Summer 2027 Legal Internship

ACLU of Massachusetts; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 42,000 - 48,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid internship

Job summary

The ACLU of Massachusetts (ACLUM) invites applicants for its Summer 2027 Legal Internship in Boston. Interns will assist in litigation and advocacy, including research, memo writing, drafting of pleadings, and discovery requests, under the supervision of ACLUM’s Legal team.

The internship runs 10-12 weeks, mid-May to early June 2027, at 40 hours per week, with a paid rate of $22 per hour. Current law students who will have completed their second year are encouraged to apply.

Qualifications

• Current law school students who will have completed their second year of law school before the internship commences.
• Strong legal research, writing, and analysis skills.
• Demonstrated interest in and familiarity with civil rights, civil liberties, and social justice.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, as well as strong teamwork and collaboration abilities.
• Self-motivated with proven ability to work well with colleagues at all levels of an organization.

Responsibilities

• Investigate complaints and conduct legal research and memo writing for litigation and advocacy.
• Draft complaints, affidavits, and discovery requests; prepare pretrial motions and trial materials.
• Prepare appellate briefs and assist with oral arguments preparation.
• Work under supervision of an assigned managing attorney and the Legal department.
• Assist Legislative Director in developing testimony for hearings and public policy materials.

Skills

Legal research

Legal writing

Analytical thinking

Communication

Teamwork

Self-motivation

Education

2nd year law student

Job description

ACLU of MassachusettsSummer2027Legal Internship

The ACLU of Massachusetts (ACLUM)is inviting applicationsforitsSummer 2027 legalinternship.TheACLUM Legal team works oncutting-edgecivil rights and civilliberties issues, andhas undertaken groundbreaking litigation and non-litigation advocacy in areas including, but not limited to free speech, immigrants’ rights, criminal justice, reproductive rights, incarceration during COVID-19, transgender rights, open government, police accountability, government surveillance, racial justice, voting rights, democracy, the separation of church and state, and other issues.

PositionSummary

Legal internswork on a varietyof tasks requiredforlitigation and other legal advocacy, including complaint investigation, legal research and memo writing, drafting of complaints, affidavits, and discovery requests;as well aspreparation of pretrial motions, trial preparation, drafting of appellate briefs, and preparation for oral arguments.Students work closely with all members of the Legaldepartment under the supervision of an assignedmanagingattorney.Studentsmay alsoassistACLUM’s Legislative Director indeveloping testimony for legislative hearings and other public policy materials.

This internship is a paid opportunity that will run for 10-12 weeks, starting between mid-May and early June2027, with a regular work schedule of 40 hoursper week. The pay rate will be $22 per hour.Applicants should be current law school students who will have completed their secondyearoflaw schoolbefore the internshipcommences.

Qualifications, Experience and Attributes

• Current law school students who will have completed their second year oflawschool before the internshipcommences.
• Strong legal research, writing, and analysis skills.
• Demonstratedinterest in and familiarity with issues related to civil rights, civil liberties, andsocial justice.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, as well as strong teamwork and collaboration abilities.
• Self-motivated with proven ability to work well withcolleagues at all levels ofanorganization, anda wide range ofpartnerswithin and outside the organization.

About the ACLU of Massachusetts

The ACLU of Massachusetts (ACLUM) was founded in 1920 and is an affiliate of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), a nationwide, non-profit, non-partisan membership organization that works to preserve and expand the freedoms guaranteed by the Bill of Rights. Through strategies of litigation, advocacy, public education, and grassroots activism, we strengthen and expand public understanding of racial justice, juvenile justice, LGBTQ rights, women's rights, criminal justice issues, free speech and assembly, privacy rights, religious liberty, students' rights, voting rights, and reproductive rights.

ACLUM is an equal opportunity employer and encourages women, people of color, persons with disabilities, members of the LGBTQ community, and formerly incarcerated people to apply.

This position is based in Boston, MA and eligible for a hybrid work schedule, being in-personan average of three days per week, with the ability to be in the office on any given day as needed and assigned. Residency in Massachusetts or within a 60-mile radius of Boston in a contiguous New England state isrequiredfor the duration of employment. ACLUM has a Covid-19 vaccine mandate, and candidates receiving a job offer willbe requiredto show proof of being fully vaccinated against COVID-19 prior tocommencingemployment. Exemptions to this requirement will be considered on a case-by-case basisin accordance withapplicable law. Applicants should be aware that fully remote work will not bedeemedareasonable accommodation.