Summer 2009 Internship-ACLU National Legal Department, NY (10/2/2008)
SUMMER 2009 INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITY
NOTICE TO FIRST AND SECOND YEAR LAW STUDENTS
AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION
National Legal Department, NY
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) seeks highly motivated
law students for 2009 summer internship opportunities in the
National Legal Department (NLD) for work involving a wide range of civil liberties
and human rights issues.
OVERVIEW:
The First Amendment working group, the National Security Project, and the Human
Rights Program are separate entities within the National Legal Department but
run a joint summer program.
- The NLD’s First Amendment working group litigates cases that raise
novel and important issues involving free speech, association, and assembly.
The NLD also litigates cases concerning technology and liberty issues, including
challenges to government surveillance, fair use rights, and internet censorship.
- The NLD's National Security Project litigates national security cases relating
to government surveillance, discrimination, dissent, detention, and torture.
Its current docket includes a challenge to the FISA Amendments Act of 2008,
litigation against a private corporation for its facilitation of the CIA's
"extraordinary rendition" program, habeas litigation on behalf of
Ali al-Marri, the only person currently held inside the United States as an
"enemy combatant," and Freedom of Information Act litigation concerning
the abuse and torture of prisoners held by the U.S. in Afghanistan, Iraq,
and at Guantanamo Bay.
- The NLD’s Human Rights Program works to ensure that the U.S. government
complies with universal human rights principles in addition to the U.S. Constitution
and conducts research, publishes reports and uses human rights strategies
to complement existing ACLU advocacy in the areas of national security, immigrants’
rights, women’s rights and racial justice.
ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Summer internships last between 10-12 weeks. Interns assist in all aspects of
litigation, including legal research, factual investigation, and drafting of
memoranda, affidavits, and briefs.
EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS:
Applicants should have an interest in civil liberties and human rights, excellent
writing and communication skills, and the ability, work ethic, and enthusiasm
to see projects to completion. First and second year law students are encouraged
to apply.
COMPENSATION:
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. However, summer interns who do not secure funding may
be eligible for a stipend provided by the NLD.
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 by email to arastogi@aclu.org
with Re: NLD Summer Internship 2009 in the subject line OR
send your materials to:
Ankit Rastogi
Law Student Intern Program
ACLU National Legal Department
125 Broad Street, 18th Floor
New York, NY 10004-2400
Applications from second year law students must be postmarked no
later than November 15, 2008. Applications from first year law students must
be postmarked no later than January 9, 2009.
The ACLU is an equal opportunity/affirmative action
employer and encourages applications from women, people of color, persons with
disabilities, and lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals.
The ACLU comprises two separate corporate entities, The American Civil Liberties
Union and the ACLU Foundation. Both the American Civil Liberties Union and the
ACLU Foundation are national organizations with the same overall mission, and
share office space and employees. The ACLU has two separate corporate entities
in order to do a broad range of work to protect civil liberties. This job posting
refers collectively to the two organizations under the name “ACLU.”
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