Internship and externship opportunities

Civil Rights Project Law Student Interns (unpaid)

Application period closing: January 9, 2025

Download a copy of this internship description.

The Position

Hiring two full-time summer interns (for rising 2L or 3L students, 10-week duration) and two part-time school year interns (for 2L or 3L students, fall 2025 semester only, spring 2026 semester only, or both fall 2025 and spring 2026 semesters).

Selected interns will work with the director, staff attorneys, and support staff of our Civil Rights Project on a variety of civil rights litigation focused mostly on police and prison accountability and systemic reform. Tasks include legal research and writing, reviewing discovery, conducting factual investigation, interviewing clients and witnesses, and assisting with other steps of civil litigation and new client intake. Additional tasks may include research projects on state and local policy/legal issues. The intern will also participate in staff planning and strategy meetings.

Job Duties

This position will be supervised by the Director of the Civil Rights Project. You will work in collaboration with your supervisor, Civil Rights Project staff attorneys, the Civil Rights Project Operations Manager, and OJRC investigators. The scope of the intern’s work will include:

  • Conducting legal research

  • Drafting motions, complaints, and other legal briefings

  • Conducting discovery review and records review for pending litigation

  • Attending court hearings and depositions for active cases

  • Monitoring intake submissions, interviewing potential clients, investigating claims

  • Attending weekly team meetings.

Qualifications

  • Interest in civil rights litigation, Oregon Department of Corrections and law enforcement policies and procedures, and the experiences of incarcerated individuals and people impacted by police violence

  • Ability to research and synthesize legal issues relating to civil rights claims

  • Intermediate Microsoft Suite skills

  • Understanding of trauma-informed communication preferred

  • Desire to work with and/or experience working with communities that are impacted by the carceral system, including low-income, BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and currently incarcerated people.

To apply

Please submit three documents to apply for this position. You should combine your application into a single PDF comprised of three documents in the order shown below. Your cover letter and resume should be no more than four pages combined.

  1. A cover letter describing how you meet the qualifications listed above.

  2. A resume that details your education and training, professional and volunteer experience, and other relevant information.

  3. A writing sample that demonstrates your ability to review and interpret legal issues. Previous coursework acceptable, 5-7 pages.

  4. If you are applying for a school year internship, please indicate in your cover letter which you are applying for: fall semester, spring semester, and/or full school year.

To apply, please send your application materials to [email protected] and [email protected].

Timeline (subject to change)

  • Applications are due January 9, 2025

  • Application review January 9-January 21, 2025

  • Interviews January 31-February 1, 2025

  • Intern selected by February 8, 2025

  • Internship begins in early June

Additional information

  • Salary: This position is unpaid; however, we will work with student interns to receive school credit for their work and other outside stipend or fellowship funding.

  • Work location: Employees in our office are currently working a hybrid model, including both in-person and remote work options. We prefer an intern to be available to work in the office during the summer, with flexibility to work remotely. School year internships may be fully remote or hybrid. Our offices are in downtown Portland.

  • Schedule and hours: Summer interns should expect and be available to work 40 hours per week. School year interns should expect and be available to work between 10 and 20 hours per week, depending on school credit requirements and their scheduling availability. We can work with the intern on their specific schedule and are open to evening and weekend work.

  • Accommodations: If you require any accommodations in the application process or work, please email Bobbin Singh, our Executive Director, at [email protected], and include “Civil Rights Project Intern Application - Accommodation” in the subject line.

  • Equal Opportunity: OJRC is an equal opportunity employer. We value a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture. We encourage applications from all qualified individuals, without regard to race, color, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, pregnancy, national origin, marital status, disability, veteran status, criminal record, or any other protected status under federal, state, or local law.