ACLU of North Carolina – Raleigh, North Carolina
This summer, I had the wonderful opportunity to intern with the American Civil Liberties Union of North Carolina. The ACLU of NC is a state affiliate of the national non-profit organization, and focuses on legal, legislative, and community advocacy at the local level. Their office is based in Raleigh, and their work ranges from protecting individual students’ speech in schools to promoting broader criminal justice reform.
Before I came to Duke, my academic research focused on the sociopolitical power of storytelling, and my professional experience included work in grassroots organizing. Learning that civil rights litigation could potentially combine my interests in powerful stories and social justice was a turning point in my personal development, and I came to Duke with plans to devote my future to pursuing similar work. Accordingly, I am particularly grateful that I had the chance to work with the ACLU, as their model of impact litigation was one of my main aspirations for choosing law as a career. Working in Raleigh this summer clarified my professional goals and solidified my commitment to a career in community-driven impact litigation after law school.
Interning at the ACLU was the perfect opportunity to witness both the strategic planning that fuels successful impact litigation and the open communication that is so integral to supporting the individuals behind the case names. My internship allowed me to engage in local efforts around issues like gender-based violence, LGBT discrimination, voters rights, and bail reform. I researched and wrote legal memoranda on statutory and constitutional law, including religious rights of prisoners, equal protection for LGBT communities, and due process rights of indigent defendants. For example, I drafted a demand letter to North Carolina’s Department of Public Safety on behalf of a transgender prisoner who was being denied medical treatment. I also edited legal filings for a class action suit on behalf of indigent drivers who had their licenses automatically revoked for their inability to pay traffic fines. Through it all, I had the chance to observe some truly incredible attorneys, and to learn from their thoughtful and intentional approach to client advocacy. Talking with current and potential plaintiffs was also a critical reminder that true advocacy must be based on authentic relationships and active listening, and I was grateful for the chance to engage with communities here in North Carolina.
Seeing the extensive thought and preparation that goes into every case was an amazing opportunity, and I came away with a better understanding of the unique challenges to legal advocacy in North Carolina. I learned about some of the constraints of social change through the court system, but was also invigorated by the passion I encountered from the entire team at the ACLU of NC. Their legal, policy, organizing, and communications departments all acted as an exemplary reminder of what holistic and community-centric advocacy can look like, and I finished my internship inspired and enthusiastic about continuing to pursue a career in civil rights impact litigation.
Submitted October 14, 2018
