Summer 2026 Legal Intern, Policy and Government Affairs - National Political Advocacy Department

The ACLU seeks a Legal Intern for Policy and Government Affairs team in the National Political Advocacy Department of the ACLU’s National office in Washington D.C. This internship can be remote or hybrid.

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

 

The Team:

The National Political Advocacy Department (NPAD) works to strengthen the efforts of the ACLU at the federal, state, and local levels of government. The department harnesses the political power that comes from having more than eight million members and supporters, as well as affiliates in every state. By organizing grassroots lobbying and issue campaigns using modern tactics, the ACLU seeks to continue to achieve change as profound in the legislative, administrative and electoral arenas as it accomplishes through the courts. The Democracy and Technology Policy & Government Affairs team is made up of eight members, including seven attorneys, who work with Congress, state legislatures, regulatory agencies and others to strengthen and protect rights to voting, free speech, and privacy; to advance racial justice; and to ensure that emerging technologies (in artificial intelligence, algorithmic decision-making, and surveillance) are not used to deny rights or discriminate.  

What You’ll Do:

The intern will work on legal and policy research and writing-related projects centered on voting, racial justice, free speech, technology policy, or democracy reform. They will assist members of our team with researching and analyzing legislation, elected officials, coalition partners, and relevant developments in the political and advocacy landscapes on the state and federal levels. They will help prepare advocacy and public education materials, correspondence, and reports as needed. They will also support our team's efforts to do congressional outreach through the form of briefings, meetings on Capitol Hill, and letters.

Your Day to Day

• Conducting legal and policy research, drafting reports, and analyzing state and federal legislation, advocacy efforts, and related legal and policy issues 
• Preparing advocacy and public education materials; drafting memorandum and correspondence 
• Monitoring legal and legislative developments in state legislatures and in Congress, as well as regulatory and administrative actions by the Biden administration
• Working with teammates to manage projects

What You’ll Bring:

• Knowledge of government and policy, of technology and democracy reform, and of impacted communities 
• Strong research, writing, analysis, and communication skills. The intern will be able to craft messages for different audiences, within and outside of the ACLU 
• Organized, proactive, and willing to learn; able to balance differing responsibilities and prioritize; able to manage projects and see them through to completion 
• Able to work well independently, as part of a team; able to handle confidential information and exercise discretion 
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite preferred

Future ACLU-ers Will:

• 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 conflict

Internship Logistics:

• Location: Our internship program offers a limited number of remote or hybrid intern positions. This internship is full-time and can be remote or hybrid from our Washington D.C. office.
• Time Commitment: Full-time (35 hours/week)
• Internship Duration: Full-time internships span 10 consecutive weeks. This internship has a start date of: May 26 or June 8.
• Stipend: A stipend is available for students who are lawfully authorized to work. Arrangements can be made with educational institutions for work/study or course credit.
  • Below are the stipend rates:
    • $20/hr for undergraduate students or equivalent experience
    • $24/hr for graduate and law students or equivalent experience

Why the ACLU:

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.

Our Commitment to Accessibility, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion  

Accessibility, equity, diversity, and inclusion are core values of the ACLU and central to our work to advance liberty, equality, and justice for all. For us diversity, equity and inclusion are not just check-the-box activities, but a chance for us to make long-term meaningful change. We are a community committed to learning and growth, humility and grace, transparency and accountability. We believe in a collective responsibility to create a culture of belonging for all people within our organization – one that respects and embraces difference; treats everyone equitably; and empowers our colleagues to do the best work possible. We are as committed to anti-oppression and anti-racism internally as we are externally. Because whether we’re in the courts or in the office, we believe ‘We the People’ means all of us. 

With this commitment in mind, we strongly encourage applications from all qualified individuals without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship, disability, veteran status and record of arrest or conviction, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. 

The ACLU is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If you are a qualified individual with a disability and need assistance applying online, please email benefits.hrdept@aclu.org. If you are selected for an interview, you will receive additional information regarding how to request accommodations for the interview process.

In order to be considered for this position, all candidates must formally submit an application. The ACLU does not accept unsolicited calls or emails from candidates regarding their application status.