2026 Summer Intern - Justice

Alliance for Justice

4d • Remote

About The Position

Alliance for Justice (AFJ) is a national association of more than 135 organizations, representing a broad array of groups committed to progressive values and the creation of an equitable, just, and free society. For more than 45 years we have been leaders in the fight for a more equitable society on behalf of a broad constituency belief that all Americans have the right to secure justice in the courts and to have their voices heard when government makes decisions that affect their lives.
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. 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.
All AFJ summer internships are part of a comprehensive intern program designed to make the experience meaningful, engaging, and professionally enriching. In addition to the day-to-day work with your team, you’ll be supported by an intern program coordinator who ensures that interns get the most out of their time with us. The program includes weekly activities, opportunities for intern bonding, and professional development sessions to help you grow your skills and build connections. Our intern Lunch & Learn series, which showcases the range of expertise we have across AFJ staff, provides insights on a wide variety of career paths, advocacy skills, and nonprofit work. Together, these elements create a well-rounded internship that combines hands-on experience with mentorship and community—making AFJ a great place to spend your summer.
AFJ's 2026 Summer interns will work in one of three teams within the AFJ Justice Team:

(1) our Federal Courts team,
(2) our Building the Bench initiative, or
(3) our State Court Justice Project.

On the Federal Courts team, AFJ vets nominees to the federal judiciary. AFJ educates a variety of stakeholders to ensure that only fair, qualified individuals committed to the law and social justice are confirmed. AFJ also works to identify and advocate for the strongest potential nominees to the federal judiciary who reflect the country's demographic and experiential diversity. Associates will provide legal research on judicial nominees, monitor and report on the Supreme Court (term reviews, current event monitoring, etc.), and participate and contribute to coalition partners and strategy initiatives. Individuals have the opportunity to write and publish their own blog posts, attend Senate Judiciary Committee hearings (if they occur), and connect with a variety of leaders across the nonprofit sector.

AFJ’s Building the Bench initiative identifies, recruits, and advocates for a highly qualified and demographically and experientially diverse pool of candidates for federal and state judgeships. Associates will contribute legal research, candidate research, and strategic input to support the Building the Bench team’s work in identifying and supporting movement-aligned candidates for the bench. This will include researching potential judicial vacancies and the selection process for each vacancy, as well as expanding AFJ’s national reach.

With 95% of all cases in the United States filed in state courts, those courts serve an essential role in guarding democracy and protecting civil and human rights. AFJ’s State Court Justice Project educates the public about important state supreme court elections and vacancies nationwide, monitors noteworthy state supreme court cases, and details judicial selection methods for state supreme courts to help organizers, policymakers, voters, and media outlets better understand how judges in their states are chosen.

Requirements

• Current undergraduate or graduate 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.)
• Demonstrated commitment to social justice, civil rights, and public interest issues is essential.

Nice To Haves

• 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 is a plus, but not required

Responsibilities

• Draft advocacy and organizing materials for member and partner organizations
• Research the background of judicial nominees or prospective nominees
• Monitor news and media around state supreme court elections, federal and state supreme court vacancies, and judicial selection methods
• Prepare blog posts, fact sheets, and other collateral materials
• Assist in the coordination and staffing of outreach, and AFJ special events, rallies, and fundraisers
• Attend coalition meetings, state confirmation hearings, issue briefings, and conference calls and take notes
• Provide support to staff in the form of administrative and other research tasks as needed

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Intern
• Education Level: No Education Listed