2026 Summer Internship at Advancement Project Education Fund – Washington, District of Columbia

WHO WE ARE:

Situated at the forefront of the national stage in the racial justice movement, Advancement Project is a cutting-edge, no-holds-barred national organization dedicated to building local power in communities of color. Centered on a movement lawyering approach, defined as community-centered racial justice lawyering, Advancement Project supports power building in grassroots organizations working to eliminate oppressive structures in our laws and institutions and shift narratives towards transformative change. From ending the school-to-prison pipeline to the fight to expand the right to vote, from calling for a complete overhaul of how we view the police and carceral state, to fighting for immigrant justice, Advancement Project impacts real change from the ground up. Building on more than 25 years, we continue to evolve our strategic thinking and creativity to imagine a more just world in which people of color can thrive, be safe, and free – and we are excited to bring on new talent to forward our vision.

The Advancement Project’s track record of success includes:

· Pioneering the movement to end the school-to-prison pipeline and winning significant victories in several school districts nationwide to reform disciplinary policies and practices and remove police from schools entirely, including building and nurturing a grassroots movement of parents and youth. This work led to federal guidance on racial discrimination in school discipline.

· Launching the National Police Free Schools Campaign with the Alliance for Education Justice, supporting local youth-led campaigns to end policing in their schools, and calling for national demands for change for safety in public schools.

· Serving as legal counsel in a key 2000 presidential election case in Florida, successfully challenging North Carolina’s 2013 voter suppression law, and being a founding member of the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition that won the ballot initiative to strike down the state’s ban on voting for those with felony convictions. AP supported legislative efforts to pass the Virginia Voting Rights Act, the first state voting rights statute of its kind in the South.

· Supporting the Close the Workhouse Campaign in St. Louis, led by Action St, Louis, and securing an agreement with the city to close a jail and reinvest money into the community.

· Working with survivors of Hurricane Katrina from New Orleans to ensure their voices were heard in the process of reconstructing the city.

Description of Role

Advancement Project is seeking candidates for legal internships for the Summer of 2025. Legal interns will work closely with our staff of attorneys, organizers, and communications strategists to support our grassroots-led campaign partners in cities across the United States. These positions operate under the direct supervision of our intern coordinators.

The internship program will be remote for the Summer of 2025, as Advancement Project staff work in a hybrid setting. However, there may be in-person opportunities for students who live in the D.C. area and would prefer to work in a hybrid setting.

Qualifications

We are seeking rising second and third-year law students for our internship program. Candidates should possess excellent legal writing and research skills. Candidates must have a demonstrated commitment to racial justice, social movements, and/or civil rights. Experience in policy advocacy and/or community organizing is a plus. We are looking for thoughtful, creative, and energetic candidates with a genuine desire to address and dismantle oppressive systems that impact the lives of Black, Brown, and poor people.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Compensation

This internship is unpaid – we strongly encourage students to seek out public interest grants or work-study to provide compensation for their time with us.

How to Apply

Interested applicants should submit a cover letter, resume, and one writing sample.

PLEASE INCLUDE ONE WRITING SAMPLE WITH COVER LETTER