2027 Legal Fellow Sponsorship for Organization-Funded Fellowships

New York Civil Liberties Union Foundation • New York, NY

5d • Hybrid

About The Position

The New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU) is seeking rising third-year law students, judicial clerks, and recent law graduates to sponsor for one- or two-year legal fellowships with a funding organization. The NYCLU will collaborate with a successful applicant to develop a project proposal for submission to organizations such as the Skadden Fellowship Foundation, Equal Justice Works, and/or Justice Catalyst. The proposed projects often combine litigation, policy advocacy, community outreach, and public education, with a focus on civil liberties and civil rights in New York. The NYCLU particularly encourages project proposals focusing on immigrants’ rights, racial justice, criminal justice and police accountability, voting rights, gender equity, reproductive rights, LGBTQ rights, education equity, privacy and technology, economic justice, Indigenous justice, environmental justice, and free speech. NYCLU staff currently work in a hybrid model, requiring a number of in-person days.

Requirements

• Rising third-year law students, judicial clerks, or recent law graduates.
• Demonstrated commitment to public-interest law, civil liberties, and racial justice.
• Commitment and ability to work with and support a wide range of communities and a diverse and inclusive workplace.
• Willingness to collaborate with the NYCLU to shape the project proposal through the funding application process.
• Ability to submit a resume, writing sample (no more than 5-10 pages), a cover letter, and a project proposal (no more than one-page, single-spaced).

Nice To Haves

• Projects that are new and innovative, allowing the NYCLU to serve unmet legal needs or expand our reach to new populations.
• Project proposals that focus on immigrants’ rights.
• Proposals that focus on racial justice, criminal justice and police accountability, voting rights, gender equity, reproductive rights, LGBTQ rights, education equity, privacy and technology, economic justice, Indigenous justice, environmental justice, free speech, and/or projects that incorporate more than one of these areas of focus.
• Indicate in the cover letter whether you seek sponsorship for only your proposed project or whether you would be open to projects the NYCLU suggests.

Responsibilities

• Develop a project proposal relating to civil liberties and civil rights in New York, potentially combining litigation, policy advocacy, community outreach, and public education.
• Collaborate with the NYCLU to shape the project proposal through the funding application process.
• Work with the NYCLU to craft a fellowship proposal and submit applications to sponsoring organizations.
• Conduct litigation, research, and/or advocacy on a wide range of civil liberties and civil rights issues.

Benefits

• Competitive benefits package in accordance with the Collective Bargaining Agreement.
• Salary subject to the NYCLU’s attorney salary scale, based on years of legal experience.
• NYCLU will pay the additional amount to bring the fellow up to the attorney salary scale if the fellowship pays less.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level