Political Advocacy Intern Summer 2026

Location

Newark, NJ (Hybrid)

Department

Political Advocacy Department

Deadline date

April 29, 2026

The American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey (ACLU-NJ) seeks a highly motivated undergraduate or graduate student for our summer internship in our Political Advocacy department. This internship is full-time, 35 hours per week for ten weeks, from June through August. Interns can expect a hybrid work schedule, with Tuesdays and Wednesdays being in-person in our Newark office.

Overview

For over 60 years, the ACLU-NJ has defended liberty and justice guided by the vision of a fair and equitable New Jersey for all. Our mission is to preserve, advance, and extend the individual rights and liberties guaranteed to every New Jerseyan by the state and federal constitutions in courts, in the legislature, and in our communities.

In every facet of our work, we strive to be anti-racist and are actively committed to advancing racial justice in the institutions of New Jersey, for the people of New Jersey. We aim to center the voices and lived experiences of those who historically have not been fully protected by government systems or laws.

Founded in 1960 and based in Newark, we are a non-partisan organization that operates on several fronts — political, legal, cultural — to bring about systemic change and build a more equitable society. You can learn more about our strategic approach here.

At the ACLU-NJ, students have the opportunity to contribute to a broad range of cutting-edge civil rights and liberties work on a variety of issues.

The ACLU-NJ is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If you are a qualified individual with a disability and need assistance applying online, please e-mail careers@aclu-nj.org. If you are selected for an interview, you will receive additional information regarding how to request an accommodation for the interview process.

Summer Policy Internship

The ACLU-NJ seeks a highly motivated college or graduate student for our Political Advocacy Internship. The Political Advocacy Intern is a temporary role which requires a 10-week commitment from June through August 2026 at an expected 35 hours per week. The office is on a hybrid work schedule- in the office on Tuesdays and Wednesdays and remotely on Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays.

The Political Advocacy Intern will work closely with the Political Advocacy department to conduct research, interview New Jersey policy leaders, analyze pending state and local legislative or regulatory proposals that impact civil rights and liberties in New Jersey, and develop policy recommendations for key campaigns related to immigrants’ rights, democracy, criminal legal reform, and economic justice. Students will also have opportunities to participate in advocacy meetings and events involving community partners and/or government officials.

Funding of up to $6,400 for undergraduate and $7,500 for graduate students is available for the period of the internship. Students who receive outside funding are eligible for a partial stipend to bring their total funding up to the level of the ACLU-NJ’s funding amount for that term, if applicable.

How & When to Apply

All applicants are required to submit a cover letter, resume and a writing sample of 5 pages or less. We invite applicants to include in their cover letter information about how their background and/or experiences could contribute to the diversity, cultural vitality, and perspective of our staff and advocacy work.

Deadline

We are currently accepting applications through April 29th for the Summer 2026 Political Advocacy Internship for a June 2nd start date.