Position: Special Project Researcher Intern
Department: Racial Justice Center
Terms of Employment: Part-Time / Non-Exempt (A number of in-person days will be required) Internship will ideally start Mid to Late January 2025 and end Early to Mid-May 2025.
Location: 55 Broadway, New York, NY 10006
Salary: Unpaid (Academic Credit)
Application Deadline: Applications will be considered until the position is filled.
The New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU) is one of the nation's leading advocates on behalf of constitutional rights and liberties. Founded in 1951, as the New York affiliate of the American Civil Liberties Union, the NYCLU is a not-for-profit, nonpartisan organization with more than 90,000 members-donors, supporters, and eight offices statewide. We work in the courts, in the legislatures and on the streets to advocate for racial and economic justice, free speech, freedom of religion, privacy and equality before the law for all New Yorkers. For more information, please visit our website: www.nyclu.org.
DEI MISSION
The NYCLU affirmatively values the humanity and contributions of those we work with, inside and outside of the organization; and will take action to build and sustain an equitable, anti-racist culture that centers the voices and experiences of marginalized and directly impacted people and communities, and an organizational environment where all people feel valued, trusted, and respected. We are committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and having a workforce that reflects the population that we serve. Thus, we actively recruit people of color, women, people with disabilities, formerly incarcerated people, and LGBTQ and gender non-conforming people.
SUMMARY DESCRIPTION
The Racial Justice Center was established in 2023 to expand and deepen the NYCLU racial justice portfolio. The NYCLU Racial Justice Center approach is both intersectional with all of the NYCLU priorities, and goal in of itself and will hold its own docket that will include, NYCLU’s issue expertise, litigation, advocacy, and community and coalition engagement.
The Racial Justice Center seeks a 2L or 3L law student to conduct legal and policy research analyzing the effectiveness of New York’s the Dignity for All Students Act (DASA). This law seeks to provide the State’s public elementary and secondary school students with a safe and supportive environment free from discrimination, intimidation, taunting, harassment, and bullying on school property, a school bus and/or at a school function.
In honor of the 13th anniversary of DASA’s enactment, the Racial Justice Center is partnering with the NYCLU’s Education Policy Center to evaluate the law’s effectiveness in eliminating bullying and discrimination based on race, color, weight, nationality, ethnicity, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender, or sex in primary and secondary schools. While the project will discuss DASA more generally, there will be a special focus on race/ethnicity/color and how it intersects with the other enumerated categories of DASA.
MAJOR DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES
This project research will include:
- A comprehensive overview at the existing landscape for enforcement and implementation of DASA.
- Identifying current gaps hindering success across the state, and documenting successes within the 13-year history.
- Submitting Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) requests.
- Conducting legal research and brief writing to assist with all phases of the project.
- Creating recommendations which may include legislative amendments, educational tools, or identifying potential litigation challenges.
QUALIFICATIONS
- Applicants should have a commitment to public interest law, civil rights, and racial justice.
- Demonstrated legal research and writing skills are required.
- Must be able to receive school based academic credit from an accredited law school.
- Must be a rising 2L or 3L.
HOW TO APPLY
Please submit your resume and cover letter that includes your unique qualifications for this position, and where or how you learned of this job posting via
If feasible, please submit these materials as a single PDF.
The NYCLU is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from all qualified individuals regardless of race, sex, gender identity or expression, age, disability, religion, national origin, citizenship, marital status, sexual orientation, veteran status, record of arrest or conviction or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. We are committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and having a workforce that reflects the population that we serve.
The NYCLU 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 ldecicco@nyclu.org. If you are selected for an interview, you will receive additional information regarding how to request an accommodation for the interview process.