2009 SUMMER LEGAL INTERNSHIP
AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION FOUNDATION
WOMEN’S RIGHTS PROJECT, NY

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is a national public interest organization founded in 1920 with 53 affiliates throughout the country; it is widely regarded as one of the nation's premier public interest law firms.

Founded in 1972 by Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the Women’s Rights Project (WRP) has been a leader in the legal battles to ensure women’s full equality in American society. WRP is dedicated to the advancement of the rights and interests of women, with a particular focus on poor women, women of color, and immigrant women – those who historically have been the most deeply victimized by gender bias and face the most pervasive barriers to equality today.

WRP focuses on four core priority areas: employment (including the rights of low-wage immigrant women workers, trafficking victims, women in non-traditional employment, and welfare recipients), violence against women (including battered women’s rights to be free from discrimination in housing, employment, and government services), criminal and juvenile justice issues affecting women and girls (including the impact of drug laws on women and families and the rights of girls in juvenile detention), and education (including single sex education). Cutting across these core priorities, WRP seeks to bring an international human rights framework to our litigation and advocacy. Through litigation, community outreach, advocacy, and public education, WRP pushes for change and systemic reform in those institutions that perpetuate discrimination against women.

The Women’s Rights Project has overall responsibility for implementing ACLU policy in the area of gender discrimination. WRP conducts direct litigation, files amicus curiae briefs, provides support for ACLU affiliate litigation, serves as a resource for ACLU legislative work on women’s rights, and seeks to advance ACLU policy goals through public education, organizing, and coalition advocacy. WRP has been an active participant in virtually all of the major gender discrimination litigation in the Supreme Court, in Congressional and public education efforts to remedy gender discrimination, and other endeavors on behalf of women.

INTERNSHIP OVERVIEW:
The internship is open to all students who have completed their first year of law school. The Women’s Rights Project seeks summer legal interns to work on a wide variety of issues. Working closely with WRP staff, interns assist in all aspects of litigation including legal research, factual investigation, and drafting of memoranda, affidavits, and briefs. Interns may also assist WRP staff in providing assistance and advice to ACLU affiliates, private attorneys, and others who seek our help; screening potential cases; and researching or drafting materials for public education.

Students are highly encouraged to seek Public Interest Fellowship funds for the internship. Arrangements can also be made with the student's law school for work/study stipends. Summer interns who do not secure funding may be eligible for a stipend provided by the Project.

HOW TO APPLY:
Applicants should send a letter of interest, a resume, the names, e-mail addresses, and telephone numbers of two references, an unofficial transcript, and a legal writing sample of no more than ten pages to by email to ereshefsky@aclu.org. Reference WRP Summer Internship 2009 in the subject line OR send your materials to:

Women’s Rights Project
WRP Summer Internship 2009
Summer Internship Hiring Committee
125 Broad Street, 18^th Floor
New York, NY 10004-2400

We strongly encourage second- and third-year law students to apply no later than November 14, 2008, and first-year applicants to apply no later than January 4, 2009. Applications will be accepted until the positions are filled.

Please indicate in your cover letter where you found this job posting.

The ACLU is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and encourages women, people of color, persons with disabilities, and lesbians and gay men to apply.