Legal Fellow

ACLU of DC • Washington, DC

1d

About The Position

The American Civil Liberties Union of the District of Columbia (ACLU-DC) is seeking a law student or recent law school graduate to sponsor as a candidate for an externally-funded public service fellowship (such as Equal Justice Works, Justice Catalyst, or Soros). The fellowship itself would begin in fall 2027, requiring the applicant to graduate no later than summer 2027. The ACLU-DC focuses on civil liberties and civil rights issues impacting the District of Columbia, as well as federal policies within the jurisdiction of D.C. federal courts. Current work includes litigation and advocacy on issues such as police accountability, mental health crisis response, discrimination, digital privacy, and challenges to federal policies on immigration, trans rights, voting rights, federal workers’ rights, and freedom of speech. The fellowship involves developing a project proposal combining impact litigation, policy advocacy, and public education. Past fellows have had opportunities to develop cases, serve as lead counsel, testify before the D.C. Council, conduct trainings, take depositions, argue in court, and engage with media.

Requirements

• Must graduate no later than summer 2027.
• Must be a rising third-year law student, judicial clerk, or law school graduate.
• Must be legally authorized to work in the United States.
• By fall 2027, must have obtained a J.D. and either be a D.C. Bar member or seek admission during the fellowship.
• Excellent work ethic, including dependability, diligence, ability to take ownership over projects, and commitment to see projects through to completion in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.
• Receptive to feedback, enthusiastic about learning and self-improvement, and eager to incorporate feedback into future work.
• Excellent legal research skills, including the judgment to discern relevant cases and thoroughness.
• Capacity for thoughtful and perceptive legal analysis, including building logical and persuasive arguments, understanding legal decisions and statutes, and applying legal authorities to new facts.
• Excellent legal writing skills, including clear and organized presentation of ideas and ability to write memos that teach the reader.
• Empathy and interpersonal skills to connect with, listen to, learn from, advise, and work collaboratively with clients and community members.
• Experience includes at least one clinical semester, one externship semester, or one summer internship working in a U.S. litigation setting involving legal research and writing.
• Meet the eligibility criteria for one or more externally-funded fellowships that would fund a fellowship at the ACLU-DC.

Nice To Haves

• Having access to additional school-based funding opportunities would be advantageous.
• Likelihood of obtaining funding will be a consideration.

Responsibilities

• Develop a project proposal for submission to funding organizations, focusing on civil liberties and civil rights in Washington, D.C.
• Combine impact litigation, policy advocacy, and public education in proposed projects.
• Address a specific problem with concrete strategies and tools.
• Set goals for accomplishments during the fellowship.
• Develop their own cases and serve as lead counsel (past fellows).
• Testify before the D.C. Council (past fellows).
• Conduct Know Your Rights trainings (past fellows).
• Take depositions (past fellows).
• Argue in court (past fellows).
• Speak on behalf of the ACLU-DC to national and local media outlets (past fellows).

Benefits

• Employer-paid health insurance
• Vacation and sick leave
• 401(k) availability with partial employer match
• Salary of no less than $87,880 per year, dependent on years since law school graduation (supplemented by ACLU-DC)

What This Job Offers

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