Communications Intern - Summer 2026

Internship Summary

The MacArthur Justice Center (MJC) has an available 10-12-week communications internship opportunity in its Washington, D.C. office this summer. The Communications Internship requires a weekly committment of 40 hours per week.

Who We Are: MJC is a national nonprofit civil rights organization. We advocate with 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. 

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: Reporting to the Communications Director and working closely with the Communications Manager, you will get firsthand experience working alongside a growing communications operation that serves the organization’s offices and programs across the country. 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 participating in a variety of activities, including but not limited to:

Qualifications

Education: Preference for candidates who will be seniors or graduate students in the Fall 2026 semester studying public relations, communications, or journalism.

Skills and Experience:

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 our Washington, D.C. office near Union Station. 

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 $736 per week with a commitment of 40 hours per week, offset by any external funding. 

TO APPLY:

Please submit the following:

Applications will be reviewed and interviews scheduled on a rolling basis. Applications will be accepted through April 11, 2026 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.