ACLU of Northern California
The ACLU-NC is an affiliate of a nationwide, non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to the defense and expansion of civil liberties and civil rights. For most of the last century, it has been at the heart of many of the most major – and sometimes controversial – struggles for civil liberties and civil rights in our state.
Our mission is to ensure that Constitutional rights don’t just exist on paper, but are protected in practice. As we move into a new era and face dangerous policies that threaten our civil rights and civil liberties, we remain dedicated to confronting these issues and defending the progress we have made. We must use our decades of experience in impact litigation, legislative advocacy, and fearless organizing to fight these un-American policies and protect our most cherished rights and freedoms.
We are the resistance. Join us.
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Fall 2026 Democracy, Speech & Technology Externship
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Location: For Fall 2026, students located in proximity to one of our three office locations (Fresno, Sacramento, or San Francisco) may work with us in-person, remotely, or in a hybrid model. Students not located in proximity to one of our three office locations may work with us remotely.
Deadline: Open until filled.
The ACLU of Northern California’s Legal Advocacy Department invites law and graduate students to apply for its Democracy, Speech & Technology Externship. Students willing to work with intensity and focus will find an externship at ACLU NorCal to be 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.
About the Legal Advocacy Department
The Legal Advocacy 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 three broad issue areas: Criminal Law & Immigration; Democracy, Speech & Technology; and Appeals & Special Litigation. The department’s staff is based in San Francisco, Sacramento, and Fresno. Legal staff work closely with other departments within ACLU NorCal, including Organizing, Communications, Development, as well as with ACLU National and California Action.
Democracy, Speech & Technology Externship
Democracy, Speech & Technology Externs work directly with one or more attorneys in support of the project’s litigation and policy work, which focuses on safeguarding free speech, privacy, and open government, in the digital world and beyond.
Externs 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. Externs may attend and participate in public hearings at the state and county level and participate in meetings with policy-makers and advocates as such opportunities arise. When possible, externs may also attend appellate arguments, trial court proceedings, and depositions. Externs are encouraged to attend and participate in departmental meetings, where prospective litigation and policy strategies are discussed. At times, assignments may arise that provide externs the opportunity to work across the department’s three broad issue areas, including Criminal Law & Immigration and Appeals & Special Litigation.
Applicants must currently be enrolled in law school or a graduate program in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Science, Public Policy, Political Science, Journalism, or a related field, and must demonstrate a strong interest in the intersection of civil liberties and free speech, technology, and privacy. The Legal Advocacy Department accepts two to three Democracy, Speech & Technology Externs 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. We greatly prefer that part-time interns commit to work full days (i.e., two eight-hour days rather than four four-hour days) and recommend that students commit as many days a week as possible for the best internship experience. Please note: School year interns must earn academic credit, as determined by their institution, for their participation in our Spring/Fall internship programs.
Application deadlines
Applicants are encouraged to apply early in the hiring cycle.
How to apply
Applications from all interested law and graduate students are welcome. (Please note that ACLU NorCal does not consider applications from undergraduate students.) 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.
The ACLU of Northern California advances equity and inclusion in the workplace by providing equal employment opportunity to support a work environment free from discrimination on the basis of race, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age (over 40), sexual orientation, military and veteran status, arrest or conviction record, and any other basis prohibited by law. The organization also provides reasonable accommodations for qualified applicants and employees with disabilities. This equal employment opportunity policy applies to all aspects of employment, including recruitment, selection, advancement, training, problem resolution, and separation from employment. Through this policy, ACLU NorCal strives to establish and maintain an equitable and accessible work environment that is supportive and free from discrimination.
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Fall 2026 Criminal Law & Immigration Project Externship
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Location: For Fall 2026, students located in proximity to one of our three office locations (Fresno, Sacramento, or San Francisco) may work with us in-person, remotely, or in a hybrid model. Students not located in proximity to one of our three office locations may work with us remotely.
The ACLU of Northern California’s Legal Advocacy Department invites law and policy graduate students to apply for its Criminal Law & Immigration Project externship. Students willing to work with intensity and focus will find an externship at ACLU NorCal to be 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.
About the Legal Advocacy Department
The Legal Advocacy 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 three broad issue areas: Criminal Law & Immigration; Democracy, Speech & Technology; and Appeals & Special Litigation. The department’s staff is based in San Francisco, Sacramento, and Fresno. Legal staff work closely with other departments within ACLU NorCal, including Organizing, Communications, Development, as well as with ACLU California Action.
Criminal Law & Immigration Project Externship
Criminal Law & Immigration Project externs will participate in one or more of the team’s core streams of work, which include: Prosecutorial Accountability; Police Accountability; Decarceration; and Immigrants’ Rights. The Prosecutorial Accountability project aims to increase engagement in prosecutorial elections, increase accountability, 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. The Immigrants’ Rights work focuses on projects that ensure that the civil rights of immigrants, refugees, asylum-seekers are protected under federal, state, and local law.
