October 5, 2011
Spring 2012 LEGAL INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITY
NOTICE TO SECOND AND THIRD YEAR LAW STUDENTS
AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION FOUNDATION
Immigrants’ Rights Project
New York and California Offices
The
American Civil Liberties Union Foundation (ACLU)
, founded in 1920, is a nationwide, nonprofit,
nonpartisan organization, with more than 500,000 members and is dedicated to the principles of liberty and
equality embodied in the U.S. Constitution. The
Immigrants’ Rights Project
of the ACLU’s National Office
in New York City and San Francisco seeks legal interns for the
Spring of 2012
.
OVERVIEW
The
Immigrants’ Rights Project
(IRP) is a national project of the American Civil Liberties Union Foundation
with offices in New York and California. Using targeted impact litigation, advocacy and public outreach,
the Project carries on the ACLU’s historic commitment to protecting the civil rights and civil liberties of
immigrants. In federal district and appellate courts, including the Supreme Court, the Project conducts the
nation’s largest impact litigation program dedicated to defending and expanding the rights of immigrants,
enforcing the guarantees of the Constitution, and achieving equal justice under the law.
The Project has focused on challenging laws that deny immigrants access to the judicial system, impose
indefinite and mandatory detention, and constitute discrimination on the basis of “alienage” by
governmental and private entities. In addition, the Project has been challenging constitutional abuses that
arise from immigration enforcement at the federal, state, and local levels,
including litigation against
worksite and home raids, local anti-immigrant employment and housing laws, and improper enforcement of
federal immigration laws by local sheriffs. IRP’s efforts in the enforcement arena seek to ensure the
constitutional protections of the Fourth, Fifth, and Fourteenth Amendments, combat racial profiling arising from
actual or pretextual immigration enforcement that subjects immigrant communities to racism and hostility, and
challenge government policies and practices that undermine or deny immigrants’ ability to effectuate their
existing legal rights.
The Education component of the Project provides information about immigrants’ rights to immigrant
communities nationwide. The Project works with the English and non-English language media, immigrant
advocacy organizations, and ACLU affiliates around the country to empower immigrant communities
through presentations about their rights and about current and proposed immigration laws.
INTERNSHIP OVERVIEW
The Project is offering Spring Legal Interns the opportunity to work on a variety of litigation projects. Our
Spring Legal Internship requires a minimum commitment of 12 to 16 hours per week and is part-time. This is
an unpaid internship. Students are highly encouraged to seek Public Interest Fellowship funds for the
internship. Arrangements can also be made with the student’s law school for work/study stipends or course
credit.
ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The Spring Legal Interns will have the opportunity to gain valuable experience by working alongside the IRP
team. Interns will assist in all aspects of litigation. Interns will gain experience by working on the
following:
•
Conducting legal and policy research.
•
Drafting memoranda, affidavits and briefs.
•
Assisting with researching prospects for new litigation, including both factual and legal claims.
•
Assisting with researching and drafting materials for public education.
DESIRED EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS
The Legal Internship is open to all law students that have completed their first of law school.
•
Excellent research, writing and communication skills.
•
Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including internet research.
•
The initiative to see projects through to completion.
•
Demonstrated interest in social justice and legal issues.
•
A strong interest and commitment to civil rights and civil liberties issues.
HOW TO APPLY
Applicants should send a cover letter, a resume, the names and telephone numbers of three
references, an official or unofficial transcript, and a legal writing sample
, preferably 10 pages or fewer
in length
to the office in which you wish to intern by email to [email protected] reference [
IRP – NY
Spring 2012 Legal Internship or IRP – CA Spring 2012 Legal Internship]
in the subject line – or by mail
to:
Please apply separately to each and indicate that you have done so in your cover letter.
New York California
Legal Internship Selection Committee Legal Internship Selection Committee
ACLU Immigrants’ Rights Project ACLU Immigrants’ Rights Project
125 Broad Street, 18th Floor 39 Drumm Street
New York, NY 10004 San Francisco, CA 94111
Or email:
[email protected]@aclu.org Or email:
(Subject line: IRP-NY Spring 2012 Legal Internship) (Subject line: IRP-CA Spring 2012 Legal Internship)
Please indicate in your cover letter where you learned of this internship opportunity.
Students are encouraged to submit applications as early as possible, as decisions are made on a rolling
basis. Applicants are encouraged to submit their applications by December 31, 2011.
The ACLU is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and encourages applications from all
qualified individuals including women, people of color, persons with disabilities, and lesbian, gay,
bisexual, and transgender individuals.
The ACLU comprises two separate corporate entities, the American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU
Foundation. Both the American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU Foundation are national organizations
with the same overall mission, and share office space and employees. The ACLU has two separate
corporate entities in order to do a broad range of work to protect civil liberties. This job posting refers
collectively to the two organizations under the name “ACLU.”
