Seventy years ago, when Jim Crow segregation was the law, ACLU of Kentucky (ACLU-KY) was founded, and the new organization’s legal docket was designed to address racial discrimination. ACLU-KY has defended communities of people who have been historically, and are currently, denied certain rights that are extended to others. These communities continue to endure discrimination and inequality denying them access to resources and opportunities.

Racial justice has been, is now, and will continue to be central to the mission of ACLU-KY which has dedicated itself to pursuing cases designed to have a significant and wide-reaching effect on communities of color, to work in coalition with other civil rights groups and local advocates to lobby in local and state legislatures, and to support grassroots movement. Through these efforts, ACLU-KY strives to educate and empower the public on how racism impacts the issues that it works on – including but not limited to justice reform, reproductive freedom, LGBT, and immigrants’ rights – and it commits to considering racial impacts when making hiring, policy, and administrative decisions for the organization.

ACLU-KY is freedom’s watchdog, working daily in courts, legislatures, and communities to defend the individual rights and liberties guaranteed to all people by the Constitutions of the United States and the Commonwealth of Kentucky including:

• The right to freedom of speech, association, assembly, and the press;
• The right to freedom of religion, supported by the strict separation of church and state;
• The right to be treated fairly by the government whenever life, liberty or property is at stake;
• The right to be free from unwarranted government intrusion into personal and private affairs; and
• The right to equal protection of the laws, regardless of race, gender, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, age, disability, or other such classifications.

THE OPPORTUNITY

The American Civil Liberties Union of Kentucky’s Legal Internship Program gives law students who have completed at least their first year of law school and one semester of Constitutional Law the opportunity to work with the organization’s Legal Team on a wide range of civil liberties issues. An affiliate of the national American Civil Liberties Union, the ACLU of Kentucky is a statewide organization whose office is located in Louisville, Kentucky. Its mission is to promote and defend individual civil liberties throughout the Commonwealth through education, advocacy, and litigation.

As a summer intern, you will be supervised directly by the ACLU of Kentucky’s Legal Director and work with the entire staff on a wide range of civil liberties issues. Legal experiences will range from legal research and brief writing to assisting with all phases of ongoing litigation. Additional opportunities may include conducting legislative analysis, screening and summarizing client intake, and conducting factual investigations into potential civil liberties violations.

Learn about our legal program here and meet the team here.

Qualifications and Expectations

The ACLU of Kentucky seeks individuals who have completed at least their first year of law school and one semester of Constitutional Law, and who can demonstrate a proven work ethic, proven research and writing skills, and a desire to assist in defending the rights of individuals. Flexibility, professionalism, and the ability to work in a team environment are a must.

Interns are expected to work an average of 40 hours each week for 10 weeks. Start and end dates can be adjusted to accommodate moving and other academic requirements.  The office is located in Louisville. Interns are required to work at least 2 days per week in the office, but are welcome to work every day in the office.

Compensation and Benefits

We encourage all applicants to seek public interest fellowship funds through their law school. If you are unable to secure funding from your law school for a public interest internship, the ACLU of Kentucky is able to supplement that funding up to $8,400 to make this opportunity more feasible for law students who would otherwise be required to seek paid employment over the summer. Internship selection is independent of and not contingent on access to external funding.

How to Apply, Accomodations, and Contact

Applicants must submit a cover letter, resume, and writing sample to [email protected] with the subject line: Summer Legal Internship. Please indicate where you learned of this job posting in the cover letter. Applications are considered on a rolling basis, so interested students should apply as early as possible, and in any case no later than January 31, 2026.