Externs will be tasked with conducting legal and policy research and analysis; helping to author advocacy materials, portions of court documents, and pre-litigation demand letters; and/or assisting with legislative or other local campaigns. Externs may attend and participate in hearings at the state and county level and meetings with policy-makers and advocates as opportunities arise. Externs may also attend appellate arguments, trial court proceedings, and depositions. Externs are encouraged to attend and participate in departmental meetings, where prospective litigation and policy strategies are discussed. Assignments may arise that provide externs the opportunity to work across the department’s three broad issue areas, including Democracy, Speech & Technology and Appeals & Special Litigation.
Applicants 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 immigrants’ rights and the overarching mission of the ACLU. The Legal Advocacy Department accepts two to three Criminal Law & Immigration externs per term.
Application Process
School Year Internships
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. We greatly prefer that part-time interns commit to work full days (i.e., two eight-hour days rather than four four-hour days) and recommend that students commit as many days a week as possible for the best internship experience. Please note: School year interns must earn academic credit, as determined by their institution, for their participation in our Spring/Fall internship programs.
Application deadlines
Applicants are encouraged to apply early in the hiring cycle.
How to apply
Applications from all interested law and graduate students are welcome. (Please note that ACLU NorCal does not consider applications from undergraduate students.) 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.
The ACLU of Northern California advances equity and inclusion in the workplace by providing equal employment opportunity to support a work environment free from discrimination on the basis of race, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age (over 40), sexual orientation, military and veteran status, arrest or conviction record, and any other basis prohibited by law. The organization also provides reasonable accommodations for qualified applicants and employees with disabilities. This equal employment opportunity policy applies to all aspects of employment, including recruitment, selection, advancement, training, problem resolution, and separation from employment. Through this policy, ACLU NorCal strives to establish and maintain an equitable and accessible work environment that is supportive and free from discrimination.
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Apply to ACLU of Northern California
Intake Counselor - Volunteer
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This is a volunteer opportunity available in the ACLU Foundation of Northern California’s Legal-Policy Department.
About the organization and the department
The mission of the ACLU Foundation of Northern California (ACLU NorCal) is to be an enduring guardian of justice, fairness, equality, and freedom, working to protect and advance civil liberties for all Californians. This position offers a unique opportunity to be at the heart of the Legal-Policy team which pursues cutting edge impact litigation and promotes policy change in order to defend and expand the civil liberties and civil rights guaranteed by the Bill of Rights and the California Constitution.
The position
Intake Counselors support the Civil Liberties Intake Program by processing requests for legal assistance, distributing know-your-rights materials, etc. The Intake Counselor position is supervised by the Intake Program Manager.
Responsibilities can include:
- Answering phone calls received through our Civil Liberties Hotline;
- Conducting initial interview questions with the callers, writing clear and complete notes during the call, and documenting relevant matters in a concise manner;
- Reviewing, evaluating, and responding to written requests for assistance, including mail and online complaints; and
- Working with a web-based database to enter and update information from the intake, as well as catalog that data within the system.
Qualifications
The ACLU NorCal values equity and inclusion and encourages a diversity of candidates from various backgrounds to apply.
Individuals joining the Legal-Policy Department team as a Volunteer Civil Liberties Intake Counselor must have the following skills and qualifications:
- Strong commitment to and enthusiasm for the mission of the ACLU of Northern California (for examples of our work, see the ACLU NorCal's online legal docket: https://www.aclunc.org/our-work/legal-docket);
- Ability to adhere to a strict code of confidentiality;
- A dedication to ongoing learning on how to best perform intake volunteer duties;
- Strong oral and written communication skills;
- Proficiency with or willingness to learn Outlook;
- Proficiency with or willingness to learn a web-based database; and
- Highly organized and careful attention to detail.
Helpful but not required skills and qualifications include
- Advanced or higher proficiency in Spanish (reading, writing, listening, and speaking);
- Experience with a web-based database.
Time commitment & benefits
We require a minimum 4-month commitment of at 6 least hours during the workweek (Monday - Friday). This is an unpaid position.
To apply
The cover letter should include why you are interested in this volunteer position and what your availability will be for the coming months.
The ACLU of Northern California advances equity and inclusion in the workplace by providing equal employment opportunity to support a work environment free from discrimination on the basis of race, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age (over 40), sexual orientation, military and veteran status, and any other basis prohibited by law. The organization also provides reasonable accommodations for qualified applicants and employees with disabilities. This equal employment opportunity policy applies to all aspects of employment, including recruitment, selection, advancement, training, problem resolution, and separation from employment. Through this policy, the ACLU NorCal strives to establish and maintain an equitable and accessible work environment that is free from discrimination and supportive of a workforce that reflects the rich diversity of our communities and the people we serve. ACLU NorCal will consider for employment all qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance (SF Police Code, Article 49).
Ready to apply?
Apply to ACLU of Northern California