with Microsoft Word and Excel.
- Strong organizational skills.
HOW TO APPLY
Please send a cover letter, resume, writing sample, and unofficial transcript to
hrjobsLGBTintern@aclu.org – reference
[LGBT Spring 2013 Undergraduate Internship] or
[LGBT Summer 2013 Undergraduate Internship] in subject line.
Please note that this is not the general ACLU applicant e-mail address. This address is specific to LGBT & AIDS Project 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:
Anna Ziering
RE: LGBT Undergraduate Internship
American Civil Liberties Union Foundation
125 Broad Street, 18th Floor
New York, New York 10004-2400
Please indicate in your cover letter where you learned of this internship opportunity.
The deadline for the spring internship is December 1, 2012. The deadline for the summer internship is April 1, 2013. However, applications for both positions will be reviewed on a rolling basis and applications will be accepted until the positions are filled.
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."
