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About the Role

The ACLU invites rising third-year law students and law graduates to apply for a sponsorship opportunity as a Legal Fellow for up to one or two years. The Criminal Law Reform Project (CLRP) of the National office in New York, NY, or San Francisco, CA, seeks applicants for sponsored fellowships, such as Equal Justice Works or other public interest fellowships, to begin in the fall of 2027. This is a hybrid role requiring in-office presence two days per week or eight days per month. The CLRP's mission is to advocate for the constitutional and civil rights of those impacted by criminal legal systems, using litigation and advocacy to confront systemic government conduct that fuels the carceral state and police abuse, and oppresses people based on race, class, and other characteristics. The project aims to shift power to under-resourced communities and advance justice and safety for all, partnering with affiliates and other ACLU departments to build a movement for social change, promote racial justice, and reduce the nation's incarcerated population.

Responsibilities

Advance work challenging overloaded public defense systems that fail to provide constitutionally adequate representation.
Pursue litigation and advocacy opportunities in multiple jurisdictions in both state and federal courts.
Conduct legal research and analysis.
Develop theories to support new litigation projects.
Draft legal memoranda, pleadings, affidavits, motions, and briefs.
Interview witnesses and potential clients.
Participate in discovery and trial practice.
Draft and edit public education and non-litigation advocacy materials.
Provide support and assistance to ACLU affiliates and cooperating attorneys.
Help manage the summer legal internship program and supervise student interns.
Engage in public speaking.
Attend meetings and/or conferences as needed.
Engage in special projects and other duties as assigned.

Requirements

Commitment to advancing the mission of the ACLU.
Center and embed the principles of equity, inclusion, and belonging in work.
Demonstrate commitment to diversity with an approach that respects and values multiple perspectives.
Commitment to work collaboratively and respectfully toward resolving obstacles and conflicts.
J.D. or expected to receive a J.D. by the spring of 2027.
Admission to a state bar; if not currently admitted, agreement to become admitted within one year of hire.
Demonstrated commitment to public interest law, civil liberties, criminal justice, and racial justice.
Willingness to work closely with the Criminal Law Reform Project 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.
Proven ability to work independently as well as within a team.
Self-motivated with the ability to take initiative.
Ability to manage a variety of tasks and see projects through to completion.

Skills

Legal research
Legal analysis
Writing
Verbal communication
Fact-finding
Interpersonal skills
Independent work
Teamwork
Self-motivation
Initiative
Task management
Project completion
Public speaking

Location

New York, NY
San Francisco, CA

Work Type

Sponsorship opportunity
Legal Fellow
Up to one/two year(s)
Hybrid role
In-office requirements of two (2) days per week or eight (8) days per month

Experience Level

Rising third-year law students
Law graduates
0-2 years since law school graduation
3-5 years since law school graduation
6-10 years since law school graduation
11-15 years since law school graduation
16-20 years since law school graduation
21-25 years since law school graduation
26-30+ years since law school graduation

Education Level

J.D. or expected to receive a J.D. by spring of 2027
Admission to a state bar

Salary/Compensations

0-2 years since law school graduation: $96,069 - $120,009
3-5 years since law school graduation: $134,414 - $158,579
6-10 years since law school graduation: $165,839 - $187,087
11-15 years since law school graduation: $190,585 - $201,403
16-20 years since law school graduation: $203,304 - $208,540
21-25 years since law school graduation: $209,595 - $213,890
26-30+ years since law school graduation: $214,920 - $219,104
Salaries are subject to a regional pay adjustment if authorization is granted to work outside of the location listed in this posting.

Benefits

Generous paid time-off policy
Comprehensive healthcare benefits (including medical, dental and vision coverage, parental leave, gender affirming care & fertility treatment)
401k plan and employer match
Annual professional development funds
Internal professional development programs and workshops

About the Company

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.
The ACLU takes up the toughest civil liberties cases and issues to defend all people, including ending mass incarceration, achieving full equality for the LGBTQ+ community, establishing new privacy protections for the digital age, and preserving the right to vote or the right to have an abortion.
The ACLU values its people and offers essential support for their work and overall well-being.

Equal Opportunity

Accessibility, equity, diversity, and inclusion are core values of the ACLU and central to their work.
The ACLU is a community committed to learning and growth, humility and grace, transparency and accountability.
The organization believes in a collective responsibility to create a culture of belonging for all people, respecting and embracing difference, treating everyone equitably, and empowering colleagues to do their best work.
Committed to anti-oppression, anti-ableism, and anti-racism internally as well as externally.
Strongly encourages 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 a qualified individual with a disability needs assistance applying online, email benefits.hrdept@aclu.org.
If selected for an interview, additional information will be provided regarding how to request an accommodation for the interview process.