To get jazzed up about this internship, please refer to this recent NYTimes article highlighting the intersection between voting and minority (including immigrants) rights!
SUMMER 2012 LEGAL INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITY
NOTICE TO FIRST AND SECOND YEAR LAW STUDENTS
American Civil Liberties Union Foundation
Voting Rights Project, Atlanta, GA
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 Voting Rights Project of the ACLU’s National office in Atlanta, Georgia seeks legal interns for the Summer of 2012.
OVERVIEW:
Based in Atlanta, Georgia, the Voting Rights Project of the ACLU has been an established and recognized national leader in the field of voting rights for more than 40 years. Its docket includes litigation in more than a dozen states and encompasses such issues as minority voting rights, redistricting, registration, election reform, felon disfranchisement, voter education, and ballot access. Most notably, the Project has brought groundbreaking litigation to secure and protect the voting rights of Native Americans in Colorado, South Dakota, Wyoming, Nebraska, and Montana; litigation challenging the constitutionality of the onerous identification and proof of citizenship requirements for voting at the polls on election day; and intervened on behalf of minority voters to protect their rights when local officials have challenged the constitutionality of the Voting Rights Act.
INTERNSHIP OVERVIEW:
The Voting Rights Project (VRP) is offering Summer Legal Interns the opportunity to work on all aspects of litigation. 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. 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 may 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 VRP team. Interns will gain hands on experience in all aspects of litigation, including but not limited to the following:
-Conducting legal research.
-Drafting memoranda, affidavits and briefs.
-Researching prospects for new litigation, including both factual and legal claims.
-Participating in discovery and motion practice.
-Assisting in the preparation of expert and other witnesses for courtroom testimony.
-Assisting with drafting materials for public education.
DESIRED EXPERIENCE & QUALIFICATIONS:
This Legal Internship is open to first and second year law students who possess the following:
-Excellent research, writing, and communication skills.
-Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including internet research.
-The initiative to see projects through to completion.
-A strong interest in civil liberties and human rights.
HOW TO APPLY:
Applicants should send a cover letter, resume, a list of two references, and a legal writing sample of five to ten pages, via email to [email protected] reference [Summer 2012 Legal Internship – VRP] in the subject line or send by mail to:
Law Student Intern Program
RE: [Summer 2012 Legal Internship – VRP]
American Civil Liberties Union
125 Broad Street, 18th Floor
New York, NY 10004
Please indicate in your cover letter where you learned of this internship opportunity.
Applications will be accepted until the internships are filled, but applicants are encouraged to apply by January 17, 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.