Summer 2026 Legal Internship

Childrens Rights is a national advocacy organization based in New York City that has for over
20 years led civil rights legal reform efforts to improve the lives of vulnerable children. With
active campaigns in over a dozen states in the U.S. we combine grassroots investigations
advocacy and impact litigation to hold government systems accountable to the children who
depend on them. Our work focuses on reforming failing child welfare systems and addressing
emerging social justice issues for children including racism systemic to state systems the rights
of LGBTQ youth the pervasive practice of administering powerful and dangerous
psychotropic drugs to children in foster care without adequate oversight access to mental and
physical health care juvenile justice conditions and the right to education.

Childrens Rights is seeking first- or second-year law students for full-time internships in our
New York City office from June 1 2026 August 7 2026. Interns gain substantive training and
education in civil rights law and impact litigation as well as the field of childrens rights and
child welfare. Interns receive mentorship from experienced attorneys who have played integral
roles in groundbreaking childrens civil rights cases. Because of the relatively small size of our
organization interns enjoy tremendous responsibilities and work alongside attorneys in all
aspects of our work. These responsibilities involve participating in active litigationincluding
motion practice discovery expert witness work and legal researchas well as helping to
develop new cases addressing the most urgent childrens rights issues in the U.S. today
including working with local stakeholders and conducting legal and factual research into new
claims.

Applicants should have strong analytical abilities research and writing skills as well as an interest
in litigation and/or public interest law. Experience with or interest in childrens rights issues is
desirable. Applicants must commit full-time to the internship for 10 weeks during the summer.
Internships at Childrens Rights are unpaid.

Childrens Rights is an equal opportunity affirmative action employer. Women people of
color LGBTQ/TGNC people and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

The internship is a hybrid position with a combination of in-person and remote work.

To apply please submit a cover letter (with a writing sample attached to this document) and
resume to Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
For any additional questions you may have regarding this position you may send an email to
Claire Choi at .

Required Experience:

Intern