Summer 2015 Intern – American Civil Liberties Union – New York, NY

For nearly 100 years, the ACLU has been our nation’s guardian of liberty, working in courts, legislatures, and communities to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties that the Constitution and the laws of the United States guarantee everyone in this country. Whether it’s achieving full equality for the LGBT community, establishing new privacy protections for our digital age, ending mass incarceration, 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 from government abuse and overreach. With more than a million members, activists, and supporters, the ACLU is a nationwide organization that fights tirelessly in all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and Washington, D.C., for the principle that every individual’s rights must be protected equally under the law, regardless of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability or national origin.

The Capital Punishment Project (CPP) of the ACLU’s National Office in Durham, N.C. seeks applicants for its Summer2015 Undergraduate Internship. A stipend will be offered to interns who do not receive course credit and/or outside funding. Arrangements can be made with educational institutions for work/study or course credit.

OVERVIEW

The Capital Punishment Project, part of the ACLU’s Center for Justice, challenges the unfairness and arbitrariness of capital punishment while working toward the ultimate goal of abolishing the death penalty. The Project engages in public advocacy and strategic litigation, including direct representation of capital defendants. The Project’s litigation is conducted throughout the country, with particular focus on the South.

INTERNSHIP OVERVIEW

Interns will have theopportunity to gain valuable experience learning about capital punishment work. Interns will work alongside CPP staff on a variety of duties. The internship is full-time, typically requires a 10 week commitment and has a preferred date of June 1, 2015. The number of interns accepted varies.

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Maintain case files, including copying and scanning materials.
  • Conduct factual research.
  • Respond to letters from incarcerated individuals seeking assistance.
  • Work on other projects as assigned.

DESIRED EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS

The internship is open to undergraduate students who possess the following:

  • Strong computer skills, including proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and web-based research.
  • Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and the ability to work independently.
  • Excellent research, writing and communication skills.
  • Interest in the abolition of the death penalty.
  • A commitment to civil liberties, civil rights and social justice.

How to apply

Please send a cover letter describing your interest in capital punishment reform and civil liberties, including any relevant life or work experience; a resume; and a list of three references to hrjobsCPP@aclu.org. Reference [CPP Summer 2015 Undergraduate Internship/ ACLU-ID] in the subject line. Please note that this is not the general ACLU applicant email address. This email address is specific to Capital Punishment Project postings. In order to ensure your application is received please make certain it is sent to the correct e-mail address.

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

Applicants are encouraged to submit materials as early as possible as 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, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship, disability, and veteran status.

The ACLU undertakes affirmative action strategies in its recruitment and employment efforts to assure that persons with disabilities have full opportunities for employment in all positions.

We encourage applicants with disabilities who may need accommodations in the application process to contact HRJobsINCLReq@aclu.org. Correspondence sent to this email address that is not related to requests for accommodations will not be reviewed. Applicants should follow the instructions above regarding how to apply.

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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