ACLU-NC Policy & Advocacy Summer Intern 2026

About the ACLU of North Carolina 

Whether it’s achieving full equality for LGBTQ+ people, fighting to achieve racial justice, pushing to eradicate our  broken and racially biased criminal legal system, defending freedom of speech, religion, and the right to protest, or preserving the right to vote or the right to have an abortion, the ACLU takes up the toughest civil liberties cases and issues to defend all people from government abuse and overreach.  

Two critical components of our work are uplifting the voices and leadership of directly impacted people and applying an anti-racist lens to all aspects of our internal and external functions including but not limited to our issue campaigns, recruitment and human resources, strategic planning, donor and volunteer relations, Board and committee processes, and deciding what cases to litigate. We are looking for candidates who share our commitment to our values.   

The ACLU-NC brings together litigation, legislative advocacy, communications, and organizing strategies to empower communities and achieve our objectives in major issue areas including criminal law reform, racial justice, LGBTQ+ equality, reproductive freedom, and the rights of immigrants. With 30,000 members and supporters across the state, the ACLU-NC has a staff of over 25 people with an office in Durham. 

The Opportunity 

The American Civil Liberties Union of North Carolina (ACLU-NC) is currently accepting applications for a Summer 2026 Policy & Advocacy Intern to work in our office.  

The intern will have the opportunity to work with the Policy & Advocacy team to advance the ACLU-NC's legislative agenda. The internship is full-time and requires a 10-week commitment.  

Key Responsibilities 

The intern will gain valuable experience by working with the ACLU-NC Policy & Advocacy Team on the following:  

• Assist with tracking, monitoring, and analyzing proposed legislation.  

• Monitor the legislative calendar for committee meetings and actions involving tracked legislation.  

• Conduct legal and policy research into civil liberties issues raised by proposed legislation and prepare talking points, bill summaries, reports, and position papers for ACLU-NC staff, the public, and legislators.  

• Assist the P&A Team with lobbying members of legislative bodies and their staff in support of ACLU-NC positions on pending legislation.  

• Go to the North Carolina General Assembly for meetings, committee meetings, and legislative session as needed during the 10-week internship period.  

• Attend coalition and other meetings with or on behalf of the P&A team; assist in communications with coalition partners. 

To Be Successful in This Role, the Candidate Will Have 

• Commitment to Mission: Demonstrated commitment to and a strong understanding of civil rights, civil liberties, social justice, and the ACLU-NC’s mission, goals, and programs. 

• Commitment to Values: Alignment with the values of the ACLU-NC and professional commitment to advancing them.  

• Commitment to Diversity: Ability to work in an environment that respects differences of race, ethnicity, age, gender, sexual orientation, religion, ability, and socioeconomic circumstances. 

• Communication: Excellent ability to communicate and work effectively and respectfully with staff, volunteers, and the general public. Skilled in communicating both orally and in writing. 

• Technical Support: Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite. 

• Self-Management: Self-starter with strong follow-through and the ability to meet deadlines with limited supervision. Attention to detail, excellent organization, and time-management skills. 

• Teamwork: Ability to think creatively and work collaboratively to promote ACLU-NC objectives.  

To Stand Out from Others, You Will Have: 

• At least one year of graduate level education related to public policy or law. 

• Experience with one or more of the ACLU of North Carolina's strategic priority areas: racial justice, immigrants’ rights, criminal law reform, reproductive freedom, or LGBTQ+ rights. 

What Else You Should Know 

You are welcome here! The ACLU-NC is committed to an inclusive work environment that reflects the population that we serve. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer and are committed to building an organization where all employees and North Carolinians can be proud. We eagerly anticipate applications from all qualified individuals without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship, disability, parental status, veteran status, or record of arrest or conviction. 

Compensation 

A stipend of $8,400 for ten weeks is available for the Policy & Advocacy Intern, but candidates are required to document attempts to secure funding through their graduate schools or external sources. Any final stipend amount will be offset by amounts received through these external funding sources.  

To Apply 

Please submit one (1) PDF containing the following: a cover letter describing your interest in interning with our office specially and your commitment to civil rights work, including any relevant life or work experience gained before or during graduate school;  a current resume; a writing sample (no more than 10 pages in length) that you primarily authored without significant drafting or editing by others; a copy of your transcript; and a list of at least two professional references. 

Applications may be submitted via this link (ACLU-NC Policy & Advocacy Summer Intern 2026 - American Civil Liberties Union of North Carolina - Career Page) and should include all materials outlined above. Please note that we will only be able to follow up with those candidates under consideration. We will review applications on a rolling basis and reach out to qualified candidates.   

The ACLU-NC is an equal opportunity employer. We value a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture. Recognizing that strict minimum requirements tend to disproportionately discourage women and people of color from applying for jobs for which they would otherwise be competitive, we encourage all qualified individuals to apply -- especially people of color; women; people from low-income backgrounds; people with disabilities; people who identify as LGBTQ+; and people who are formerly incarcerated or otherwise directly impacted by the criminal legal system.  

The ACLU-NC and the ACLU-NCLF is an equal opportunity employer. We value a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture. Recognizing that strict minimum requirements tend to disproportionately discourage women and people of color from applying for jobs for which they would otherwise be competitive, we encourage all qualified individuals to apply -- especially people of color; women; people from low-income backgrounds; people with disabilities; people who identify as LGBTQ+; and people who are formerly incarcerated or otherwise directly impacted by the criminal legal system.