Intern, Legal (2L) (Summer 2027)

Overview

This internship is for 2L students only. (1L opportunities will be posted separately.)

The organization is seeking highly motivated legal interns for a summer internship program for first- and second-year law students with strong academic backgrounds, excellent writing skills, and a commitment to public interest work.

Interns will support legal work focused on civil rights and related public interest advocacy.

Responsibilities

• Work on legal issues within one of the organization’s six Advocacy and Litigation Impact Teams (ALIT):
  • Economic Justice: Reclaims land and wealth unjustly taken from Black and Brown communities in the Deep South; defends the rights of people experiencing homelessness to be sheltered, safe, and housed.
  • Criminal Legal System Reform: Challenges unconstitutional laws and practices that reinforce racial inequities in the justice system; seeks to end inhumane prison conditions and mass incarceration across the Deep South.
  • Democracy: Education and Youth: Challenges the school-to-prison pipeline; opposes censorship and exclusionary policies in schools.
  • Democracy: Voting Rights: Pushes back against racial gerrymandering; challenges discriminatory tactics to disenfranchise voters; advocates for Black and Brown communities to fully exercise rights at the ballot box.
  • Inclusion and Anti-Extremism: Uses federal, state, and local laws to bring lawsuits against hate and extremist groups; challenges exclusionary policies aimed at marginalized communities.
  • Immigrant Justice: Rapidly responds to emerging issues facing immigrant communities; collaborates with partner organizations to provide community supports; challenges unconstitutional detention and enforcement policies at the local, state, and federal levels.
• Participate in professional development and networking opportunities throughout the summer.
• Assist attorneys with litigation and help implement community-focused strategies to influence positive change for:
  • children
  • workers
  • people impacted by hate and extremism
  • detained and incarcerated people
  • people experiencing or facing economic hardship.
• Uphold the organization’s JEDI principles by seeking diverse collaborators and partners and ensuring contributions are directed toward shared mission, vision, and values and department goals.

Minimum Qualifications

• Currently enrolled in a law school as a second-year law student
• Strong academic background
• Excellent writing skills

Compensation & Benefits

• $18.40 per hour
• Expected schedule: 40 hours per week
• Supervisor-approved overtime may be available

Location & Work Designation

Work-designation options:

• Local Remote: Remote work; expected to attend work-related activities that occur at organization offices or in the states in which the organization operates.
• Telework: Work at an organization office at least three days per week; may work two days per week from an alternative work location.

Team members and collaboration are typically conducted remotely, since Legal Department staff are based throughout the Deep South.

Dates & Commitment

• Expected start: June 7, 2027
• Expected end: August 12, 2027
• Minimum commitment: ten consecutive weeks
• Summers cannot be split.

Special Considerations

• Work is performed under general office conditions and is not subject to strenuous physical demands or dangerous conditions.
• Due to high volume of applications, the organization is unable to respond to inquiries by telephone.

Application Materials & Deadline

Submit a cover letter, resume, and unofficial transcript by 5:00pm CST on Friday, Sept 18, 2026.

Equal Opportunity Statement

An equal-opportunity employer committed to diversity. Applications are considered without regard to age, caregiver status, color, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender expression, gender identity, marital status, national origin, genetic information, political affiliation, pregnancy, or veteran status.