Summer 2027 PILI Graduate Fellowships

Roger Baldwin Foundation of ACLU Inc • Chicago, IL

5d • Hybrid

About The Position

The ACLU of Illinois Legal Department seeks graduating 3L law students for full-time Public Interest Law Initiative (PILI) graduate fellowships. Fellows participate in developing and pursuing impact cases and non-litigation advocacy to advance civil rights and civil liberties. They work under the supervision and mentorship of Legal Department attorneys, who provide thorough and timely feedback. The fellowship is hybrid, combining remote and in-office work each week. Fellows must be located in Illinois and able to work in the ACLU of Illinois’s Chicago office during the fellowship. Applicants must be current 3L students who will start as associates at Chicago law firms that participate in the PILI program.

Requirements

• Be a current 3L who will be starting as an associate at a Chicago law firm that participates in the PILI program.
• Be located in Illinois and able to come into the Chicago office during the fellowship.
• Be self-motivated, take initiative, manage varied tasks, and see projects through to completion in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.
• Be receptive to feedback, enthusiastic about learning and self-improvement, and able to incorporate feedback into future work.
• Have an excellent foundation in legal research, including sound judgment in identifying relevant cases and thoroughness in addressing research questions.
• Demonstrate developing capacity for thoughtful legal analysis, including building logical and persuasive arguments, understanding legal decisions and statutes, and applying legal authorities to new facts.
• Demonstrate developing legal writing skills, including presenting ideas clearly and in an organized manner and writing informative memoranda.
• Work collaboratively and respectfully to resolve obstacles and conflicts.
• Value all individuals in the workplace and respect differences, including differences in race, ethnicity, age, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, religion, ability, and socioeconomic circumstances.
• Have the empathy and interpersonal skills to connect with, listen to, learn from, and ask questions of clients and community members.
• Be committed to civil rights, civil liberties, social justice, and the ACLU of Illinois’s mission.

Responsibilities

• Conduct legal, policy, and factual research for current and potential cases and non-litigation advocacy projects.
• Draft memoranda, affidavits, and sections of briefs.
• Cite-check legal documents.
• Interview potential clients and class members.
• Investigate facts related to specific cases.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed