Equal Justice Initiative Internships: Requirements and Opportunities for Aspiring Advocates

The Equal Justice Initiative (EJI) offers a unique opportunity for students passionate about social justice and criminal justice reform to gain invaluable experience through its internship programs. Founded by Bryan Stevenson in 1989, EJI is a non-profit organization dedicated to challenging racial and economic injustice in the United States, with a focus on criminal justice reform, challenging mass incarceration, and addressing systemic racial bias. EJI provides legal assistance to individuals facing unfair treatment within the legal system, including those on death row, children in the criminal justice system, individuals wrongly convicted or sentenced, and incarcerated people experiencing inhumane conditions.

An EJI internship provides a platform to engage with these critical issues firsthand, contribute to meaningful cases, participate in community outreach, and deepen your understanding of the historical context of racial injustice in the United States.

Exploring Federal Student Volunteer Opportunities

Before delving into the specifics of EJI internships, it's helpful to understand the broader landscape of student volunteer programs within the federal government. Federal agencies and departments offer unpaid training opportunities to high school and college students, providing valuable work experience related to academic programs. These programs allow students to explore career options and develop personal and professional skills while gaining exposure to the federal work environment.

Department of Justice Pathways Programs

The Department of Justice (DOJ) offers several pathways for students and recent graduates to gain experience in federal employment. The DOJ Pathways Programs consist of the Internship Program and the Recent Graduates Program (RGP).

Internship Program

The Internship Program is designed for students enrolled in educational institutions ranging from high school to graduate level. It provides opportunities to work in agencies and explore federal careers while getting paid for the work performed. Successful completion of the program may lead to conversion to a permanent job in the civil service. This program has replaced the Student Career Experience Program (SCEP) and Student Temporary Employment Program (STEP).

Recent Graduates Program

The Recent Graduates Program (RGP) offers developmental experiences in the Federal Government to promote careers in the civil service for individuals who have recently graduated from qualifying educational institutions or programs. To be eligible, applicants must apply within two years of degree or certificate completion. Veterans may have up to six years after degree completion to apply due to their military service obligation.

Law Internships for High School Students: A Gateway to the Legal Profession

Internships are essential learning experiences for young professionals, especially high school students interested in law. These positions offer an early look into potential career paths, allowing students to discover their interests, gain work experience, and make informed decisions about future academic and career pursuits.

Benefits of a Law Internship

Participating in a legal internship during high school offers numerous advantages:

Gaining Experience: Internships provide practical experience and build knowledge regarding the legal system, fostering crucial abilities like critical thinking, research, and communication.
Personal Development: Interns develop essential skills in leadership, problem-solving, and resilience, which are transferable to any field and strengthen college applications.
Career Exploration: Internships offer insight into various facets of the legal profession, helping students determine their interests and identify potential career paths.

Equal Justice Initiative (EJI) High School Summer Program

The Equal Justice Initiative High School Summer Program offers students the chance to work with a non-profit organization dedicated to ending mass incarceration and excessive punishment. Interns contribute to research, public education projects, and community outreach, gaining experience in legal advocacy and human rights work. The program emphasizes social justice and law reform.

Key Aspects of the EJI Internship

Working with Clients: Interns may have the opportunity to work directly with clients who have been unfairly treated by the legal system.
Community Outreach: Interns participate in community outreach and education initiatives to raise awareness about issues related to racial injustice and criminal justice reform.
Learning Opportunity: The EJI internship program fosters personal growth and development, providing exposure to different aspects of legal work and advocacy.
Historical Context: Interns learn about the historical context of racial injustice and the legacy of slavery in America through visits to the National Memorial for Peace and Justice and the Legacy Museum.

EJI's Mission and Focus

EJI's work encompasses several key areas:

Read also: The Importance of Equal Education

Criminal Justice Reform: EJI advocates for reforms to the criminal justice system to address systemic biases and ensure fair treatment for all.
Challenging Mass Incarceration: EJI works to reduce the rate of incarceration in the United States and advocates for alternatives to incarceration.
Addressing Systemic Racial Bias: EJI challenges racial bias in the legal system and works to promote racial equality.
Legal Assistance: EJI provides legal assistance to individuals facing unfair treatment within the legal system.
Initiatives on Race and Poverty: EJI seeks solutions to long-standing problems surrounding race and poverty in America by examining the legal history of racial subordination, exclusion, and segregation.
Challenging Excessive Punishments: EJI challenges excessive and abusive punishments imposed on children across the United States.
Combating Violence in Prisons: EJI is committed to challenging violence against incarcerated individuals, abuse of power by correctional officers, unsafe prison conditions, mistreatment of mentally ill inmates, and illegal detention of the poor.
Training and Advocacy: EJI works with and provides training to lawyers, law students, community leaders, and low-income communities to improve access to justice.

