Intern, Legal (2L) (Summer 2027)

Overview

The organization is seeking highly motivated legal interns who are passionate about civil rights. This internship is for 2L students only (1L opportunities will be posted separately).

Summer internships are available to exceptional first- and second-year law students with strong academic backgrounds, excellent writing skills, and a commitment to public interest work.

Responsibilities

Interns will work on legal issues within one of six Advocacy and Litigation Impact Teams (ALIT):

• Economic Justice: Litigation focused on reclaiming land and wealth unjustly taken from Black and Brown communities in the Deep South; and defending the rights of people experiencing homelessness to be sheltered, safe, and housed.
• Criminal Legal System Reform: Challenging unconstitutional laws and practices that reinforce racial inequities in the justice system; seeking to end inhumane prison conditions and mass incarceration across the Deep South.
• Democracy: Education and Youth: Litigation and advocacy challenging the school-to-prison pipeline; opposing censorship and exclusionary policies in schools.
• Democracy: Voting Rights: Challenging racial gerrymandering; disputing discriminatory tactics used to disenfranchise voters; advocating for Black and Brown communities to fully exercise their rights at the ballot box.
• Inclusion and Anti-Extremism: Using federal, state, and local laws to bring lawsuits against hate and extremist groups to disrupt their operations; challenging exclusionary policies aimed at marginalized communities.
• Immigrant Justice: Responding to emerging issues facing immigrant communities; collaborating with partner organizations to provide community supports; challenging unconstitutional detention and enforcement policies at local, state, and federal levels.

In addition, interns will:

• Participate in professional development and networking opportunities throughout the summer.
• Assist attorneys with litigation and support community-focused strategies to influence positive change in the lives of children, workers, people impacted by hate and extremism, detained and incarcerated people, and individuals experiencing or facing economic hardship.
• Uphold the department’s JEDI principles by seeking diverse collaborators and partners and ensuring contributions align with shared mission, vision, and values and the department’s goals.

Minimum Qualifications

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

Compensation & Benefits

• Pay: $18.40 per hour
• Schedule: 40 hours per week
• Overtime: Opportunity for supervisor-approved overtime

Location & Work Designation

This role offers the following work-designation options:

• Local Remote: Work remotely, with expected attendance at work-related activities occurring at the organization’s offices or in states where the organization operates.
• Telework: Work at an organization office at least three days per week and may work two days per week from an alternative work location.

As Legal Department team members are based throughout the Deep South, interns and team members typically collaborate on projects remotely.

Dates & Commitment

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

Other Information

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

Application Requirements

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

Equal Opportunity

The organization is an equal-opportunity employer with a commitment to diversity and the perspective of all voices. Applicants 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.