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 one/two year(s). The Reproductive Freedom Project 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 2027. This is a hybrid role that has in-office requirements of two (2) days per week or eight (8) days per month.
OVERVIEW
The ACLU’s Reproductive Freedom Project envisions a world that respects and supports each of us in making deeply personal decisions that determine the shape of our lives: with whom to form intimate relationships, and whether, when, and how to have children. In the world we see, we can all get the health care and other resources necessary to have a child, to prevent pregnancy, or to have an abortion—regardless of where we live, our income, race, age, gender identity, immigration status or whom we love.
For five decades, the ACLU has been a leader in the efforts to ensure that every person has access to affordable and stigma-free abortion care. Since the Supreme Court overruled Roe v. Wade, the ACLU has brought dozens of lawsuits challenging state bans and restrictions, including challenges to policies that seek to prevent people from traveling to get an abortion. Current cases include using new state constitutional amendments to strike abortion restrictions and expand access in states like Arizona, Ohio, and Missouri. The ACLU is also a leader on efforts to preserve and expand access to medication abortion and brought the case that led to the FDA lifting rules that prevented people from receiving their medication through the mail.
In the current environment, the ACLU’s Reproductive Freedom Project has filed or is preparing to file challenges to new efforts by the Trump Administration to restrict access to abortion and contraception, including efforts to restrict access to medication abortion, misapply federal laws to shut down abortion care, and to decimate our nation’s family planning program. This litigation has already resulted in, for example, the return of millions of critical family planning dollars.
The Reproductive Freedom Project’s work extends beyond abortion and contraception. For example, the ACLU is currently litigating a case in Alabama – a state with woefully insufficient access to maternity care and appallingly high rates of maternal morbidity and mortality – which enabled the first free standing birth centers to obtain licenses and begin serving patients.
The ACLU is unique among reproductive rights organizations in that it works with the ACLU’s nationwide network of state affiliates as well as attorneys and advocates in the organization who specialize in areas such as LGBT rights, criminal defense, immigrants’ rights, racial justice, disability rights, and freedom of speech and religion.
We will review applications on a rolling basis, but priority consideration will be given to those who submit applications by June 25, 2026.
This position is part of a collective bargaining unit. It is represented by ACLU Staff United (ASU).
WHAT YOU'LL DO
Reporting to the Deputy Project Director the Fellow will be focused on:
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
- Work with clients and witnesses
- Engage with both internal and external members of litigation teams
- 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 2027
- Admission to practice in New York, NY; if not currently admitted, agreement to become admitted within one year of hire
- Demonstrated commitment to public interest law, civil liberties, criminal justice, and racial justice
- Willingness to work closely with Reproductive Freedom Project 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: $96,069 - $120,009
- 3-5 years since law school graduation: $134,414 - $158,579
- 6-10 years since law school graduation: $165,839 - $187,087
- 11-15 years since law school graduation: $190,585 - $201,403
- 16-20 years since law school graduation: $203,304 - $208,540
- 21-25 years since law school graduation: $209,595 - $213,890
- 26-30+ years since law school graduation: $214,920 - $219,104
The ACLU is committed to equity, transparency, and clarity in pay. These salaries are reflective of positions based in New York, NY, where our 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:
https://www.aclu.org/careers/ACLU_Geographic_Pay_Structure-July_2024.pdf
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.