Planned Parenthood is the nation’s leading provider and advocate of high-quality, affordable sexual and reproductive health care for all people, as well as the nation’s largest provider of sex education. With more than 600 health centers across the country, Planned Parenthood organizations serve all patients with care and compassion, with respect, and without judgment, striving to create equitable access to health care. Through health centers, programs in schools and communities, and online resources, Planned Parenthood is a trusted source of reliable education and information that allows people to make informed health decisions. We do all this because we care passionately about helping people lead healthier lives.

Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization that supports the independently incorporated Planned Parenthood affiliates operating health centers across the U.S. Planned Parenthood Action Fund is an independent, nonpartisan, not-for-profit membership organization formed as the advocacy and political arm of Planned Parenthood Federation of America. The Action Fund engages in educational, advocacy, and electoral activity, including grassroots organizing, legislative advocacy, and voter education.

Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) is the national umbrella organization for the nation’s leading network of women’s health care providers, educators, and advocates, serving women, men, teens and families. Planned Parenthood Action Fund is the advocacy and political arm of PPFA. For over 100 years, Planned Parenthood has done more than any other organization in the United States to improve women’s health and safety, prevent unintended pregnancies, and advance the right and ability of individuals and families to make informed and responsible health care decisions. Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) and Planned Parenthood Action Fund (PPAF) seeks a Fall 2024 Litigation and Law Extern.

The Litigation & Law Department represents PPFA and Planned Parenthood affiliates in matters that affect the Planned Parenthood mission. Litigation & Law provides legal advice to, and when appropriate conducts litigation in state and federal courts across the country on behalf of, PPFA and Planned Parenthood affiliates in order to protect and expand access to sexual and reproductive health care. 

The Public Policy Litigation and Law Department of Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) seeks rising 2L and 3L law student externs for its New York and Washington, D.C. offices or to work remotely for the fall 2024 semester. The externship is a part-time position that lasts throughout the academic semester. This job reports to Tristan Sullivan-Wilson (Policy Counsel) and Dylan Cowit (Staff Attorney) in the Policy, Campaigns, and Advocacy division of PPFA.

Interested applicants should submit a cover letter explaining their relevant experience and interest in externing for PPFA, a resume, and a writing sample. Review of applications will begin on April 12, 2024; we strongly encourage candidates to apply before that date to ensure review of their application.

Applicants may seek academic credit for the externship. Applicants not receiving academic credit are encouraged to seek external funding for the externship; if an applicant is unable to secure funding, PPFA may be able to provide funding but cannot guarantee it at this time.

Purpose: 

PPFA conducts impact litigation in courts across the country and has been lead or co-counsel in nearly every reproductive rights case to have reached the Supreme Court over the past thirty years. PPFA also provides strategic legal advice on legislation in Congress and state legislatures and on regulatory issues at the national, state, and local levels.

Delivery:

Our litigation docket includes challenges, primarily in state court, to laws and policies that restrict Planned Parenthood patients’ access to abortion, contraception, and other comprehensive reproductive health services. The cases we bring are designed to protect patients’ constitutional and statutory rights and expand their access to reproductive health services, and to protect providers of those services from discrimination. 

Engagement: 

Externs work closely with PPFA attorneys on a wide variety of litigation- and policy-related responsibilities, including legal research and analysis; drafting memoranda, pleadings, affidavits, briefs, talking points, and informational backgrounders; factual development for ongoing or developing litigation; and communicating with clients.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs): 

Excellent research and writing skills, enthusiasm for working with both litigation- and policy-focused attorneys, a demonstrated commitment to social justice, and a strong interest in reproductive rights and justice, health law, racial and economic justice, and/or public interest law more generally.

TRAVEL: NA

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