Legal Intern - Affiliate Support and Nationwide Initiatives-Communications

The ACLU of Puerto Rico seeks a bilingual Legal & Communications Intern for their Affiliate Support and Nationwide Initiatives Department (ASNI) in our San Juan, Puerto Rico office. This internship is Hybrid and can be Full-time or Part-time.

Qualifying applicants must currently be matriculated legal students. Applicant must be based in the U.S. for the entire duration of the internship.

The Team:

The ACLU of Puerto Rico is a chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union Foundation.  The American Civil Liberties Union (“ACLU”) is a nationwide, nonprofit, nonpartisan organization, dedicated to protecting the fundamental liberties and basic civil rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution and our civil rights laws. 

The ACLU of Puerto Rico has an abiding interest in the civil and democratic rights of persons within the jurisdiction of the archipelago and other U.S. territories, who must be fully entitled to the Constitution’s protections and rights whether they reside in the federal territories or in any of the fifty states or the District of Columbia. 

The Legal & Communications Intern will work closely with the communications and legal departments. During the internship, the selected candidate will have the opportunity to gain practical experience preparing and monitoring public information requests; develop legal research and writing skills through supervised litigation support; developing a research project assessing government transparency in Puerto Rico; participate in the development of public education materials and workshops; and learn how legal advocacy, strategic communications, and public engagement can work together to advance civil rights and government accountability.

What You’ll Do:

The intern will support the team's advancement in free speech, transparency, government accountability, and the public’s right to access information. Working collaboratively with the Legal and Communications Departments, the intern will assist with public records requests, legal research, litigation support, public education initiatives, and communication projects related to access to government information and public documents in Puerto Rico.

This internship offers law students and recent graduates an opportunity to gain practical experience at the intersection of civil rights, legal advocacy, investigative research, and strategic communications.

Your Day to Day

• Litigation Support
  • Assist the Legal Department in identifying and researching potential cases involving violations of the right to access public documents and information
  • Support the preparation of legal filings, appeals, and other documents under attorney supervision
• Research and Analysis
  • Support the development of a report assessing the state of access to public documents and information in Puerto Rico following most recent amendments to the Transparency Law
  • Contribute to research summaries, findings, and recommendations for internal and public-facing materials
• Communications and Public Education 
  • Assist in developing bilingual workshops and educational materials on the right to access public documents and information
  • Support outreach to journalists, students, community organizations, and other groups interested in submitting requests for access to public documents and information

What You’ll Bring:

• Currently enrolled in the third or fourth year of a Juris Doctor program, or a graduate of an accredited law school
• Strong legal research, writing, and analytical skills
• Professional proficiency in both Spanish and English, written and spoken, is required
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail
• Ability to manage assignments independently and meet deadlines
• Demonstrate knowledge of processes under Puerto Rico’s Transparency Law and the federal Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)

Future ACLU-ers Will:

• Be committed to advancing the mission of the ACLU
• Center and embed the principles of equity, inclusion and belonging in their work by demonstrating commitment to diversity with an approach that respects and values multiple perspectives
• Be committed to work collaboratively and respectfully toward resolving obstacles and conflict

Internship Logistics:

• Location: Our internship program offers a limited number of remote or hybrid intern positions. This internship is part-time and hybrid from our San Juan, Puerto Rico office.
• Time Commitment: Part-time (10hrs/week)
• Internship Duration: Part-time internships span 12 consecutive weeks. This internship has a start date of: Jan. 11th or Jan. 25th, 2027
• Stipend: A stipend is available for students who are lawfully authorized to work. Arrangements can be made with educational institutions for work/study or course credit.
  • Below are the stipend rates:
    
    • $24/hr for graduate and law students or equivalent experience
    • This internship must be tied to the intern’s formal education program by integrated coursework or the receipt of academic credit.

Why the ACLU:

For over 100 years, the ACLU has worked to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed by the Constitution and laws of the United States. Whether it’s ending mass incarceration, achieving full equality for the LGBTQ+ community, establishing new privacy protections for our digital age, or preserving the right to vote or the right to have an abortion, the ACLU takes up the toughest civil liberties cases and issues to defend all people.

Our Commitment to Accessibility, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion  

Accessibility, equity, diversity, and inclusion are core values of the ACLU and central to our work to advance liberty, equality, and justice for all. For us diversity, equity and inclusion are not just check-the-box activities, but a chance for us to make long-term meaningful change. We are a community committed to learning and growth, humility and grace, transparency and accountability. We believe in a collective responsibility to create a culture of belonging for all people within our organization – one that respects and embraces difference; treats everyone equitably; and empowers our colleagues to do the best work possible. We are as committed to anti-oppression and anti-racism internally as we are externally. Because whether we’re in the courts or in the office, we believe ‘We the People’ means all of us. 

With this commitment in mind, we strongly encourage applications from all qualified individuals without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship, disability, veteran status and record of arrest or conviction, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. 

To maintain the integrity of our assessment process, please refrain from using AI-powered chatbots, search engines, or real-time assistance tools to generate your CV, cover letter or writing sample (if required). We want to better understand your individual skills and thought processes. If you require AI tools or other assistive technology as a reasonable accommodation due to a disability, please complete the Accommodation Request Form so that we can support an accessible and equitable experience.

In order to be considered for this position, all candidates must formally submit an application. The ACLU does not accept unsolicited calls or emails from candidates regarding their application status.