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 to two years. The Disability Rights Program of the National office in San Francisco, CA or Washington, D.C., seeks applicants to consider for a sponsored fellowship such as Equal Justice Works or other public interest fellowships to begin in the fall of 2024.

The Disability Rights Program strives for an America free of discrimination against people with disabilities, where they are valued, integrated members of society with full access to education, homes, health care, jobs, voting, and civic life. We work on issues at the intersection of disability rights and civil rights.

The Legal Fellow will be reporting to the Project Director. W e invite Fellowship candidates who are interested in crafting fellowship proposals that focus on: 1) guardianship, alternatives to guardianship, and supported decision-making; or 2) the potential dangers of artificial intelligence and hidden algorithms for people with disabilities – including its use in child protective services and/or employment. Fellowship candidates may also suggest another project they wish to pursue with DRP.

Interested applicants should submit the following application materials:

• Resume;
• Cover letter that discusses your interest in the ACLU and the Disability Rights Program specifically, and that describes potential fellowship topics or projects that you would be interested in pursuing; and
• Writing sample of up to 10 pages that includes legal research and analysis.

We will review applications on a rolling basis, but priority consideration will be given to those who submit applications by June 23, 2023.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Work closely with Disability Rights Program, other parts of the ACLU, and outside organizations to develop and launch fellowship project
• Conduct legal research and analysis and develop theories to support litigation projects
• Draft legal memoranda, pleadings, affidavits, motions, and briefs
• Interact closely with potential and current clients
• Work within impacted communities in developing and implementing fellowship project
• 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 summer legal internship program and supervise student interns
• Engage in public speaking and attend meetings and/or conferences as needed

In addition to:

• Engage in special projects and other duties as assigned
• Center principles of equity, inclusion, and belonging in all work, embedding the values in program development, policy application, and organizational practices and processes
• Commitment to the mission of the ACLU
• Demonstrate a commitment to diversity within the office using a personal approach that values all individuals and respects differences in regards to race, ethnicity, age, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, religion, disability and socio-economic circumstance
• Commitment to work collaboratively and respectfully toward resolving obstacles and/or conflicts

EXPERIENCE & QUALIFICATIONS

• J.D. or expected to receive a J.D. by the spring of 2024
• Demonstrated commitment to public interest law, civil liberties, and disability rights
• Willingness to work closely with the Disability Rights Program through the funding application process
• Excellent research, writing, and interpersonal communication skills
• Demonstrated ability to conduct complex legal analysis and fact-finding
• Self-motivated with the ability to take initiative, manage a variety of tasks and see projects through to completion
• We welcome applicants with disabilities and those with lived experience related to disability
• Commitment to the mission of the ACLU

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: $85,000-$106,182
• 3-5 years since law school graduation: $118,927-$140,309
• 6-10 years since law school graduation: $146,732- $165,531
• 11-15 years since law school graduation: $168,627-$178,198
• 16-20 years since law school graduation: $179,880-$184,512
• 21-25 years since law school graduation: $185,447-$189,246
• 26-30+ years since law school graduation: $190,158- $193,860

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.

ABOUT THE ACLU

The ACLU dares to create a more perfect union – beyond one person, party, or side. Our mission is to realize this promise of the United States Constitution for all and expand the reach of its guarantees.

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 from government abuse and overreach.

Equity, diversity, and inclusion are core values of the ACLU and central to our work to advance liberty, equality, and justice for all. 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 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.

The ACLU is an equal opportunity employer. We value a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture. The ACLU 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. Black people, Indigenous people, people of color; lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex people; women; people with disabilities, protected veterans, and formerly incarcerated individuals are all strongly encouraged to apply.

The ACLU makes every effort to assure that its recruitment and employment provide all qualified persons, including persons with disabilities, with full opportunities for employment in all positions.

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.