Internship Summary

The MacArthur Justice Center (MJC) has an available 10-12-week communications internship opportunity in its Washington, D.C. office for the Spring term. We will also consider candidates located in other MJC office locations, including IL, LA, and MO.

Who We Are: MJC is a national nonprofit civil rights law firm. We represent people who have been harmed by America’s criminal legal system, seeking to vindicate their rights, elevate their story, and hold people with power accountable. We do this primarily through cutting-edge litigation and advocacy across the country, on end-to-end issues in the criminal legal system, from policing, to prosecutorial discretion, to rights of indigent defendants, to mass incarceration, to prison conditions, to wrongful convictions and the death penalty.  For more information on our work, visit www.macarthurjustice.org.

We are Bold Advocates. We pursue our mission from a place of deep principle and hold ourselves to the highest standards of integrity in representing our clients. We believe in innovative and audacious advocacy. We’ll never be afraid to defend someone simply because society tells us they should be condemned, stigmatized, or vilified.

We stay Agile. As legal and political environments change, so do the threats to the people and communities we stand alongside. We adapt to the challenges of our day. We also strive to be agile from within—to challenge ourselves to grow as individuals and as an organization.

We are Collaborative. We know success depends on working together as a team and with partners. Within our own teams, we are committed to working across differences, and treat conflicting views as an opportunity for deeper understanding and to strengthen our work. We also believe in building coalitions, and in the potential to persuade unlikely minds to join sides with us.

We hold ourselves Accountable. We take ownership of and reflect on our successes, as well as our setbacks. We’re committed to having meaningful and constructive conversations, and to internalizing lessons from our wins and our misses. We work first and foremost for our clients, who are often themselves searching for accountability and change in a system that too often falls short.

We are Humble. We are proud of our work, yet appreciate that the change we want to see is bigger than any one of us. We aspire for our work to be one part of a much larger movement. We also know that while the work we do is serious, it’s okay to not take ourselves too seriously.

Who You Are: You are a champion for human rights and are passionate about achieving justice for people who have been harmed by the criminal legal system. You are a true believer in the power of storytelling, public relations, communications, and marketing to change hearts and minds, which in turn, change the laws and policies that affect people’s lives. You are ready to put your excellent writing skills, social media obsession, strong work ethic, and problem-solving skills to work.

What You’ll Learn: You will get firsthand experience working alongside a growing communications operation that serves the organization’s five offices. You’ll have the opportunity to learn about how MJC leverages strategic communications to reach our litigation, advocacy, and change goals.

 What You’ll Do:

Interns will build proficiency in strategic communications, public relations, media outreach, and digital communications by supporting a variety of activities, including but not limited to:

• Drafting and laying out internal and external newsletters
• Drafting social media posts and other digital content
• Copyediting relevant materials
• Drafting website materials and resources
• Assisting in the creation of educational and outreach materials
• Researching relevant criminal legal system issues and topics
• Tracking and monitoring earned media coverage and social media engagement
• Drafting press releases, media advisories, pitches, and other media-related external communications
• Maintaining a comprehensive editorial calendar and database
• Attending Communications Department meetings and maintaining notes

 Qualifications

 Education: Preference for candidates who are juniors, seniors, or graduate students as of Spring 2025 studying public relations, or journalism.

Skills and Experience:

• Excellent writing and editing skills
• Familiarity and experience with social media platforms, including X/Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Suite, including Word and Excel
• Basic graphic design experience, particularly with Canva, or an interest in learning
• Self-starter who approaches assignments with creativity
• Good time management and ability to work within deadlines
• Ability to work well both independently and as part of a team
• Experience with content management systems, such as WordPress, is a plus

Location: MJC operates on a hybrid schedule and requires some days in the office each week. The Communications Intern must reside within commuting distance to one of our offices.

Communications Interns are expected to apply for any funding available from their schools. If an intern is either ineligible for or does not receive funding from their school, MJC will provide a stipend for each full week of participation up to $350 per week with a commitment of 20 hours per week, offset by any external funding.

TO APPLY:

Please submit the following:

• A cover letter addressing your experience relevant to the considerations above and
• A resume.

Applications will be reviewed and interviews scheduled on a rolling basis. Applications will be accepted through January 4, 2025 or until the position is filled.

The criminal legal system disproportionately harms people of color, people from low-income communities, people who were formerly incarcerated, people with disabilities, and LGBTQ+ individuals. We strongly encourage people who identify within these and other communities underrepresented in the legal profession to apply. All applicants must have and be committed to the cultural competence required to work with clients, co-workers, and community partners who come from different backgrounds and experiences.