Internship Description:

The Arc's Legal Advocacy program seeks legal interns for Summer and Fall 2023 terms to support our work of advancing the rights of people with IDD through our current litigation. Interns will work closely with The Arc's Legal Advocacy Team attorneys on ongoing systemic and individual litigation and related legal advocacy initiatives. Substantive issues may include, among others, the rights of people with disabilities in voting, education, health care, employment, and the criminal legal system. Projects may include conducting legal research and writing; drafting and editing documents for discovery and legal motions and pleadings; assisting in filing administrative complaints; participating in support of pardon and clemency applications of people with IDD entangled in the criminal legal system; developing trainings on disability rights laws and cases; and other tasks. Interns may have the opportunity to observe or participate in meetings, depositions, and court proceedings related to ongoing litigation as well as other events related to The Arc's work.

Who Are We?

The Arc is the largest national community-based organization advocating for and with people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and serving them and their families. Throughout its history, The Arc has been a critical partner in establishing federal disability rights laws, such as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Affordable Care Act, and the Americans with Disabilities Act. It has also played a key role in expanding programs that ensure people with IDD can live fully inclusive lives in community, including Medicaid, Social Security, Supplemental Security Income, and others. Today, through its legal advocacy program, The Arc plays an important role in enforcing people with IDD's rights under these laws and programs. In this work, The Arc participates in individual and systemic litigation and amicus briefs in courts across the country to advance people with IDD in a myriad of areas including community integration, fair housing, employment, education, the criminal legal system, parenting, self-determination, and more. Our office is unique in that it includes a myriad of non-legal programs and a public policy team, which offers an interdisciplinary perspective on disability rights issues.

Examples of current litigation: HAUL v. Abbott; AME v. Kemp; G.T. v. Board of Education of the County of Kanawha; GAO v. Georgia; The Arc of Iowa v. Reynolds

Examples of recent amicus briefs: Cummings v. Premier Rehab Keller; Woods v. Centro of Oneida, Inc.; Bacote v. Federal Bureau of Prisons; Perez v. Sturgis Public Schools; In re Britney Jean Spears; Affordable Care Act Amicus Briefs; Public Charge Amicus Briefs

Examples of other legal advocacy work: COVID-19 Crisis Standard of Care Advocacy; Neli Latson Pardon

Examples of recent media coverage: CNN | How new voting restrictions threaten ballot access for disabled voters; Salon | Britney Spears' plight reveals the justice system's bias against those who live with mental illness; New York Times | Who Gets Lifesaving Care? Tennessee Changes Rules After Federal Complaint; Vox | We're being punished again': How people with intellectual disabilities are experiencing the pandemic; Washington Post | Warehousing at its worst': Rights groups say W.Va. school system gives inferior education to special-needs students; The New Yorker| Georgia's Separate and Unequal Special Education System

Desired Qualifications:

Interns must be current law students and have a demonstrated interest in public interest law, with preference given to those candidates who show a commitment to disability rights advocacy.

Compensation, Work Environment and Other Details

The Arc expects law students to work with their law schools to secure funding for internships and is committed to working with students on applications for outside funding opportunities or school credit as needed. The Arc does not compensate interns directly.
Internships will generally be for the duration of one academic semester or summer term.
Flexible work environment that can be fully remote or a hybrid of in-person at our DC office and remote
Majority of work is completed on a computer
Law students both in and outside of the Washington, DC metro area are encouraged to apply

Application Process:

Applicants should submit a resume, cover letter, writing sample, and two references. The cover letter should be no more than 1 page and address why the applicant wants this internship, their interest in social justice and disability rights work, and the knowledge, skills, and experience they would bring to The Arc, including any relevant lived experience if applicable.

Applications are due:

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, but interested students should apply as early as possible.

Selection Process: The Legal Advocacy team will make the selection on the basis of the submitted materials and phone interviews.

The Arc is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in its selection and employment practices. We value a diverse workforce and strive to be a fully inclusive and equitable workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, age, record of arrest or conviction, or other legally protected characteristics. Black people, Indigenous people, people of color; lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex people, people of marginalized genders; people with disabilities; protected veterans; and formerly incarcerated individuals are all strongly encouraged to apply.

When an applicant with a disability needs an accommodation to have an equal opportunity to compete for a job, they may request it orally or in writing (please visit the contact us page on the web; www.thearc.org).

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