FALL 2012 LEGAL INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITY

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FALL 2012 LEGAL INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITY
NOTICE TO LAW STUDENTS

American Civil Liberties Union Foundation

Women’s Rights Project, NY 

 

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 Women’s Rights Project of the ACLU’s National Office in New York City seeks legal interns for the fall of 2012.

OVERVIEW

The Women’s Rights Project is part of the ACLU’s Center for Liberty, which is dedicated to the principle that we are all entitled to determine the course of our lives based on who we are and what we believe free from unreasonable government constraint and baseless stereotypes.  The Center for Liberty encompasses the ACLU’s work on women’s rights, reproductive freedom, LGBT rights, and freedom of religion and belief.

Founded in 1972 by Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the Women’s Rights Project (WRP) has been a leader in the legal battles to ensure women’s full equality in American society.  WRP is dedicated to the advancement of the rights and interests of women to lead lives of dignity free from violence and discrimination, including discrimination based on gender stereotypes. 

WRP focuses on women’s rights in the following priority areas: education, violence against women  and  employment. Cutting across these core priorities, WRP seeks to bring an international human rights framework to our litigation and advocacy.  Through litigation, advocacy, and public education, WRP pushes for change and systemic reform in those institutions that perpetuate discrimination against women.

The Women’s Rights Project has overall responsibility for implementing ACLU policy in the area of gender discrimination.  WRP conducts direct litigation, files amicus curiae briefs, provides support for ACLU affiliate litigation, serves as a resource for ACLU legislative work on women’s rights and seeks to advance ACLU policy goals through public education, organizing and coalition advocacy.  WRP has been an active participant in virtually all of the major gender discrimination litigation in the Supreme Court, in Congressional efforts to promote gender equality, and in significant communications and public education efforts on behalf of women and girls.

INTERNSHIP OVERVIEW

The fall 2012 Legal Internship requires a 12-16 week commitment.  The internship is part-time; weekly work hours are negotiable.  Students are highly encouraged to obtain funding from outside sources, as the internship is unpaid.  Arrangements can be made for work/study or course credit.  

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The legal interns will have the opportunity to gain valuable experience by working alongside the Women’s Rights Project team. Interns will assist with all aspects of litigation. Interns will gain experience by working on the following: 

  • Conducting legal and policy research. 
  • Drafting memoranda, affidavits and briefs. 
  • Researching prospects for new litigation, including both factual and legal claims. 
  • Assisting in the preparation of expert and fact witnesses for courtroom testimony. 
  • Assisting with researching or drafting materials for public education. 
  • Other projects as assigned. 

DESIRED EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS

The internship is open to law students who have completed their first year.

  • Excellent research, writing and communication skills. 
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Office, including internet research. 
  • Demonstrated initiative to see projects through to completion. 
  • Strong interest in social justice and legal issues. 
  • A strong interest and commitment to civil rights and civil liberties issues.  

HOW TO APPLY

Applicants should send a letter of interest, a resume, the names and telephone numbers of three references, an unofficial transcript, and a legal writing sample of no more than ten pages to hrjobsWRP@aclu.org, re: WRP Fall 2012 Legal Internship/NABA in subject line or mail to:

Human Resources
Re: WRP Fall 2012 Legal Internship/NABA
American Civil Liberties Union
125 Broad Street, 18th Floor
New York, NY 10004

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

We strongly encourage applicants to apply by September 7, 2012 but applications will be accepted until the positions are filled.

The ACLU is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and encourages applications from all qualified individuals including women, people of color, persons with disabilities, and lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals.

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.”