2025 Summer Intern - State Courts

Alliance for Justice (AFJ) is at the heart of showing the progressive movement the power the courts have in all our lives. Our nearly 150 organizations represent a broad array of groups committed to progressive values. Since 1979, AFJ has been the leader in advocating for a fair and independent justice system, and we have changed the conversation around the critical importance of our courts. We are shaping a tomorrow where rights are safeguarded, and justice prevails.

Over the course of four decades our vision has remained steadfast—to protect and expand pathways to justice and the democratic process—while our programs and tactics have been nimble and resilient, evolving with changing times and the needs of our members and the progressive community. To build the strength of progressive movements, we train and educate nonprofit organizations on advocacy tools to maximize their impact, while harnessing their collective power to transform our state and federal courts.

AFJ’s State Courts Team, under the Justice Program, is seeking to hire a remote, paid summer internship position with a commitment to pay $8,000 for the duration of the internship program. This is a 10-week program that typically runs between the months of May and August with flexible start dates. AFJ welcomes the opportunity to partner with interns who are receiving partial or full funding from a third party. If funding from the third party is less than what AFJ has committed to paying summer interns, AFJ will make up the difference in salary.

Working alongside the State Courts Team, interns may participate in a wide range of public education and grassroots organizing projects, research initiatives, and communication efforts especially around issues related to the state supreme court judicial selection processes, electoral and ballot initiative research, and legal research on prospective candidates and nominees.

Interns may be asked to:

• Draft advocacy and organizing materials for 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) organizations;
• Research the background of judicial nominees or prospective nominees;
• Monitor news and media around state supreme court elections, vacancies, and selection methods;
• Prepare blog posts, fact sheets, and other collateral materials;
• Prepare grant proposals and develop funder prospect lists;
• Assist in the coordination and staffing of outreach, and AFJ special events and fundraisers;
• Attend coalition meetings, state confirmation hearings, issue briefings, and conference calls;
• Provide support to staff in the form of administrative and other research tasks as needed.

Position requirements:

• Current undergraduate student
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills;
• Ability to research complex topics and summarize findings;
• Proficiency with online search tools (Google, Westlaw, etc.);
• Experience with Microsoft office suite (Outlook, Word, Excel, Teams, etc.);
• Experience using online media in a professional setting desirable;
• Campus or community organizing experience or experience working on social justice issues a plus;
• Familiarity with state-based progressive organizations is a plus, but not required;
• Familiarity with EveryAction constituent management system a plus, but not required;
• Demonstrated commitment to social justice, civil rights, and public interest issues essential.

This is a fully remote internship.

How To Apply:

Qualified applicants please reference the 2025 Summer Intern - State Courts in your cover letter and submit your resume on our website at https://www.afj.org/about/careers. (NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE).

Students who receive academic credit for their internship are not eligible for the paid summer internship program.

AFJ is an Equal Opportunity Employer. AFJ prohibits discrimination against its employees and applicants for employment based on race, color, national origin, age, disability, sex, gender identity, religion, reprisal, serostatus and where applicable, political beliefs, marital status, familial or parental status, sexual orientation, or income.