Spring 2027 Democracy, Speech & Technology Project Extern

Overview

For Spring 2027, students located in proximity to one of three office locations (Fresno, Sacramento, or San Francisco) may work in person, remotely, or in a hybrid model. Students not located in proximity to one of these office locations may work remotely.

This externship is part of the Legal Advocacy Department and invites law and graduate students to apply for its Democracy, Speech & Technology Externship.

About the Legal Advocacy Department

The Legal Advocacy Department promotes policy change and pursues impactful litigation to defend and expand the civil liberties and civil rights guaranteed by the Bill of Rights.

Department work focuses on three issue areas:

• Criminal Law & Immigration
• Democracy, Speech & Technology
• Special Litigation & Appeals

Staff are based in San Francisco, Sacramento, and Fresno, and work closely with other departments within the organization, including Organizing, Communications, and Development, as well as with ACLU National and California Action.

Democracy, Speech & Technology Externship

Externs work directly with one or more attorneys to support litigation and policy efforts centered on safeguarding free speech, privacy, and open government in the digital world and beyond.

Selected externs will generally be tasked with:

• Legal and policy research and analysis
• Helping to author reports, advocacy materials, portions of court documents, and pre-litigation demand letters
• Assisting with legislative or other local campaigns
• Attending and participating in public hearings at the state and county level when opportunities arise
• When possible, attending appellate arguments, trial court proceedings, and depositions
• Participating in departmental meetings where prospective litigation and policy strategies are discussed

At times, assignments may provide opportunities to work across the Department’s three broad issue areas, including Criminal Law & Immigration and Special Litigation & Appeals.

Eligibility & Requirements

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
• Demonstrate a strong interest in the intersection of civil liberties and free speech, technology, and privacy

Externship Capacity

The Legal Advocacy Department accepts two to three Democracy, Speech & Technology Externs per term.

Application Process

School Year Externships (Spring and Fall Terms)

• Full- or part-time opportunities are available
• Generally require a 16 hours per week minimum commitment
• Students on the semester system must be able to commit to working 12 – 14 weeks
• Students on the quarter system can serve shorter quarter-long externships
• The organization greatly prefers that part-time externs commit to full days (for example, two eight-hour days rather than four four-hour days)
• Externs must earn academic credit for their participation in the Spring/Fall externship programs

Application deadlines

Applicants are encouraged to apply early in the hiring cycle.

• Spring term: Applications accepted beginning mid-August for the following spring term
• Summer term: Applications accepted beginning early September for the following summer term
  • ACLU NorCal staff will not begin to review applications from first year law students until December 2026
• Fall term: Applications accepted beginning mid-March for the following fall term

The position is open until filled.

How to apply

Applications from all interested law and graduate students are welcome.

Note: The organization does not consider applications from undergraduate students.

Application materials must be submitted in PDF format and include:

• Cover Letter (including):
  • A brief statement about why you want to work on the particular Project/Issue Area you applied for
  • Whether you are interested in in-person work or remote work
  • How you encountered the opening
• Resume
• Writing Sample

Compensation & Benefits

No compensation or benefits were specified.

Location

For Spring 2027, students located in proximity to Fresno, Sacramento, or San Francisco may work in person, remotely, or in a hybrid model. Students not located in proximity to these offices may work remotely.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The organization advances equity and inclusion in the workplace by providing equal employment opportunity and a work environment free from discrimination based on 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. Reasonable accommodations are provided for qualified applicants and employees with disabilities.