Requirements

High school students in the Montgomery, Alabama area.
Duration: 10 weeks.
Application Deadline: Varies.

Additional Law Internship Programs for High School Students

In addition to the EJI program, numerous other law internships cater to high school students interested in exploring the legal field. These programs offer diverse experiences, ranging from civil liberties to courtroom procedures and criminal justice.

Prestigious National Programs

American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) Summer Advocacy Program: This week-long program immerses high school students in civil liberties issues at the national level, providing hands-on experience in advocacy and education.
- Duration: 1 week in the summer (typically July)
- Requirements: High School students aged 15-18
- Application Deadline: April 14th, applications received after will be considered on a rolling basis
Senate Page Program: Senate Pages perform various tasks integral to the daily operation of the Senate, delivering correspondence and legislative messaging. This program provides firsthand insight into the federal legislative process.
- Duration: Varies by term
- Requirements: Varies by term
- Application Deadline: Varies by term
NSLC’s Law & Advocacy Program by National Student Leadership Conference: This program offers a glimpse into the world of law and legal process activities through simulations, mock trials, and guest lectures.
- Duration: 9 Days
- Requirements: High School students
- Application Deadline: Varies by location
National Youth Leadership Forum (NYLF): Law & CSI: This program combines legal studies with forensic science, appealing to students interested in both law and criminal investigations.
- Duration: 8 days in the summer
- Requirements: High school students
- Application Deadline: varies on term
US Department of Justice (DOJ) Pathways Internship Program: This program offers high school students the opportunity to be employed in the various divisions of the Department of Justice, exposing them to federal law enforcement, legal careers, and DOJ initiatives.
- Duration: varies on location
- Requirements: varies on location
- Application Deadline: Varies on location

Regional and City-Specific Programs

Atlanta Bar Association Summer Law Internship Program (SLIP): This program places high school students within law firms, courts, and law departments in Atlanta, providing hands-on experience and networking opportunities.
- Duration: Eight weeks
- Requirements: Committed high school students in the area
- Application Deadline: March 20th
Baltimore Law Links Internship: This program allows high school students to work alongside Baltimore lawyers, conducting research, preparing cases, and handling administrative tasks.
- Duration: Seven weeks
- Requirements: Baltimore Juniors and Seniors
- Application Deadline: April 5th
Brooklyn District Attorney High School Internship: This program offers students an inside view of the criminal justice system, working closely with assistant district attorneys and participating in courtroom activities.
- Duration: 3 days in winter or spring
- Requirements: High school students
- Application Deadline: January 31st
Dallas Bar Summer Law Intern Program: This program provides internships to Dallas-area high school students in law firms, corporate legal departments, or governmental legal offices, including workshops and seminars.
- Duration: Four to eight weeks
- Requirements: Dallas ISD juniors
- Application Deadline: March 28th
Miami-Dade State Attorney High School Volunteer Internship Program: This program offers students experience in the State Attorney’s Office, engaging in clerical work, observing courtroom activities, and studying the criminal justice system.
- Duration: 3 months minimum
- Requirements: High school students in the area
- Application Deadline: rolling acceptance

