About the Role

The ACLU seeks a full-time Summer Undergraduate Intern in the Speech, Privacy and Technology Project of the ACLU’s National office in New York City. This position can be remote or hybrid.

Qualifying applicants must currently be matriculated undergraduate students and must be based in the U.S. for the entire duration of the internship.

The Team:

The Speech, Privacy and Technology Project is dedicated to protecting and expanding the First Amendment freedoms of expression, association, and inquiry; expanding the right to privacy and increasing the control that individuals have over their personal information; and ensuring that civil liberties are enhanced rather than compromised by new advances in science and technology. The project is currently litigating cases and conducting other advocacy efforts on a variety of issues, including political protest, freedom of expression online, privacy of electronic information, journalists’ rights, scientific and academic freedom, openness in the courts, privacy rights at the border, and the impact of big data and algorithmic decision-making.

What You’ll Do:

The undergraduate summer internship is designed to provide interns with the opportunity to learn about public interest work, explore personal research opportunities, and engage in legal advocacy and public writing for issues on which the Speech, Privacy, and Technology Project focuses. There are no educational prerequisites for the position, and applicants need not have any background nor prior knowledge in pre-law, technology, or science-related fields. The Project strongly encourages people of color, women, LGBTQ+ people, and people with disabilities to apply.

Your Day to Day:

• Conducting research on issues relating to free speech, privacy and technology
• Preparing, producing and developing litigation and advocacy materials
• Drafting posts for the ACLU blog
• Conducting research on Freedom of Information Act requests
• Attending meetings to gain firsthand knowledge of active cases and advocacy projects
• Assisting with litigation and advocacy projects
• Assisting with the maintenance of case files
• Assisting in administrative support and other maintenance tasks to support the work of the project
• Proposing independent research projects relating to free speech, privacy and technology

This posting provides a general but not comprehensive list of the opportunities of the internship. 

What You'll Bring:

The undergraduate internship is open to students who have completed at least one year of their undergraduate program before the internship commences. Undergraduate interns should possess the following: 

• Enthusiasm for issues related to free speech, privacy, and technology as well as a commitment to social justice and civil liberties.
• Strong research, writing, and communications skills.
• Initiative to see projects through to completion.
• Strong proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (i.e. Word, Excel, and PowerPoint).

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 may be remote or hybrid and based in our New York City office.
• Time Commitment: Summer internships require a full time (35 hour/week) commitment for 10 consecutive weeks.
• Internship Duration: Internships have a start date of May 24 or June 7.
• Stipend: A stipend is available for those students who are lawfully authorized to work. Undergraduate interns receive a stipend amount $20/hour (stipends are taxed)

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 complete the Accommodation Request Form

If you are selected for an interview, you will receive additional information regarding how to request an accommodation 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.