Fall 2026 Fellowship Sponsorship, Racial Justice Program

New York, New York, United States

 

ABOUT THE JOB 
 
The ACLU invites rising third-year law students and law graduates to apply for a sponsorship opportunity to work with us as a Legal Fellow for up to one/ two year(s). The Racial Justice Program of the National office in New York, NY seeks applicants to consider for a sponsored fellowship such as Equal Justice Works or other public interest fellowships to begin in the fall of 2026. This is a hybrid role that has in-office requirements of two (2) days per week or eight (8) days per month.  

The Racial Justice Program (RJP) is part of the ACLU’s Trone Center for Justice and Equality, which works to combat racial discrimination; to ensure that our criminal justice system is fair, and free of racial bias; to advocate for humane and constitutional conditions of confinement; and to abolish the death penalty as a legitimate form of punishment. The Trone Center for Justice and Equality also includes the Criminal Law Reform Project, Capital Punishment Project, and the National Prison Project. 

RJP challenges racial discrimination and other practices and policies that have a direct or disparate impact on communities of color, including Native American communities. RJP has a particular emphasis on education, criminal justice and economic justice issues. To advance its work RJP, often working with the ACLU’s 53 affiliates nationwide, uses litigation, legislative advocacy and public education to combat algorithmic and AI bias, dismantle barriers to successful reentry caused by contact with the criminal legal system, promote inclusive educational opportunities, decriminalize school discipline, assure access to housing, protect tribal sovereignty and promote Indigenous Justice; combat wealth-based criminalization and discrimination, and dismantle laws and policies that categorically discriminate against residents of the US Territories. 

We will review applications on a rolling basis, but priority consideration will be given to those who submit applications by June 20, 2025. 
 
Please tailor your cover letters to explain why you’re interested in working with RJP on the project described below.
 
This position is part of a collective bargaining unit. It is represented by ACLU Staff United (ASU). 
 
WHAT YOU'LL DO 
 
Reporting to the Project Director and/ or Deputy Project Director the Fellow will be focused on protecting educational equity and inclusion efforts against sweeping federal attacks on diversity, equity and inclusion, such as defending K-12 and higher ed curriculum and programming from censorship and unconstitutional regulations or establishing the legality of research, programs, and activities that address racial disparities in public health.
 
 
YOUR DAY TO DAY 
  • 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 
  • 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 
  • Help manage summer legal internship program and supervise student interns 
  • Engage in public speaking and attend meetings and/or conferences as needed 
 
FUTURE ACLU'ERS WILL 
  • Be committed to advancing the mission of the ACLU 
  • Center and embed the principles of equity, inclusion and belonging in their work by demonstrating commitment to diversity with an approach that respects and values multiple perspectives 
  • Be committed to work collaboratively and respectfully toward resolving obstacles and conflicts 
 
WHAT YOU'LL BRING 
  • J.D. or expected to receive a J.D. by the spring of 2026 
  • Demonstrated commitment to public interest law, civil liberties, criminal justice, and racial justice 
  • Willingness to work closely with the Racial Justice Program through 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 a 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 
 
COMPENSATION 
 
The ACLU has a litigator scale that determines pay for attorneys in our Legal Department. The range of salaries are the following, based on year of law school graduation (please consult the hiring manager for specific salary details, based on individual circumstances). 
 
  • 0-2 years since law school graduation: $92,374-$115,393 
  • 3-5 years since law school graduation: $129,244-$152,480 
  • 6-10 years since law school graduation: $159,461- $179,891 
  • 11-15 years since law school graduation: $183,255-$193,657 
  • 16-20 years since law school graduation: $195,485-$200,519 
  • 21-25 years since law school graduation: $201,534-$205,663 
  • 26-30+ years since law school graduation: $206,654- $210,677 
 
The ACLU is committed to equity, transparency, and clarity in pay. These salaries are reflective of positions based in New York, NY where are National Offices are headquartered.  Salaries are subject to a regional pay adjustment if authorization is granted to work outside of the location listed in this posting.   
 
For details on our pay structure, please visit: 
 
WHY THE ACLU 
 
For over 100 years, the ACLU has worked to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed by the Constitution and laws of the United States. Whether it’s ending mass incarceration, achieving full equality for the LGBTQ+ community, establishing new privacy protections for our digital age, or preserving the right to vote or the right to have an abortion, the ACLU takes up the toughest civil liberties cases and issues to defend all people. 
We know that great people make a great organization. We value our people and know that what we offer is essential not just their work, but to their overall well-being.  
At the ACLU, we offer a broad range of benefits, which include: 
  • Time away to focus on the things that matter with a generous paid time-off policy 
  • Focus on your well-being with comprehensive healthcare benefits (including medical, dental and vision coverage, parental leave, gender affirming care & fertility treatment) 
  • Plan for your retirement with 401k plan and employer match 
  • We support employee growth and development through annual professional development funds, internal professional development programs and workshops 
 
OUR COMMITMENT TO ACCESSIBILITY, EQUITY, DIVERSITY & INCLUSION 
Accessibility, equity, diversity and inclusion are core values of the ACLU and central to our work to advance liberty, equality, and justice for all. For us diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion are not just check-the-box activities, but a chance for us to make long-term meaningful change.  We are a community committed to learning and growth, humility and grace, transparency and accountability. We believe in a collective responsibility to create a culture of belonging for all people within our organization – one that respects and embraces difference; treats everyone equitably; and empowers our colleagues to do the best work possible. We are as committed to anti-oppression, anti-ableism, and anti-racism internally as we are externally. Because whether we’re in the courts or in the office, we believe ‘We the People’ means all of us. 
With this commitment in mind, we strongly encourage applications from all qualified individuals without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship, disability, veteran status and record of arrest or conviction, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.     
 
The ACLU is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If you are a qualified individual with a disability and need assistance applying online, please email benefits.hrdept@aclu.org. If you are selected for an interview, you will receive additional information regarding how to request an accommodation for the interview process. 

 

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