Specialized Law Internships

Summer Justice Program Intern, Broward County Law Office of the Public Defender: This program offers students the opportunity to work in the public defender’s office, researching cases and observing courtroom proceedings.
- Duration: Two weeks in the summer
- Requirements: 15-18-year-olds in the area
- Application Deadline: May 1st
Judicial Youth Corps Program: This program introduces high school students to court careers, allowing them to interact with judges and court staff through court tours, legal research, and mock trials.
- Duration: 6 weeks in the summer
- Requirements: Sophomores, juniors, and seniors in the Boston area
- Application Deadline: Rolling until all spots are filled
Teach Democracy Expanding Horizons Institute: This institute offers high school students experiential learning of democracy and civic engagement through workshops, simulations, and community service projects.
- Duration: June-July
- Requirements: sophomore or junior in the Los Angeles area who is a first-generation student
- Application Deadline: March 21st
Thurgood Marshall Summer Law Internship Program: This program offers high school students internships at law firms and corporate legal departments, exposing them to legal work involving research, case preparation, and client interaction.
- Duration: 6-8 weeks
- Requirements: NYC public high school student
- Application Deadline: January 29th
US Environmental Protection Agency Internship Programs in Pollution Prevention: These programs offer high school students internships in projects related to environmental law and policy, focusing on research, policy analysis, and community outreach.
- Duration: Varies
- Requirements: Varies
- Application Deadline: Varies
Summer Law Institute: This free program for rising high school freshmen introduces students to a professional environment, positive role models, and career opportunities, exploring criminal justice and conducting mock trials.
- Duration: 5 weeks
- Requirements: rising high school freshmen in the NYC area
- Application Deadline: rolling
UPenn Provost’s Summer Mentorship Program (SMP): This no-cost program for first-generation and underrepresented students prepares interns for college and careers, including activities related to law through UPenn’s Law School.
- Duration: 4 weeks
- Requirements: underrepresented freshmen and sophomores from Philadelphia
- Application Deadline: February 14th
Communities in Schools of Houston Summer Legal Internship Program: This eight-week program matches high school juniors and seniors with law firms, corporate legal departments, and public interest agencies in Houston.
- Duration: 8 weeks
- Requirements: juniors and Seniors in the Houston area
- Application Deadline: rolling
The Wake Forest University Summer Immersion Program: This week-long program improves students’ communication and argument-building skills for debate and public advocacy.
- Duration: 1 week
- Requirements: High School Students
- Application Deadline: Varies

Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law

The Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization formed in 1963 at the request of President John F. Kennedy to involve the private bar in providing legal services to address racial discrimination. They strongly encourage candidates of color and candidates from underrepresented communities to apply.

Internship Opportunities

The Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights hosts Legal/Graduate Volunteer Interns and Undergraduate/Recent Graduate Volunteer Interns. They are unable to pay any portion of the applicant’s salary or provide assistance with securing housing during the internship period. However, they are happy to work with students so that they may receive academic credit or outside funding for their work.

Summer interns are expected to work 30 hours a week for 10 weeks during the summer.
Fall and spring interns with a full course load must work a minimum of 10 to 15 hours a week during the fall and spring semesters, and 20 hours without a full course load.
Students should be able to commute to the Committee’s downtown office for at least two days a week during the academic year.
Full-time interns are also accepted.

Fall and spring interns with a full course load are expected to work a minimum of 10-15 hours/week for at least 10 weeks. Full-time (or close to full-time) interns are also accepted. Fall interns typically start in September, and spring interns typically start in January.

Although assignments for each intern vary by project, students are generally asked to conduct policy and legal research, support client outreach and factual investigation, and provide administrative support.

Rural Summer Legal Corps (RSLC) Student Fellows

The RSLC Student Fellows program offers law students the opportunity to provide direct legal services and engage in community outreach and education in rural communities. Selected students attend a training in Washington, D.C., before their service begins.

In 2023, RSLC Student Fellows spent eight to ten weeks providing direct legal services and engaging in community outreach and education. The 2023 class included 45 Student Fellows who served at 41 LSC-funded civil legal organizations across the country. During their summer of service, Student Fellows collectively contributed 13,129 hours to help rural communities attain access to legal aid, with 4,881 hours spent on direct legal services! Their efforts helped a total of 2,194 individuals, and they assisted on 1,030 legal cases.

Applications typically require a résumé and personal statement describing the applicant's interest in the program. Interviews with host organizations are conducted on a rolling basis in early spring.

First Generation Civil Rights Fellowship Program (FirstGEN)

The First Generation Civil Rights Fellowship Program, or FirstGEN, is a paid summer program for undergraduate students who are the first in their immediate families to attend college and who intend to pursue careers in social justice. The program's mission is to identify and support first-generation college students as they emerge into tomorrow’s leaders.

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