Summer Legal Intern, National Security Project

The ACLU seeks a
Summer
Legal Intern in the National Security Project
of the ACLU’s National office in
New York City. This position is hybrid.

Qualifying applicants must currently be matriculated legal students and must be based in the U.S. for the entire duration of the internship.

The National Security Project fights for people and communities harmed by the government in the name of national security. Recognizing the danger of expansive claims of state power, we advocate for a robust system of checks and balances and for policies that comply with the Constitution, civil liberties, and human rights. Through the courts, Congress, and public education, we strive to ensure that people are able to participate fully in civic life and are free from discrimination, unwarranted suspicion and surveillance, unlawful force and detention, and the stigma and other injustices that result from these abuses.

The Legal Internwill be responsible for supporting the National Security Project’s legal and advocacy work over the course of the summer.

• Conduct legal and policy research
• Draft memoranda, affidavits, and briefs
• Research prospects for new litigation, including both factual and legal claims
• Research and draft materials for public education

The internship is open to students enrolled at U.S. law schools who will have completed at least one year of law school before the internship commences. Interns should possess the following:

• Excellent research skills, including conducting internet and legal database research
• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written
• Ability to analyze complex legal issues
• Initiative to see projects through to completion
• Commitment to civil liberties, civil rights, and social justice, particularly as they relate to national security, and to the mission of the ACLU
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite

• 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

• Location
  :
  Our internship program offers a limited number of remote or hybrid intern positions. This internship is hybrid based in our national office in New York, NY.
• Time Commitment
  :
  This internship is full-time (35 hrs/wk) for a duration of 10 consecutive weeks.
• Internship Duration
  :
  This internship has a start date of May 24 or June 7.
• Stipend: A stipend is available for those students who are lawfully authorized to work. Students who receive outside funding are eligible for a partial stipend to bring their total funding up to the level of the ACLU’s stipend amount for the summer. Legal interns receive a stipend amount of $24/hour (stipends are taxed)

Priority Final date to receive applications:

2L students:
October 18, 2026

1L Students:
November 2, 2026

While there is a priority deadline, our project is committed to reviewing all applications on a rolling basis until the closing of posting.

For over 100 years, the ACLU has worked to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed by the Constitution and laws of the United States. Whether it’s ending mass incarceration, achieving full equality for the LGBTQ+ community, establishing new privacy protections for our digital age, or preserving the right to vote or the right to have an abortion, the ACLU takes up the toughest civil liberties cases and issues to defend all people.

Accessibility, equity, diversity, and…