October 5, 2011
SUMMER 2012 LEGAL INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITY
NOTICE TO SECOND AND THIRD YEAR LAW STUDENTS
AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION FOUNDATION
Immigrants’ Rights Project
New York and California Offices
The
American Civil Liberties Union Foundation (ACLU)
, founded in 1920, is a nationwide, nonprofit,
nonpartisan organization, with more than 500,000 members and is dedicated to the principles of liberty and
equality embodied in the U.S. Constitution. The
Immigrants’ Rights Project
of the ACLU’s National Office
in New York City and San Francisco seeks legal interns for the
Summer of 2012
.
OVERVIEW
The
Immigrants’ Rights Project
(IRP) is a national project of the American Civil Liberties Union Foundation
with offices in New York and California. Using targeted impact litigation, advocacy and public outreach,
the Project carries on the ACLU’s historic commitment to protecting the civil rights and civil liberties of
immigrants. In federal district and appellate courts, including the Supreme Court, the Project conducts the
nation’s largest impact litigation program dedicated to defending and expanding the rights of immigrants,
enforcing the guarantees of the Constitution, and achieving equal justice under the law.
The Project has focused on challenging laws that deny immigrants access to the judicial system, impose
indefinite and mandatory detention, and constitute discrimination on the basis of “alienage” by
governmental and private entities. In addition, the Project has been challenging constitutional abuses that
arise from immigration enforcement at the federal, state, and local levels,
including litigation against
worksite and home raids, local anti-immigrant employment and housing laws, and improper enforcement of
federal immigration laws by local sheriffs. IRP’s efforts in the enforcement arena seek to ensure the
constitutional protections of the Fourth, Fifth, and Fourteenth Amendments, combat racial profiling arising from
actual or pretextual immigration enforcement that subjects immigrant communities to racism and hostility, and
challenge government policies and practices that undermine or deny immigrants’ ability to effectuate their
existing legal rights.
The Education component of the Project provides information about immigrants’ rights to immigrant
communities nationwide. The Project works with the English and non-English language media, immigrant
advocacy organizations and ACLU affiliates around the country to empower immigrant communities through
presentations about their rights and about current and proposed immigration laws.
INTERNSHIP OVERVIEW
The Project is offering Summer Legal Interns the opportunity to work on a variety of litigation projects.
Our Summer Legal Internship requires a 10 to 12 week commitment. This is an unpaid internship. Students
are highly encouraged to seek Public Interest Fellowship funds for the internship. Arrangements can also be
made with the student’s law school for work/study stipends or course credit. Summer Legal Interns who do
not secure funding will be eligible for a stipend provided by the Project.
ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The Summer Legal Interns will have the opportunity to gain valuable experience by working alongside the
IRP team. Interns will assist in all aspects of litigation. Interns will gain experience by working on the
following:
•
Conducting legal and policy research.
•
Drafting memoranda, affidavits and briefs.
•
Assisting with researching prospects for new litigation, including both factual and legal claims.
•
Assisting with researching and drafting materials for public education.
DESIRED EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS
The Legal Internship is open to all law students that have completed their first of law school.
•
Excellent research, writing and communication skills.
•
Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including internet research.
•
The initiative to see projects through to completion.
•
Demonstrated interest in social justice and legal issues.
•
A strong interest and commitment to civil rights and civil liberties issues.
HOW TO APPLY
Applicants should send a cover letter, a resume, the names and telephone numbers of three
references, an official or unofficial transcript, and a legal writing sample
, preferably 10 pages or fewer
in length
to the office in which you wish to intern by email to [email protected] reference [
IRP – NY
Summer 2012 Legal Internship or IRP – CA Summer 2012 Legal Internship]
in the subject line – or by
mail to:
Please apply separately to each and indicate that you have done so in your cover letter.
New York California
Legal Internship Selection Committee Legal Internship Selection Committee
ACLU Immigrants’ Rights Project ACLU Immigrants’ Rights Project
125 Broad Street, 18th Floor 39 Drumm Street
New York, NY 10004 San Francisco, CA 94111
Or email:
[email protected] Or email: [email protected]
(Subject line: IRP-NY Summer 2012 Legal Internship) (Subject line: IRP-CA Summer 2012 Legal Internship)
Please indicate in your cover letter where you learned of this internship opportunity.
Students are encouraged to submit applications as early as possible, as decisions are made on a rolling
basis. Suggested application submission periods are as follows:
•
2Ls should apply between September 20, 2011, and January 21, 2012.
•
1Ls should apply between December 1, 2011, and January 21, 2012.
The ACLU is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and encourages applications from all
qualified individuals including women, people of color, persons with disabilities, and lesbian, gay,
bisexual, and transgender individuals.
The ACLU comprises two separate corporate entities, the American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU
Foundation. Both the American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU Foundation are national organizations
with the same overall mission, and share office space and employees. The ACLU has two separate
corporate entities in order to do a broad range of work to protect civil liberties. This job posting refers
collectively to the two organizations under the name “ACLU.”