Fall 2027 Fellowship Sponsorship, National Prison Project
About The Position
The ACLU’s National Prison Project (NPP) invites rising third-year law students and recent law graduates to apply for sponsorship for an externally-funded fellowship such as Equal Justice Works, Justice Catalyst, or other public interest fellowships, to begin in the fall of 2027. This is a hybrid role that has in-office requirements of two (2) days per week or eight (8) days per month. Founded in 1972, NPP is the only organization that litigates carceral conditions cases on a national level. NPP works to ensure that our nation’s prisons, jails, juvenile facilities, and immigration detention centers comply with the Constitution, domestic law, and international human rights principles. Through litigation, public education, and other forms of advocacy, we fight to ensure that conditions of confinement are consistent with health, safety, and human dignity; to center the humanity of incarcerated people, their families, and their communities; and to reverse the laws and policies that give the U.S. the highest incarceration rate in the world. Our priorities include improving health care in prisons, eliminating violence and maltreatment, ending solitary confinement, defending the First Amendment rights of incarcerated people, and increasing oversight and accountability in prisons, jails, ICE detention, and other places of detention. We will review applications on a rolling basis, and priority consideration will be given to those who submit applications by June 19, 2026. This position is part of a collective bargaining unit. It is represented by ACLU Staff United (ASU).
Requirements
- J.D. or expected to receive a J.D. from an accredited U.S. law school by the spring of 2027. Please note that sponsorship is limited to people who qualify for externally funded fellowships: people who will graduate from law school in 2027, or in a qualifying bridge fellowship, or have recently completed a clerkship. The position is not open to actively practicing lawyers or people not enrolled in or recently graduated from law school.
- Admission to the applicable state or D.C. Bar, or taking a bar exam no later than Summer 2027
- Demonstrated past commitment to public interest law, civil liberties, and criminal justice issues
- Willingness to work closely with NPP during 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 proven ability to work independently as well as within a team
- Self-motivated with the ability to take initiative, manage a variety of tasks, and see projects through to completion
Nice To Haves
- Prior experience or knowledge of mass incarceration (via work, educational studies, or lived experience) preferred but not required
Responsibilities
- Conduct legal research and analysis and develop theories to support new litigation projects
- Draft legal memoranda, pleadings, affidavits, motions, and briefs
- Interview witnesses and potential clients, including incarcerated people
- Monitor prison and jail systems’ compliance with existing settlement agreements
- 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
- Engage in public speaking and attend meetings and/or conferences as needed
- Engage in special projects and other duties as assigned
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
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Entry Level
