ACLU-WA Policy Advocacy Summer Internship (w/ stipend)

Unpublished

Application Deadline: March 27, 2023

*Please note: The ACLU-WA is continuing to follow the 2019 Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) and has begun transitioning back to the office. We anticipate implementing our new Hybrid Work Policy in the Spring, where the selected candidate may have the option to work remotely or in office. Notices about any in-person attendance will be provided in advance.


We provide technology support to do our best work even from our homes. You will need an effective Wi-Fi connection and be reachable by phone.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Washington (ACLU-WA) is pleased to offer internships to interested law school and graduate school students for the summer of 2023.

The ACLU is the nation’s premier organization dedicated to defending and expanding all civil liberties and civil rights in the United States. We work with our members and volunteers in the courts, legislatures, government agencies, and media to conserve the civic values enshrined in the U.S. Constitution.

The ACLU of Washington is in downtown Seattle and has 135,000 members, activists, and donors across the state. The Policy Advocacy Group works on a variety of civil liberties issues. We promote and protect civil liberties by working with elected officials, government agencies, and coalition partners at the state and local levels. We achieve our goals through lobbying and policy advocacy as well as educating our members and other activists about our issues and encouraging them to take action in support of our goals.

The primary subject areas for the Policy Advocacy Group include Criminal Legal Reform, Education/Juvenile Justice, Immigrant Rights, Policing Reform, Health Care and Liberty, and Technology and Liberty.

Intern Duties:
An intern with the Policy Advocacy Group (PAG) will work under the supervision of a policy lead to analyze and support proactive legislation, research legal and policy challenges to legislation introduced by others, create educational materials, and assist in the preparation of testimony or other advocacy documents. Interns will work across multiple Policy Advocacy Group issue areas.

Desired Skills and Qualifications:
The intern will use research and writing skills to develop an in-depth understanding of civil liberties issues, policy advocacy, the legislative process, and the art of messaging. Excellent writing and communications skills are required. Applicants should be able to demonstrate in their application that they have strong interests in civil liberties, constitutional law, and policy advocacy. We also expect a commitment to race equity and inclusion, including a personal approach that values the individual and respects differences. We employ anti-racism practices with each other, and with our partners and allies in the communities we serve. Candidates must have completed at least one year of law school or another graduate degree program in a relevant area.

Compensation:
Interns who do not have access to funding from their schools will be given a $6000 stipend for a full-time, 10-week summer internship. Interns will be asked to apply for other available funds before receiving funds from the ACLU-WA.

How to apply:
To apply, email a letter of application and resume to [email protected] and include in the subject line of the email: your last name and “PAG Summer Internship.”

We encourage interested students to apply early, as applications will no longer be accepted after March 27th.

Please note that there are multiple departments within the ACLU of Washington hiring for summer internships. Candidates who apply to multiple positions will be considered independently for each position.

The ACLU is an equal opportunity employer. We value a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture and are committed to race equity in all aspects of our work. The ACLU encourages applications from all qualified individuals without regard to race, color, religion, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship, disability, veteran status, socio-economic circumstance, or record of arrest or conviction. Women, people of color, LGBTQ+ people, and people with disabilities are especially encouraged to apply.

The ACLU of Washington comprises two separate corporate entities, the ACLU of Washington and the ACLU of Washington Foundation. The ACLU of Washington and the ACLU of Washington Foundation share the same mission, office space, and employees. This job posting refers collectively to the two organizations under the name “ACLU of Washington.