Fall 2026 Legal Intern, Immigrants' Rights Project- New York

About the role

The ACLU seeks a Legal Intern in the Immigrant Rights Project of the ACLU's National office. This position may be remote or hybrid and can be based in New York City . 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 Team: The Immigrants' Rights Project is part of the Legal Department of the national ACLU and has offices in New York and San Francisco. For nearly 40 years, the Project has litigated in trial and appellate courts across the country, including the U.S. Supreme Court, to protect the civil rights and civil liberties of immigrants and seek equal justice under the law. Our work has focused on due process, access to the courts, unfair detention, equal treatment, and state and local laws and policies. For example, we have challenged removals under the Alien Enemies Act; the targeting of student activists for arrest, detention, and deportation; family separation; the Muslim ban; multiple attacks on the asylum system; indefinite and mandatory detention; immigration detainers; state and local anti-immigrant laws; racial and language profiling connected to immigration enforcement; and attempts to eliminate judicial review. We work closely with partners at the national ACLU and affiliates, as well as allied organizations, to pursue litigation and to engage in and support other forms of advocacy and education.

Responsibilities

• The interns will have the opportunity to gain valuable experience working with IRP. They will learn about impact litigation and other legal advocacy tools on immigrants' rights issues by working closely with attorneys in developing and litigating cases across various jurisdictions.
• Your Day to Day:
• Drafting memoranda, affidavits, and briefs
• Conducting legal and policy research
• Researching prospects for new litigation, including both factual and legal claims
• Researching and drafting materials for public education
• Legislative bill tracking and analysis

Requirements

• 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 social justice
• Future ACLU'ers Will:
• 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
• Internship Logistics
• Location : Our internship program offers a limited number of remote or hybrid intern positions. This internship can be remote or hybrid based in our NYC office.
• Time Commitment : Term internships require a part-time commitment of 20 hours per week.
• Internship Duration : This internship is part-time (10, 15, 20hrs/wk) for a duration of 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.
• Priority Application Deadline: June 26, 2026
• While there is a priority deadline, our project is committed to reviewing all applications on a rolling basis until the closing of posting.
• Why the ACLU
• Our Commitment to Accessibility, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion

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