Summer 2026 Legal Intern, National Security Project

About the Role

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 Team:

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.

What You’ll Do:

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

Your Day to Day:

• 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

What You'll Bring:

• Completion of at least one year of law school prior to the internship start date

• 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

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 conflicts

Internship Logistics

• Location: Our internship program offers a limited number of remote or hybrid intern positions. This internship is hybrid and based in our New York City office.

• Time Commitment: Summer internships require a full time (35 hour/week) commitment.

• Internship Duration: Summer internships span 10 consecutive weeks with a start date of May 26 or June 8.

• Stipend: A stipend is available for those students who are lawfully authorized to work. Legal interns receive a stipend amount $24/hour (stipends are taxed)

Priority Application Deadline: October 19, 2025 for 2L applicants; December 1, 2025 for 1L applicants.

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

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 & 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 [email protected]. 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.