ACLU High School Internships: A Gateway to Civil Liberties and Legal Careers

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and other organizations offer various internship programs for high school students passionate about law, civil rights, and social justice. These internships provide invaluable opportunities to explore the legal field, develop essential skills, and gain real-world experience.

ACLU Internship Programs

The ACLU, a prominent defender of civil liberties and civil rights, provides several internship opportunities for students at various academic levels. These programs aim to cultivate the next generation of leaders dedicated to creating a more just and equitable society.

ACLU of Southern California (ACLU SoCal)

The ACLU of Southern California (ACLU SoCal) offers internships, externships, and volunteer positions in its Los Angeles, Orange County (Santa Ana), Inland Empire (San Bernardino), and Kern County (Bakersfield) offices. ACLU SoCal encourages applications from students at all academic levels, including undergraduates, law students, social work students, and other graduate students. They also accept applications for volunteers who are not currently enrolled in an academic program. People of color, women, people with disabilities, people over 55, and people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or intersex are encouraged to apply.

Founded in 1923, ACLU SoCal has been at the forefront of major efforts for civil liberties, civil rights, and equal justice in California. The organization tackles a vast array of issues, including:

Criminal Justice
First Amendment rights
Gender Equity
Reproductive Justice
LGBTQ rights
Immigrants' Rights
Police Practices
Education Equity
Jails Conditions
Economic Justice

ACLU SoCal is committed to developing a culture of diversity, equity, respect, and inclusion. It strives to maintain a workforce that reflects the communities it serves and is an equal opportunity employer that does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of any status or condition protected by applicable law. The organization encourages all qualified individuals to apply and values people of all races, genders (including gender identity or expression), sexual orientations, disabilities, citizenships, ages, religions, and national origins, and who have different marital statuses, family caregiving responsibilities, lived experiences with the criminal justice systems, and genetic information. The ACLU SoCal is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities.

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Internship Structure and Opportunities

ACLU SoCal staff and interns primarily work in a hybrid or remote setting. Interns are assigned to specific projects or subject areas. While ACLU SoCal is currently unable to pay stipends for interns or volunteers, applicants are encouraged to apply for Public Interest Law Foundation grants or other grants and to investigate work-study options as alternative sources of compensation. Students are expected to commit to a minimum of eight weeks, with a preference for ten-week commitments or longer (although exceptions may be made in certain circumstances). The office is open five days a week, and successful applicants will work eight-hour days, with occasional longer days depending on project deadlines.

The ACLU SoCal endeavors to make its summer internships as rewarding as possible. Each year, the organization hosts “Brown Bag” presentations that are open to interns from all local non-profits. Staff attorneys and advocates also host internal trainings for all interns on topics such as applying for clerkships, applying for fellowships, and interviewing clients to draft declarations. Interns are strongly encouraged to seek funding from their schools and apply for other grants or scholarships. ACLU SoCal also welcomes interns/externs in the fall, winter, and spring semesters, with the number hired varying depending upon the needs of staff. The organization frequently accepts non-student volunteers who are both attorneys and non-attorneys. Volunteers should be able to commit to working at least 15 hours a week over eight weeks, in or out of the office, or the hourly equivalent over a shorter period of weeks.

How to Apply

Applicants should state their intended hourly commitment and duration of volunteer service in their application. The subject line should include the applicant's preferred subject area(s), geographic preference(s), and the term for which they are applying, all in brackets. Candidates with geographic flexibility are more likely to be hired.

Specific Project Areas

ACLU SoCal offers internships in various project areas, including:

Jails Project: The affiliate's Jails Project achieved a historic settlement in Rosas v. Baca, a federal class action lawsuit that alleged former Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca and his command staff condoned a long-standing and widespread pattern of violence by deputies against people incarcerated in the jails.
Economic Justice: This project challenges the criminalization of poverty, expands access to basic human needs like housing and healthcare, and advances affirmative legal rights to basic human needs.
Education Equity: This project focuses on ensuring that all students, particularly Black students, students with disabilities, and English learners, have equal access to a quality education free from discrimination.
First Amendment Rights/Voting Rights: This project focuses on freedom of speech and protest, free exercise of religion, and expanding the franchise and making voting easier and more accessible to Californians.
Immigrants' Rights Project: This project focuses on access to counsel, immigration detention, and ensuring that law enforcement agencies do not unlawfully engage in immigration enforcement.
Los Angeles County Jails Advocacy: This team monitors Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD) compliance with court orders in four cases: Rutherford v. Luna, Rosas v. Luna, Johnson v. Luna, and Robertson v. Luna.
Gender, Sexuality, and Reproductive Justice Project: This project focuses on LGBTQ rights, reproductive justice, and gender equity through legal advocacy, litigation, policy advocacy, public education, and community organizing.
Policing Practices: This project focuses on changing local and national policing practices through policy work and litigation.

Intern Responsibilities

Legal interns may have the opportunity to conduct legal research, drafting, and analysis for ongoing litigation and policy projects. Undergraduate interns may participate in community engagement, policy advocacy, workshop development and presentations, campaign development, and coalition building.

