Public Interest Legal Fellow Sponsorship Opportunity

ACLU of New Jersey•Newark, NJ

13d•Hybrid

About The Position

The American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey (ACLU-NJ) is seeking rising third-year law students and recent law graduates for a sponsorship opportunity to work as a public interest legal fellow. This role offers practical experience in defending and expanding civil liberties and constitutional rights, including working on lawsuits, advocating for clients, and collaborating with political advocacy and communications teams. Fellows will have the chance to work on advancing legislation and public education, with past fellows having argued cases before the New Jersey Supreme Court. The ACLU-NJ will partner with a successful applicant to develop a project proposal focused on voting rights in New Jersey, targeting specific funding organizations like Equal Justice Works, Justice Catalyst, and the Skadden Fellowship Foundation, as well as fellowship funding from law schools. The goal is to develop projects that integrate legal advocacy, impact litigation, policy advocacy, community outreach, and public education. The ACLU-NJ legal staff will collaborate with the selected candidate to refine the proposal, ensuring it aligns with the candidate's interests and skills, provides adequate supervision and mentorship, matches ACLU-NJ's priorities, and utilizes effective strategies. The organization will also assist candidates in crafting their pitches to external funders and preparing for interviews. It is important to note that the ACLU-NJ does not provide independent internal funding for this fellowship and cannot offer employment to fellowship candidates.

Requirements

Passion for civil rights and civil liberties
Self-starter
Ability to work independently
Ability to manage projects
Ability to collaborate and be part of a team
Ability to think critically
Ability to write clearly and accessibly
Litigation experience (such as a clinic or clerkship) or policy advocacy experience
Strong commitment to racial equity
Understanding of how power is manifested in matters of race, ethnicity, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, religion, ability, and socio-economic circumstances

Nice To Haves

Rising third-year law students
Recent law graduates

Responsibilities

Work on lawsuits
Advocate for clients
Engage with political advocacy and communications teams on advancing legislation and public education
Develop a project proposal focused on voting rights in New Jersey
Collaborate with ACLU-NJ legal staff to further develop a proposal
Craft pitches to external funders
Prepare for interviews
Work closely with the ACLU-NJ through the funding process