Summer 2027 Litigation Intern

The NAACP Legal Defense & Educational Fund, Inc. (LDF) is the country’s first and foremost civil and human rights law organization. Founded in 1940 under the leadership of Thurgood Marshall, who subsequently became the first Black U.S. Supreme Court Justice, LDF was launched at a time when the nation’s aspirations for equality and due process of law were stifled by widespread state-sponsored racial inequality. From that era to the present, LDF’s mission has been transformative — to achieve racial justice, equality, and an inclusive society. LDF’s litigation, public policy advocacy, and public education programs in the substantive areas of criminal justice, economic justice, education, and political participation seek to ensure the fundamental and basic human rights of all people to quality education, economic opportunity, the right to vote and fully participate in democracy, and the right to a fair and just judicial system.

About the role

LDF is currently accepting applications from law students for 2027 summer litigation internships for the New York, Washington D.C., and Atlanta offices. Summer interns will be in-person in their assigned office two days a week. As part of LDF’s long-standing commitment to training the next generation of civil rights attorneys, LDF, through our internship program, relies on assistance from law students to support our litigation and advocacy efforts.

Responsibilities

• Legal research and memorandum writing
• Factual investigation
• Development of educational and outreach materials
• Discovery review
• Assistance with a host of other needs that arise in LDF’s litigation and advocacy efforts in the areas of Education, Political Participation, Economic Justice, and Criminal Justice
• Participation in a series of brown bag luncheons featuring prominent civil rights and public interest attorneys

Requirements

• Current law student (preference for second-year law students, but first-year law students will be considered)
• Commitment to working for at least ten (10) weeks during the summer (other arrangements may be accommodated on a case-by-case basis)
• Interest in pursuing a career in racial justice and civil rights law

Application materials

• Cover letter (include preferred office location: New York, Washington D.C., or Atlanta)
• Résumé
• 5- to 10-page writing sample
• A list of three references

Applications are due by Friday, October 2, 2026, and early applications are encouraged.

Pay

This is an unpaid internship. However, in its discretion, LDF may provide appropriate funding to those who demonstrate they are unable to secure funding from their law school’s public interest programs or other appropriate sources.