Summer 2027 Undergraduate Intern, National Security Project

The ACLU seeks a Summer 2027 Undergraduate Intern in the National Security Project of the ACLU's National Office. This is a hybrid position based out our National Office located in New York, NY.

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

The National Security Project fights for people and communities harmed by the government in the name of national security. Recognizing the danger of expansive claims of state power, we advocate for a robust system of checks and balances and for policies that comply with the Constitution, civil liberties, and human rights. Through the courts, Congress, and public education, we strive to ensure that people are able to participate fully in civic life and are free from discrimination, unwarranted suspicion and surveillance, unlawful force and detention, and the stigma and other injustices that result from these abuses. 

The National Security Project’s Undergraduate Intern will be responsible for a wide range of administrative and substantive tasks to support our litigation and advocacy efforts in the national security context. 

• Reviewing and logging government documents in National Security Project online databases 
• Organizing and archiving case files 
• Conducting factual research 

The internship is open to students who will have completed at least three years of an undergraduate degree program before the internship commences. Interns should possess the following:   

• Strong interest in human rights and civil liberties issues 
• Excellent research, writing, and communication skills 
• Strong computer and web-based research skills 
• Strong organizational skills 
• Initiative to see projects through to completion 

Preferred: Experience, through personal connection or work experience, working with historically marginalized communities whose civil rights and liberties are harmed by discriminatory or abusive national security policies 

• 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 based in our New York office.
• Time Commitment: This internship is full-time (35 hrs/wk) for a duration of 10 consecutive weeks.
• Internship Duration: This internship has a start date of May 24 or June 7.
• Stipend: A stipend is available for those students who are lawfully authorized to work. Students who receive outside funding are eligible for a partial stipend to bring their total funding up to the level of the ACLU’s stipend amount for the summer. Legal interns receive a stipend amount of $24/hour (stipends are taxed)

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.  

Accessibility, equity, diversity, and inclusion are core values of the ACLU and central to our work to advance liberty, equality, and justice for all. For us diversity, equity and inclusion are not just check-the-box activities, but a chance for us to make long-term meaningful change. We are a community committed to learning and growth, humility and grace, transparency and accountability. We believe in a collective responsibility to create a culture of belonging for all people within our organization – one that respects and embraces difference; treats everyone equitably; and empowers our colleagues to do the best work possible. We are as committed to anti-oppression and anti-racism internally as we are externally. Because whether we’re in the courts or in the office, we believe ‘We the People’ means all of us.   

With this commitment in mind, we strongly encourage applications from all qualified individuals without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship, disability, veteran status and record of arrest or conviction, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.   

The ACLU is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If you are a qualified individual with a disability and need assistance applying online, please complete the Accommodation Request Form

If you are selected for an interview, you will receive additional information regarding how to request an accommodation for the interview process.

In order to be considered for this position, all candidates must formally submit an application. The ACLU does not accept unsolicited calls or emails from candidates regarding their application status.