Summer 2027 Democracy, Speech & Technology Internship

Location: We expect our Summer 2027 internships will proceed in-person (or in a hybrid model) at our offices in San Francisco Sacramento and your application materials please include your preference and willingness to be based in each of these locations.

Deadline: Open until filled. Applications from first year law students will not be reviewed until November 2026.

The ACLU of Northern Californias Legal Advocacy Department invites law and graduate students to apply for its Democracy Speech & Technology Internship. Students willing to work with intensity and focus will find an internship 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 Departments work focuses on three broad issue areas: Criminal Law & Immigration; Democracy Speech & Technology; and Special Litigation & Appeals. The Departments staff is based in San Francisco Sacramento and Fresno. Department staff work closely with other departments within ACLU NorCal including Organizing Communications Development as well as with ACLU California Action.

Democracy Speech & Technology Internship

Democracy Speech & Technology Interns work directly with one or more attorneys in support of the projects litigation and policy work which focuses on safeguarding free speech privacy and open government in the digital world and beyond.

Interns 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. Interns 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 interns may also attend appellate arguments trial court proceedings and depositions. Interns are encouraged to attend and participate in departmental meetings where prospective litigation and policy strategies are discussed. At times assignments may arise that provide interns the opportunity to work across the Departments three broad issue areas including Criminal Law & Immigration and Special Litigation & Appeals.

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 Interns per term.

Application Process

Summer internships are full-time for 10 12 weeks and generally begin the day after Memorial Day. Split summers may be considered where the intern is available for a minimum of 10 weeks. Part-time internships are not available during the summer.

Funding and Scholarship Opportunities

For summer internship funding students should seek funding through their institutions to the extent it is available. At ACLU NorCal we strive to create equitable opportunities for student-applicants and recognize that not all institutions provide funding (or adequate funding) for students pursing public interest internships and career paths. As such for students coming from schools that do not offer summer funding ACLU NorCal will provide you with funding to compensate for you work with us over the summer.

Application deadlines

Applicants are encouraged to apply early in the hiring cycle.

• Summer term: Applications will be accepted beginning in early September for the following summer term. ACLU NorCal staff will not begin to review applications from first year law students until November 2026.

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 youve applied for (b) your preference and willingness to be based in each of our three office locations for the summer (San Francisco Sacramento and Fresno) and (c) how you encountered the internship opening; (2) Resume; and (3) Writing Sample.

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.