ABOUT THE JOB

The ACLU invites rising third-year law students and law graduates to apply for a sponsorship opportunity to work with us as a Legal Fellow for up two years. The State Supreme Court Initiative of the National office in Washington, D.C. or New York, NY, seeks applicants to consider for a sponsored fellowship such as Skadden, Equal Justice Works, or other public interest fellowships to begin in the fall of 2025. This is a hybrid role that has in-office requirements of two (2) days per week or eight (8) days per month.

The SSCI is a team of ACLU attorneys, reporting to the National Legal Director, that is dedicated to strengthening and expanding the ACLU’s voice in state supreme courts.

WHAT YOU'LL DO 

Reporting to the National Legal Director, the Fellow will work with the SSCI to identify and brief cutting-edge cases of constitutional importance in state supreme courts. The SSCI anticipates that the Fellow will devote a significant portion of the fellowship to litigation matters and other projects with the potential to substantially expand access to justice in state courts. 

We will review applications on a rolling basis, but priority consideration will be given to those who submit applications by July 15, 2024.

The Fellow must secure external funding, please email hiring@aclu.org for funding requirements. Our staff will work with candidates to develop their proposals for submission, helping tailor the proposal to address an important civil liberties issue.

YOUR DAY TO DAY Conduct legal research and analysis and develop theories to support new projects and cases Draft legal memoranda, briefs, motions, and other legal pleadings Develop research, template arguments, and other resources to support the work of ACLU projects, affiliates, and cooperating attorneys Draft and edit public education and non-litigation advocacy materials Provide support and assistance to ACLU affiliates and cooperating attorneys Work closely with SSCI staff and interns FUTURE ACLU'ERS WILL  Be committed to advancing the mission of the ACLU Center and embed the principles of equity, inclusion and belonging in their work by demonstrating commitment to diversity with an approach that respects and values multiple perspectives Be committed to work collaboratively and respectfully toward resolving obstacles and conflicts WHAT YOU'LL BRING J.D. or expected to receive a J.D by the spring of 2025 Demonstrated commitment to public interest law, civil liberties, criminal justice, and racial justice Willingness to work closely with the State Supreme Court Initiative through the funding application process Excellent research, writing, and verbal communication skills Demonstrated ability to conduct complex legal analysis and fact-finding Excellent interpersonal skills and a proven ability to work independently as well as within a team COMPENSATION

The ACLU has a litigator scale that determines pay for attorneys in our Legal Department. The range of salaries are the following, based on year of law school graduation (please consult the hiring manager for specific salary details, based on individual circumstances):

0-2 years since law school graduation: $89,250-$111,491 3-5 years since law school graduation: $124,873-$147,324 6-10 years since law school graduation: $154,069- $173,808 11-15 years since law school graduation: $177,058-$187,108 16-20 years since law school graduation: $188,874-$193,738 21-25 years since law school graduation: $194,719-$198,708 26-30+ years since law school graduation: $199,666- $203,553

These salaries are reflective of positions based in Washington, DC. The salary will be subject to a locality adjustment (according to a specific city and state), if an authorization is granted to work outside of the location listed in this posting. Note that most of the salaries listed on our job postings reflect New York, NY salaries, where our National offices are headquartered.

WHY THE ACLU

For over 100 years, the ACLU has worked to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed by the Constitution and laws of the United States. Whether it’s ending mass incarceration, achieving full equality for the LGBTQ+ community, establishing new privacy protections for our digital age, or preserving the right to vote or the right to have an abortion, the ACLU takes up the toughest civil liberties cases and issues to defend all people.

We know that great people make a great organization. We value our people and know that what we offer is essential not just their work, but to their overall well-being. 

At the ACLU, we offer a broad range of benefits, which include:

Time away to focus on the things that matter with a generous paid-time off policy Focus on your well-being with comprehensive healthcare benefits (including medical, dental and vision coverage, parental leave, gender affirming care & fertility treatment) Plan for your retirement with 401k plan and employer match We support employee growth and development through annual professional development funds, internal professional development programs and workshops OUR COMMITMENT TO ACCESSIBILITY, EQUITY, DIVERSITY & INCLUSION

Accessibility, equity, diversity, and inclusion are core values of the ACLU and central to our work to advance liberty, equality, and justice for all. For us diversity, equity, accessibility and inclusion are not just check-the-box activities, but a chance for us to make long-term meaningful change.  We are a community committed to learning and growth, humility and grace, transparency and accountability. We believe in a collective responsibility to create a culture of belonging for all people within our organization – one that respects and embraces difference; treats everyone equitably; and empowers our colleagues to do the best work possible. We are as committed to anti-oppression, anti-ableism and anti-racism internally as we are externally. Because whether we’re in the courts or in the office, we believe ‘We the People’ means all of us.

With this commitment in mind, we strongly encourage applications from all qualified individuals without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship, disability, veteran status and record of arrest or conviction, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.    

The ACLU is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If you are a qualified individual with a disability and need assistance applying online, please email benefits.hrdept@aclu.org. If you are selected for an interview, you will receive additional information regarding how to request an accommodation for the interview process.