The American Civil Liberties Union is the largest and oldest organization in the United States dedicated to protecting the civil liberties of all people in this nation through litigation, public education, advocacy, and organizing. The ACLU litigates high-impact cases addressing a wide range of constitutional and civil rights issues, including criminal law reform, immigrants’ rights, racial justice, LGBTQ rights, sex discrimination, freedom of speech, religious freedom, reproductive freedom, voting rights, police misconduct, prisoners’ rights, and privacy. The ACLU of Michigan, with nearly 40 staff, is one of the state’s leading civil rights organizations.
Summer legal interns with the ACLU of Michigan have a unique opportunity to work on cutting-edge civil liberties and civil rights cases. In addition to a vibrant and innovative caseload, the ACLU of Michigan offers legal interns a rewarding summer experience, including opportunities to attend court hearings, social activities, supervision and mentorship.
Some of our recent litigation includes:
the leading case(s) in the Sixth Circuit on behalf of immigrants unlawfully detained under the Trump administration’s new policies on mandatory detention
numerous important and novel cases urging the Michigan Supreme Court to adopt more expansive protections under our state constitution for the civil rights of Michiganders than are offered by the federal constitution
a statewide lawsuit to enjoin Michigan’s 1931 abortion ban and affirm the fundamental right to abortion under the state constitution
a U.S. Supreme Court case on behalf of a woman who was fired from her job when she disclosed to her employer that she is transgender
the first lawsuit in the nation challenging police misuse of facial recognition technology
a groundbreaking settlement to overhaul Detroit’s broken cash bail system and build a model for the state
a class action lawsuit to prevent the Trump administration from deporting Iraqis without giving them an opportunity to challenge their removal orders in immigration court
a federal lawsuit to obtain safe drinking water for the people of Flint
a U.S. Supreme Court case on behalf of a five-year-old girl with cerebral palsy who was not allowed to bring her service dog to school
a class action lawsuit to reform special education in Flint after the entire population was exposed to lead
a state constitutional challenge to Michigan’s practice of sentencing children to life in prison with and without the possibility of parole
Responsibilities:
Law students work on many aspects of potential and ongoing cases, such as drafting memoranda addressing the merits of a case and potential defenses, meeting with and interviewing plaintiffs and witnesses, and drafting complaints and briefs. Students may also be asked to analyze the constitutionality of pending legislation or help with discovery.
Locations:
Internships are available at our Detroit headquarters and our West Michigan Regional Office in Grand Rapids. In your cover letter, please indicate whether you have a geographic preference. The ACLU of Michigan is operating under a hybrid work model. As with attorneys in the department, successful applicants are expected to work in-person from either the Grand Rapids or Detroit office at least two days a week.
Qualifications:
Must have finished first year of law school
Excellent research, writing and communication skills
Commitment to civil rights and civil liberties
Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion; must value and respect differences of race, ethnicity, age, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, religion, ability and socio-economic circumstance
Students who have studied constitutional law are preferred
Supervision: Legal interns will be supervised by the legal director, deputy legal director, staff attorneys, and legal fellows. They may also be asked to assist a cooperating attorney or partner.
Commitment: Our summer legal internship requires a 10 to 12 week commitment.
Stipends: We encourage all applicants to seek public interest fellowship funds through their law school. If you are unable to secure funding from your law school for a public interest internship, the ACLU can provide funding to make this opportunity more feasible for law students who would otherwise be required to seek paid employment over the summer. Please indicate in your cover letter if you are interested in ACLU funding.
