Internship opportunities are available with ALC’s Organizing Department for undergraduate and graduate students interested in learning more about how to organize around human and civil rights issues locally. Interns will work with directly impacted communities and learn how a blend of community organizing, litigation, and civic engagement can create create change.

This is an in person internship available to those in Allegheny County and the surrounding areas. We offer year round opportunities and encourage those interested to reach out to ALC community organizer Tanisha Long at tanisha@alcenter.org.

ALC accepts applications from October 1st thru January 31st for our summer legal internship positions.

The 10-week summer internship program is for law students interested in abolition and movement lawyering, who successfully complete their first year of law school and want to work with us in defending the human rights of incarcerated people and their communities in Pennsylvania.

Our casework includes solitary confinement litigation, direct representation of those seeking medical transfer under the state “compassionate release” law, post-conviction criminal representation, prison conditions litigation, and class action litigation against Philadelphia and Allegheny County Jails over their treatment of the incarcerated population.

ALC is accepting three Philadelphia-based interns who will be asked to work in ALC’s Philadelphia office at least two days a week, and one intern in Pittsburgh who will also be asked to work in the office at least two days a week. Please indicate your location preference in your cover letter.

Statistics show that people from structurally marginalized communities are less likely to apply if they feel they do not meet 100% of the requirements. If you have a strong feeling in your gut about this position, no matter who you are, we strongly encourage your application.

Apply: Applications should be sent in a single email with one PDF attachment including all materials (listed below) with the subject line “Legal Internship Application” to Rupalee Rashatwar, Staff Attorney, at rupalee@alcenter.org.

Applicants are required to submit the following:

• Cover Letter: No more than two pages double-spaced. Include name and contact information; current law school or legal education; whether you are interested in a Philadelphia-based position or a remote position; your interest in prison abolition; why you want to work with the Abolitionist Law Center; and what experiences, skills, or attributes of yours make you suitable to work with ALC.
• Resume: No longer than one page in length to reflect most recent work history. Previous internships and volunteer and organizing experience may also be included.
• Professional References: Please provide three professional references. These can be prior employers, volunteer coordinators, or other people with whom you have worked. These should be from people who can attest to your ability to handle challenging intellectual work, learn new material, work well in a collaborative setting, and communicate effectively.
• Legal Writing Sample: no longer than five single-spaced pages or 10 double-spaced. This can be an excerpt from a longer writing.

Decisions: Decisions will be made on a rolling basis.

Funding: There is no guaranteed funding available from ALC for these positions; students will be required to finance their internship via grants or fellowships.