Fall 2026 Fellowship Sponsorship, Abortion Criminal Defense Initiative

New York, New York, United States; Washington, District of Columbia, United States

ABOUT THE JOB

The ACLU invites third-year law students and law graduates to apply for a sponsorship opportunity to work with us as a Legal Fellow for up to two years. The Abortion Criminal Defense Initiative (ACDI) of the National office in our National office in either Washington, D.C., or New York, NY, seeks applicants to consider for a sponsored fellowship such as Skadden, Equal Justice Works, or other public interest fellowships to begin in the fall of 2026. This position is a hybrid role that has in-office requirements of two (2) days per week or eight (8) days per month.

The ACDI is a first-of-its-kind program of the ACLU to confront the criminalization of abortion care in the aftermath of the U.S. Supreme Court’s reversal of Roe v. Wade. The ACDI team of attorneys manages a network of experienced criminal defenders nationwide who are trusted partners, ready to represent people at risk of abortion-related criminal investigations and prosecutions. ACDI attorneys provide legal, strategic, and logistical assistance to support local counsel and drive a nationwide, coordinated defense response against the criminalization of reproductive healthcare. In addition, ACDI attorneys collaborate closely with other projects in the ACLU’s national office as well as ACLU affiliates to lead advocacy and litigation to mitigate the harms of abortion criminalization and expand access to abortion care.

 
 
WHAT YOU'LL DO

Reporting to the ACDI Director, the Fellow will be focused on two related goals: (1) supporting network defense counsel who will provide direct representation of those facing abortion related prosecution; (2) identify opportunities and assist in implementation of affirmative advocacy strategies to reduce the harms of laws that criminalize abortion access. The Fellow will be a fully integrated member of the ACDI team and will engage in legal work critical to the success of the ACDI’s mission.

We will review applications on a rolling basis, but priority consideration will be given to those who submit applications by July 7, 2025.

This position is part of a collective bargaining unit. It is represented by ACLU Staff United (ASU).

YOUR DAY TO DAY 
  • Assist with research, writing, and other legal support of criminal defense attorneys providing direct representation to those involved in abortion care, including research addressing novel questions of constitutional and statutory law
  • Assist in tracking of abortion-related prosecutions, and other key litigation and legal developments to identify trends and advocacy opportunities for the initiative
  • Assist in design, planning and execution of ACDI trainings and education efforts
  • Draft and edit public education and non-litigation advocacy materials, including communications assets
  • Support strategic collaboration and coordination across other ACLU projects, ACLU’s state affiliates, and other partners engaged in criminal defense support to those involved in abortion care.
  • Assist in identifying opportunities for and advancing including amicus advocacy to limit the harm of laws that criminalize abortion and advance protections for those accessing care
  • Assist in evaluation of opportunities for affirmative litigation and execution of affirmative litigation strategies to reduce the harm of laws that criminalize abortion access
  • Center principles of equity, inclusion, and belonging in all work, embedding the values in program development, policy application, and organizational practices and processes
  • Demonstrate a commitment to diversity within the office using a personal approach that values all individuals and respects differences in regards to race, ethnicity, age, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, religion, disability and socio-economic circumstance
  • Commitment to work collaboratively and respectfully toward resolving obstacles and/or conflicts
 
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 criminal defense, racial justice, public interest law, and civil liberties
  • Willingness to work closely with ACDI 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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