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Law Internships Available
Law students interested in public interest work are encouraged to apply for summer clerk positions with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Colorado in Denver. A full-time externship for the spring and fall semesters is also available. Law students working at the ACLU of Colorado will gain valuable experience working under the supervision of ACLU attorneys on the wide variety of human rights and civil liberties cases that comprise the ACLU’s docket.

For more specifics, visit the ACLU of Colorado docket page. It features descriptions of recent cases including links to pleadings and other relevant documents. To read about the Legal Department's work outside the courtroom, see our advocacy page.

Students interning with the ACLU of Colorado participate in meetings of staff and co-counsel and all aspects of litigation and legal advocacy including legal research, legal writing, interviewing witnesses, and other factual and legal investigation.

Students will be working with an enthusiastic group of over-qualified and underpaid individuals who are committed to their work and the organization. There are currently ten full-time staff members, including two attorneys, who work with numerous volunteers in our own building (with free parking) close to downtown Denver.

Students are highly encouraged to seek grants or fellowships from public interest fellowship funds through their law school or other funders. Arrangements can also be made with the student's law school for work/study stipends. Some summer students receive law school credit for their work, and additional students receive credit for spending their fall or spring semesters at the ACLU. Unfortunately, the ACLU of Colorado must rely on students’ ability to obtain their own funding for the internship.

The ACLU prefers students who will have completed two years of law school, have a demonstrated interest in civil rights, civil liberties and social justice, and excellent writing, communication and organizational skills. First-year students are also encouraged to apply. The ACLU is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and encourages applications from women, people of color, persons with disabilities, and lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals.

Applications for summer clerk positions are accepted on a rolling basis and will be reviewed until the internships are filled. Interested applicants for the summer clerk positions are encouraged to submit their applications no later than January 1 st, and supplement their application with fall semester grades when they become available.

Applicants for fall and spring semester positions are also accepted on a rolling basis and will be reviewed until the internships are filled. Interested applicants for fall and spring semester are encouraged to submit their applications no later than two months before the beginning of the externship semester.

Students interested in spending a summer or a semester with the ACLU of Colorado should send a cover letter, resume, transcript, list of three references (with email and phone number contact information), and short writing sample (5-10 pages) to:

Mark Silverstein, Legal Director
Attn: Law Student Internship Application
ACLU of Colorado
400 Corona St.
Denver, CO 80218

Or by email, with “Law Student Internship” in the subject line, to ACLU of Colorado Legal Assistant Debra Woods.

The ACLU of Colorado will confirm the receipt of applications by letter or email. Qualified applicants will be contacted directly by ACLU of Colorado attorneys for an interview. Any questions regarding whether the application has been received or is complete should be directed to ACLU of Colorado Legal Assistant Debra Woods.