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| Job Title: | Fall 2012 Legal Internships - NPP/FEM |
| Organization: | American Civil Liberties Union |
| Region: | DC Metro Region |
| Description: | Fall 2012 LEGAL INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITY NOTICE TO LAW STUDENTS AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION FOUNDATION NATIONAL PRISON PROJECT The American Civil Liberties Union (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 and our nation's civil rights laws. The National Prison Project of the ACLU's National Office in Washington, DC invites applications for Legal Interns for the fall of 2012. OVERVIEW Founded in 1972 by the American Civil Liberties Union, the National Prison Project seeks to ensure constitutional conditions of confinement and strengthen prisoners' rights through class action litigation and public education. Our policy priorities include reducing prison overcrowding, improving prisoner health care, eliminating violence and maltreatment in prisons and jails, and minimizing the reliance on incarceration as a criminal justice sanction. The Project also coordinates a nationwide network of litigators, conducts training and public education conferences, and provides expert advice and technical assistance to local community groups and lawyers throughout the country. The population in American prisons and jails has tripled in the past 15 years with the predictable consequence that facilities are overcrowded; medical systems are overwhelmed; work, education, and treatment programs are inadequate; and idleness and inadequate supervision lead to greater levels of violence. As our national prison and jail population has climbed to over two million persons, it has grown increasingly racially skewed. On any given day, one-third of all African-American males are under some form of criminal justice supervision, and for black males in their twenties, one in every eight is in prison or jail. These trends have been exacerbated by the impact of the "war on drugs," with three-fourths of all those convicted of drug offenses being persons of color, far out of proportion to their share of drug users in society. The consequences of these racial disparities in the criminal justice system reach beyond the prison gates: for example, as a result of state felony disenfranchisement laws, an estimated 13% of all black males are not eligible to vote. The Project, with a staff of seven attorneys, has fought and continues to fight unlawful prison conditions and practices through successful litigation on behalf of prisoners in more than 25 states. Since 1991, the Project has represented prisoners in five cases before the United States Supreme Court. It is the only organization litigating prison conditions of confinement nationwide on behalf of men, women, and juveniles. Currently, the Project represents over 50,000 prisoners housed in prisons and jails in 12 states, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. INTERNSHIP OVERVIEW The Project is offering Fall Legal Interns the opportunity to work on a variety of litigation projects. Our Fall Legal Internship requires a minimum commitment of 12 to 16 hours per week and is part-time. This is an unpaid internship. Students are highly encouraged to seek Public Interest Fellowship funds for the internship. Arrangements can also be made with the student's law school for work/study stipends or course credit. ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES The Legal intern will have the opportunity to learn a wide variety of issues. Working closely with the NPP staff members, the intern will assist in all aspects of litigation and gain experience and have the opportunity Conduct Internet and other factual research. Participate in discovery and motion practice. Assist in the drafting of motions and briefs. Assist with trials and appeals preparation. Draft policy and legal memos; assist in drafting pleading, briefs and other litigation documents. DESIRED EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS The Legal Internship is open to all law students who have completed their first year of law school. Desired qualifications include: Excellent research, analytical, writing and communication skills. Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, and online legal research. The initiative to see projects through to completion. A commitment to civil liberties and public interest law. A familiarity with criminal justice issues is highly desirable. HOW TO APPLY Applications consist of a cover letter, current resume, the names and phone numbers of three references, and at least one legal writing sample. Applications should be sent via e-mail to hrjobsNPPinternship@aclu.org or they may be mailed to the following address: Eric Balaban Re: Fall 2012 Legal Internships - NPP American Civil Liberties Union Foundation 915 15th Street, NW Seventh Floor Washington, DC 20005 Please indicate in your cover letter where you learned of this internship opportunity. 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/affirmative action employer and encourages applications from all qualified individuals including women, people of color, persons with disabilities, and lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals. 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?. |
| Contact: | Eric Balaban |
| Phone: | |
| E-Mail: | hrjobsNPPinternship@aclu.org |
| Website: | http://www.aclu.org/node/35006 |
| Closing Date: | August-01-12 |
