Spring 2027 Democracy, Speech & Technology Project Extern

Location: For Spring 2027, students located in proximity to one of our three office locations (Fresno, Sacramento, or San Francisco) may work with us in-person, remotely, or in a hybrid model. Students not located in proximity to one of our office locations may work with us remotely. Deadline: Open until filled.

About the Legal Advocacy Department

The Legal Advocacy Department promotes policy change and pursues cutting-edge impact litigation to defend and expand the civil liberties and civil rights guaranteed by the Bill of Rights. The Department's work focuses on three broad issue areas: Criminal Law & Immigration; Democracy, Speech & Technology; and Special Litigation & Appeals. The Department's staff is based in San Francisco, Sacramento, and Fresno. Department staff work closely with other departments within ACLU NorCal, including Organizing, Communications, Development, as well as with ACLU National and California Action.

Democracy, Speech & Technology Externship

Democracy, Speech & Technology Externs work directly with one or more attorneys in support of the project's litigation and policy work, which focuses on safeguarding free speech, privacy, and open government, in the digital world and beyond. Externs will 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;
• Participating in meetings with policy-makers and advocates as opportunities arise;
• Attending appellate arguments, trial court proceedings, and depositions when possible;
• Participating in departmental meetings, where prospective litigation and policy strategies are discussed.

At times, assignments may arise that provide externs the opportunity to work across the Department's three broad issue areas, including Criminal Law & Immigration and Special Litigation & Appeals.

Requirements

• Currently enrolled in law school or a graduate program in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Science, Public Policy, Political Science, Journalism, or a related field;
• Strong interest in the intersection of civil liberties and free speech, technology, and privacy;
• Enthusiastic, creative, and detail-oriented;
• Strong research, writing, and oral communication skills;
• Ability to articulate a commitment to work for social justice and the ideals of the ACLU.

Schedule

School year externships (Spring and Fall Terms) are full- or part-time, generally requiring a 16 hours per week minimum commitment.

• Students on the semester system must commit to working 12–14 weeks.
• Students on the quarter system can serve shorter quarter-long externships.
• Part-time externs are preferred to commit to full days (e.g., two eight-hour days rather than four four-hour days).
• Externs must earn academic credit for their participation in Spring/Fall externship programs.