ACLU Advocacy Institute

The ACLU Advocacy Institute offers a virtual program for college-aged participants (18-24) interested in lifelong engagement in grassroots organizing, policy development, and legal advocacy. The program prepares participants for lifelong engagement in grassroots organizing, professional advocacy, and legal activism. The program tuition fee is $250, covering all planning, programming, curriculum, and instruction costs. Full and partial scholarship opportunities are available for those who qualify based on family income.

Other Law Internship Programs for High School Students

In addition to the ACLU, several other organizations offer law-related internships for high school students:

AI+Law and Politics InspiritAI Project: This program empowers high school students to apply artificial intelligence and computer science to law, politics, and democracy. Students learn the ethical implications of using AI algorithms to assist in compiling legal evidence and predict a defendant’s likelihood of reoffending.
Legal Outreach Summer Law Institute: This six-week internship introduces high school students from underprivileged backgrounds to various legal concepts, research methodologies, and courtroom simulations.
US Department of Justice (DOJ) Pathways Internship Program: This program provides students from high school through graduate school with valuable work experience in various departments of the federal government, including the Office of the Attorney General and the Office of Legal Policy.

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Justice Entrepreneurs Project - Chicago Bar Foundation: The TeenLaw Program develops high school students' legal skills and understanding through workshops, interactions with legal professionals, and participation in a mock trial.
California State Bar Environmental Law Section Internship: This internship offers high school students with a passion for environmental law the opportunity to work closely with experienced environmental attorneys on research, policy analysis, and advocacy projects.
National Center for State Courts (NCSC) Student Internship Program: This program allows high school students to intern at the NCSC headquarters in Williamsburg, Virginia, learning about the judicial system, court administration, and legal research.
Equal Justice Works (EJW) Summer Corps Program: This program offers high school students the chance to work with nonprofit organizations that focus on public interest law, gaining hands-on experience in areas such as immigration, juvenile justice, and civil rights.
The Carter Center Human Rights Program: This program focuses on advocating for global human rights issues and gaining a broader perspective on international law and diplomacy.
Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Youth Ambassador Program: This program provides high school students with a platform to learn about LGBTQ+ rights and legal advocacy, raising awareness about LGBTQ+ issues and advocating for inclusive policies.
California Innocence Project (CIP) Legal Internship: This internship offers a transformative experience for high school students interested in criminal justice and wrongful convictions, working closely with CIP attorneys and legal experts on case research, analyzing evidence, and conducting interviews with incarcerated individuals who claim innocence.
National Student Leadership Conference’s Law & Advocacy Program: This program equips young minds with the knowledge and skills necessary to understand the legal system, develop critical thinking abilities, and explore the various facets of a legal career.
NYU High School Law Institute: This institute provides a unique opportunity for students to engage in rigorous coursework, interactive workshops, and mock trial simulations, all under the guidance of experienced law professors and legal professionals.
Senate Page Program: This program provides an exceptional opportunity for high school students to experience the inner workings of the United States Senate and gain a firsthand understanding of the legislative process.

Additional Internship Opportunities

Congressional Internships: Interning under government officials is a great way to get first-hand law experience from those who are currently involved in public policy. For example, Congressman Jim Himes provides a summer internship program to high school and college students living in his district.
District of Columbia Courts Passport to Work Youth Employment Services Program: This paid internship is designed to expose students to the inner workings of a variety of careers, including law.
State and Regional Bar Associations: Many regions or counties also have bar associations that offer internships to local high schoolers. North Dakota’s State Bar Association has a Mock Trial Program for high schoolers.
Manhattan District Attorney’s Office High School Internship Program: This rigorous program provides first hand criminal justice experience in one of the nation’s premier prosecutor’s offices.
Nashville Bar Association’s Diversity Committee Summer Intern Program: This program offers paid and unpaid summer internships to diverse juniors and seniors with an interest in becoming a lawyer.
Dallas Association of Young Lawyers Summer Law Internship Program: Students are placed in Dallas-area law firms and corporate legal departments for internships lasting up to eight weeks.
Broward County Sheriff’s Office Summer Explorers Program: This two-week internship introduces students to the inner workings of the criminal justice system.
Baltimore City Public High School Law & Leadership Institute: This paid program places Baltimore City public high school juniors and seniors in law firms and law-related agencies.
Massachusetts Bar Association Discovering Justice Summer Internship: High school students from Boston and Worcester, Massachusetts will learn about the role of the courts and build a knowledge of legal concepts and principles.
University of Pennsylvania’s Provost’s Summer Mentorship Program: This is a free four-week program aimed at first-generation and underrepresented students.
Houston Bar Association Summer Legal Internship Program: This eight-week internship places high school juniors and seniors in positions at Houston-area law firms, corporate legal departments, and public interest agencies.

Benefits of High School Law Internships

Participating in a law internship during high school can be a life-changing experience, setting the stage for a successful legal career. These internships provide unique opportunities to:

Explore the legal field
Understand the intricacies of the justice system
Develop critical thinking and analytical skills
Gain practical experience in legal research, writing, and advocacy
Network with legal professionals
Make a positive impact on society

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