Law Clerk Intern

About the Role

The Roderick and Solange MacArthur Justice Center (MJC) is seeking students committed to transformational justice for summer internships.

• Locations: Chicago, Illinois; New Orleans, Louisiana; Washington, D.C.
• Internship Type: Hybrid (2-3 days per week in office). Students must reside within commuting distance.
• Commitment: Full-time (40 hours/week) for 10 weeks preferred; 8 weeks may be considered.

MJC strongly encourages applications from individuals belonging to communities disproportionately harmed by the criminal legal system, including people of color, low-income communities, formerly incarcerated individuals, people with disabilities, and LGBTQ+ individuals. Applicants must possess and be committed to the cultural competence necessary to work with diverse clients, co-workers, and community partners.

Who We Are

MJC is a national nonprofit civil rights organization representing individuals harmed by the criminal legal system. We focus on vindicating rights, elevating stories, and holding those in power accountable through cutting-edge litigation and advocacy across issues from policing to the death penalty.

Who You Are

A champion for human rights passionate about achieving justice for those harmed by the criminal legal system.

What You’ll Learn And Do

• Illinois Office, Chicago, IL:

• Immerse in a fast-paced civil rights litigation practice focusing on police misconduct, immigration enforcement, pretrial justice, mass imprisonment, racial injustice, and the criminalization of poverty.

• Draft legal briefs and memoranda.

• Work with clients and organizations.

• Conduct community outreach.

• Research case law.

• Draft discovery.

• Participate in expert discovery.

• Prepare for depositions.

• Attend court hearings.

• Louisiana Office, New Orleans, LA:

• Engage in civil rights actions challenging mass incarceration, brutal conditions of confinement, unconstitutional oppression by law enforcement, and the use of the death penalty.

• Represent individuals in select post-conviction and habeas corpus cases.

• Perform research, drafting, discovery, and similar tasks on pending cases.

• Supreme Court and Appellate Program, D.C. Office, Washington, D.C.:

• Work principally on appeals before federal circuit courts, state appellate courts, and the U.S. Supreme Court, addressing civil rights and criminal legal system issues.

• Contribute to ongoing appellate cases, including strategy discussions.

• Perform legal research.

• Draft sections of briefs and other filings.

• Gain exposure to the appellate process, potentially including client meetings, strategic decision-making, case evaluation, analysis of factual records, and moot oral arguments.

Qualifications

• Education: JD students in good standing.

To Apply

Submit the following via MJC’s application portal:

• Cover letter

• Resume

• A list of three references

• A writing sample (preferably a legal analytical writing sample, such as a brief or memo)

• If applying to more than one office, submit separate cover letters for each.

• Application Deadlines:

• 2L applications: 10/10/2026

• 1L applications: 01/04/2027

Funding

Interns are expected to apply for law school funding. MJC will provide a stipend of up to $1000 per full week of participation, offset by any external funding, for interns ineligible for or who do not receive school funding. Stipends are paid in two installments.