The ACLU of Northern California’s Legal-Policy Department invites law and policy graduate students to apply for its Criminal Justice Program Internships.
About The Legal-Policy Department
The Legal-Policy Department promotes policy change and pursues cutting edge impact litigation to defend and expand the civil liberties and civil rights guaranteed by the Bill of Rights. The Department’s work focuses on six broad program areas: Criminal Justice; Democracy & Civic Engagement; Gender, Sexuality & Reproductive Justice; Immigrants’ Rights; Racial & Economic Justice; and Technology & Civil Liberties. The Department’s staff is based in San Francisco, Sacramento, and Fresno.
About the Opportunity
The ACLU of Northern California’s Legal-Policy Department invites law and policy graduate students to apply for its Criminal Justice Program Internships. Students willing to work with intensity and focus will find an internship at ACLU NorCal a rewarding learning experience. Qualified applicants are enthusiastic, creative, and detail-oriented; have strong research, writing, and oral communication skills; and can articulate a commitment to work for social justice and the ideals of the ACLU.
Roles and Responsibilities of the Intern
Criminal Justice Program Interns will participate in one of three main project areas: Prosecutorial Accountability; Police Accountability; or Decarceration.
- The Prosecutorial Accountability project aims to increase engagement in prosecutorial elections, increase accountability and prevent error, and draw attention to the immense power and discretion exercised by prosecutors.
- The Police Accountability project aims to reduce criminalization, police power and abuse of power, implementation of police reform at the state and local level, and effective oversight on police power.
- The Decarceration project aims to reduce incarceration and includes bail reform work and indigent defense advocacy.
- Interns will be tasked with legal and policy research and analysis; helping to author reports, advocacy materials, portions of court documents, and pre-litigation demand letters; and/or assisting with legislative or other local campaigns.
- Interns may attend and participate in public hearings at the state and county level and participate in meetings with criminal justice policy-makers and advocates as such opportunities arise.
- When possible, interns may also attend appellate arguments, trial proceedings, and depositions. Interns are encouraged to attend and participate in monthly program meetings, where prospective litigation and policy strategies are discussed.
At times, work may arise that gives interns the opportunity to work across the Department’s six program areas, including in the areas of Racial & Economic Justice and Gender, Sexuality & Reproductive Justice.
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants for the Criminal Justice Program Internship must currently be enrolled in law school or a graduate program in criminal justice, public policy, or a related field, and applicants must demonstrate a passion for criminal justice and a commitment to work for social justice and the ideals of the ACLU. The Legal-Policy Department accepts two to three Criminal Justice interns per term.
Application Process
School year internships are full- or part-time, generally requiring a 16 hours per week minimum commitment. Students on the semester system must be able to commit to working 12 – 14 weeks. Students on the quarter system can serve shorter quarter-long internships.
How to Apply?
Interested candidates can apply through the link provided at the end of this post.
Applications must include the following in PDF format:
(1) Cover Letter that includes (a) a brief statement about why you want to work on the particular Program/Issue Area you’ve applied for, (b) whether you are interested in in-person work or remote work, and (c) how you encountered the internship opening;
(2) Resume;
(3) Writing Sample; and,
(4) List of References with contact information.
Application Deadline
Fall term: Applications will be accepted beginning on March 20th for the following Fall term
Location
For Fall 2023, students located in proximity to one of the three office locations (Fresno, Sacramento, or San Francisco) may opt to work in-person
