Spring 2027 Legal Intern, SCOTUS Docket

About the Role
The ACLU seeks a Spring Undergraduate Intern in the SCOTUS Docket of the ACLU's National Office. This position may be part time or full time/remote or hybrid and based in our National Office in San Francisco, CA or New York, NY. This internship is available 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:
Our team supports the ACLU’s National Legal Director. In addition to overseeing the ACLU’s litigation department, the National Legal Director supervises all of the ACLU’s work before the United States Supreme Court, including merits cases, petitions for certiorari, and amicus work.
What You’ll Do:
We are looking for a legal intern to support all facets of the ACLU’s work across at the Supreme Court. The intern’s case load will likely span a range of issue areas, including voting rights, LGBTQ rights, immigration, presidential power, and free speech. Specific tasks will include legal research, argument development, brief drafting, and assistance with long-term planning and strategy projects. Additionally, the intern will gain exposure to the ACLU’s advocacy strategy development and coalition management efforts for cases pending before or possibly headed toward the U.S. Supreme Court. You’ll report to the staff attorney who works across the ACLU’s Supreme Court docket.
Your Day to Day:
Interns will have the opportunity to gain valuable experience by working alongside the team. Responsibilities may include, but are not limited to the following:
Conduct legal research and analysis to support new and active litigation projects
Aid in drafting of legal memoranda, motions, and briefs
Provide support and assistance to ACLU affiliates and cooperating attorneys
What You'll Bring:
This Internship is open to students who are in law school. Interns should possess the following:
Completion of 1L year of law school prior to the commencement of the internship; preference for candidates who will have already completed their 2L year
Excellent research skills, including conducting internet and legal database research
Excellent communication skills, both verbal and writing
Attention to detail, excellent organization and time-management skills
Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite
The initiative to see projects through to completion
Demonstrated commitment to public interest law, civil liberties, and racial justice
Demonstrated ability to conduct complex legal analysis
Kindness, generosity, and humility
Preferred Qualifications
Experience drafting briefs before the United States Supreme Court
Familiarity with or previous experience working on one or more of the following topics: Section 1983 litigation; immigration law; LGBTQ rights; free speech; administrative law; national security law; structural constitutional law.
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 may be remote or hybrid and can be based in our National Office in San Francsico, CA or New York, NY.
Time Commitment: Part-time