Fall 2026 Legal Intern, Criminal Law Reform Project

The ACLU seeks a Legal Intern in the Criminal Law Reform Project of the ACLU’s National office in New York City or Washington, D.C. This is a part time position that may be remote or hybrid. This internship is for course credit only.

Qualifying applicants must currently be matriculated legal students and must be based in the U.S. for the entire duration of the internship.

The Criminal Law Reform Project advocates for the constitutional and civil rights of those impacted by criminal legal systems. We use litigation and advocacy to confront systemic government conduct that fuels the carceral state and police abuse, and oppresses people based on race, class, and other characteristics. CLRP does this work because everyone suspected, accused, or convicted of a crime deserves dignity, fairness, and an opportunity to thrive. Ultimately, we seek to shift power to under-resourced communities and to elevate approaches to justice and safety that advance fundamental rights for all.

The Project’s current priorities are combatting police violence while bolstering individual rights against police authority; protecting the fundamental right to pretrial liberty; eliminating excessive conditions of post release supervision; and creating robust public defense systems to guarantee the constitutional right counsel. CLRP works closely with the ACLU’s National Political Advocacy Department, our Communications Department, and our affiliates to advance an affirmative vision for criminal legal system reform.

The intern will have the opportunity to gain valuable experience by working alongside the team and assisting in factual investigation, and legal research and writing to advance our litigation and integrated advocacy.

Interns will support CLRP litigation work and integrated advocacy across our priority areas. Responsibilities may include, but are not limited to the following:

• Legal research
• Legal writing, such as memos and portions of court submissions
• Fact investigation
• Support in preparation for and during court cases, such as depositions, oral argument, hearings, or trial

The internship is open to students enrolled at U.S. law schools who will have completed at least one year of law school before the internship commences. Interns should possess the following: 

• Excellent research skills, including conducting internet and legal database research 
• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and writing 
• Attention to detail, excellent organizing and time-management skills 
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite 
• The initiative to see projects through to completion 
• A commitment to civil liberties, civil rights, and racial justice 

• Be committed to advancing the mission of the ACLU
• Center and embed the principles of equity, inclusion and belonging in their work by demonstrating commitment to diversity with an approach that respects and values multiple perspectives
• Be committed to work collaboratively and respectfully toward resolving obstacles and conflicts

• Location: Our internship program offers a limited number of remote or hybrid intern positions. This internship can be remote or hybrid and based in our New York City office or Washington, D.C offices.
• Time Commitment: This is a part-time (10,15 or 20 hours/week) internship
• Internship Duration: Fall internships span 12 consecutive weeks with a start date of September 8 or September 21.
• Stipend: This internship is for course credit only. This internship must be tied to the intern’s formal education program by integrated coursework or the receipt of academic credit.

While there is a priority deadline, our project is committed to reviewing all applications on a rolling basis until the closing of posting.

For over 100 years, the ACLU has worked to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed by the Constitution and laws of the United States. Whether it’s ending mass incarceration, achieving full equality for the LGBTQ+ community, establishing new privacy protections for our digital age, or preserving the right to vote or the right to have an abortion, the ACLU takes up the toughest civil liberties cases and issues to defend all people.