SPRING/SUMMER 2013 Legal Internship – Equality Center

The American Civil Liberties Union Foundation (ACLU), founded in 1920, is a nationwide, nonprofit, nonpartisan organization with more than 500,000 members dedicated to the principles of liberty and equality embodied in the U.S. Constitution. The Equality Center – Disability Rights Program of the ACLU’s National Office San Francisco seeks applicants for a Spring/Summer 2013 Legal Internship.

OVERVIEW

The ACLU has a long history of defending the rights of people with disabilities. It played a major role in securing passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The ACLU has battled discrimination against persons with HIV/AIDS and stood up for the voting rights of persons with disabilities in the ongoing debate over electoral reform. It has fought to obtain adequate health care and access to services for prisoners with disabilities across the country. The ACLU also established the right to treatment for persons with mental illness who are involuntarily committed.

INTERNSHIP OVERVIEW

The Internship requires a 10 to 16 week commitment. The internship may be full-time or part-time, with weekly hours that are negotiable. Because this is an unpaid internship, students are highly encouraged to seek support for Public Interest Fellowship stipends. Arrangements can also be made with the student’s law school for a work/study stipend or course credit.

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITES

The Legal Internship program is designed to provide an intern with the opportunity to learn about public interest law, with a disability rights focus. The intern will work closely with the Equality Center Disability Counsel. He/she will be expected to:

•Conduct internet and other factual research and collaborate with staff in preparing background memoranda on selected policy issues.

•Provide legal research and analysis.

•Collect and analyze statistical and social science data for use in litigation and policy presentations.

•Assist with outreach to disability organizations.

•Assist with the development and maintenance of websites, materials and other public information pieces.

•Perform special projects and other duties as assigned.

DESIRED EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS

The internship is open to students who are currently enrolled in law school, have completed their first year, and who possess the following:

•Excellent research, writing and communications skills.

•Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including internet research.

•Ability to work independently.

•Experience with disability rights law, legislative lobbying, and personal experience with disability preferred.

•Demonstrated commitment to civil rights and civil liberties issues.

HOW TO APPLY

Please send a letter of interest, a resume, a writing sample (no more than five pages in length), and the names and phone numbers of two references to hrjobsCE@aclu.org – reference [2013 Legal Internship – Equality Center- Disability/IMD] in the subject line. Please note that this is not the general ACLU applicant email address. This email address is specific to Disability Rights postings. In order to ensure your application is received please make certain it is sent to the correct e-mail address. You can expect to receive an automatic response that acknowledges the receipt of application materials.

Alternatively, applications can be mailed to:

Susan Mizner
American Civil Liberties Union
RE: SPRING/SUMMER 2013 Legal Internship – Equality Center/IMD
39 Drumm Street
San Francisco, CA 94111

Please indicate in your cover letter where you learned of this internship opportunity.

Students are encouraged to submit application materials as early as possible, since decisions are made on a rolling basis.

This job description provides a general but not comprehensive list of the essential responsibilities and qualifications required. It does not represent a contract of employment. The ACLU reserves the right to change the job description and/or posting at any time without advance notice.

The ACLU is an equal opportunity employer. We value a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture. The ACLU encourages applications from all qualified individuals without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship, disability, and veteran status. We encourage any applicants who need accommodations in the application process to contact: Recruitment@aclu.org.

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.”