ACLU-NC Legal Fellow 2027

American Civil Liberties Union of North Carolina•Durham, NC

5d•Hybrid

About The Position

The ACLU of North Carolina Legal Foundation (ACLU-NC) seeks a Legal Fellow for a paid, one-year position (which may potentially be extended to two years) to begin in the fall of 2027. This position is open to recent law school graduates and graduates who recently completed a judicial clerkship or another fellowship. Clerkship experience is preferred but not required. The Legal Fellow will work to advance our major issue areas: criminal law reform, voting rights, LGBTQ+ equality, reproductive freedom, or the rights of immigrants. Proposed projects often combine litigation and advocacy with community outreach and public education. While internal funding is available, securing full or partial outside funding is highly encouraged but not required.

Requirements

J.D. degree at the start of the fellowship.
Admission to the North Carolina bar or pending efforts to seek admission to the North Carolina bar at the start of the fellowship.
Demonstrated commitment to public interest law, civil liberties, and racial justice, and to the mission and goals of the ACLU-NC.
Excellent research, writing and verbal communication skills, and ability to explain complex legal concepts in plain language.
Ability to conduct complex legal analysis and fact-finding in a fast-paced litigation environment.
Excellent interpersonal skills, including respect for others’ lived experiences, and ability to work and interact respectfully and thoughtfully with people from backgrounds different from your own.
Ability to work collaboratively as part of a multidisciplinary team of legal staff, communications, policy and advocacy colleagues, as well as in coalition with outside organizations/law firms.
Being self-motivated with the ability to take initiative, manage a variety of tasks, and meet deadlines.
Demonstrated personal commitment to social justice, equity, and inclusion is required, including a personal approach that values individual lived experience and respects differences of race, ethnicity, nationality, age, gender and gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, ability, and socio-economic circumstances.
Excellent computer skills including knowledge of Microsoft Office suite.
Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the U.S.

Nice To Haves

Clerkship experience is preferred but not required.
Securing full or partial outside funding is highly encouraged but not required.

Responsibilities

Coordinating and preparing applications for funding and all reporting needed to sustain or comply with conditions of funding.
Consulting closely with the ACLU-NCLF throughout the funding application process.
Conducting factual investigations to identify policies and practices that can be challenged through litigation, including through court observation, interviews of clients, potential clients, and witnesses, or public records requests.
Drafting legal memoranda, pleadings, affidavits, motions, and briefs.
Reviewing and analyzing documents to support litigation and advocacy.
Participating in discovery and trial practice.
Providing as-needed legal research, writing, and editing support for ACLU-NC.
Drafting and editing public education and non-litigation advocacy materials.
Conducting community outreach and know-your-rights presentations.
Performing occasional administrative work as necessary to support litigation efforts.
Occasionally traveling for work and working on the weekends and evenings if needed.

Benefits

3 weeks paid vacation
10 paid office holidays, 1 floating holiday, summer recess (last full week of August) and winter recess (December 25-January 1)
10 paid sick days
Generous medical, dental and vision insurance options for staff members, their dependents and spouse/domestic partner
Flexible spending and dependent care accounts, and employer-funded health reimbursement account
Up to 12 weeks of paid medical leave
Life and accidental death and dismemberment insurance
Short-term disability and long-term disability insurance
401(k) and Roth IRA defined contribution retirement plan with employer match
Free on-site parking