Public Interest Legal Fellow Sponsorship Opportunity

The American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey (ACLU-NJ) invites rising third-year law students and recent law graduates to apply for a sponsorship opportunity to work with us as a public interest legal fellow. As an integral part of the ACLU-NJ, our fellows gain practical experience through defending and expanding civil liberties and constitutional rights : they will have the opportunity to work on lawsuits, advocate for clients, and engage with our  political advocacy  and communications teams on advancing legislation and public education. Past fellows have even had the opportunity to  argue   cases  before the New Jersey Supreme Court.  

We will work with a successful applicant to develop a project proposal focused on voting rights in New Jersey for specific funding organizations, including Equal Justice  Works,  Justice Catalyst, and the Skadden  Fellowship   Foundation,  and  for  fellowship funding available through  law   schools.  We are eager to develop proposed projects that combine legal advocacy and impact litigation, policy advocacy, community outreach, and public education.    

ACLU-NJ legal staff will collaborate with the selected fellowship candidate to further develop a proposal that builds on the candidate’s interests and skills, ensures appropriate supervision and mentorship, fits with the ACLU-NJ’s priorities, and employs strategies most likely to be effective in advancing the project’s goals. The ACLU-NJ will work closely with candidates to craft their pitch to external funders and prepare for interviews.  

Please  note  that the ACLU-NJ does not  have   in dependent  internal  funding  for   this  fellowship position  and will not be able to offer employment to  fellowship candidates .  

Qualifications:

In addition to  having  passion  for   civil rights and civil liberties , the  ideal  candidate  will  be  a   self-starter  and be able to  work   independently,  manage projects,   and  collaborate  and be part  of   a   team.   We   are  looking  to  sponsor candidates  who   are   able   to  think critically,  write  clearly  and  accessibly, and  have   litigation  (such as  a   clinic   or  clerkship)  or  policy advocacy  experience .  The   ideal   candidate   will   also   have   a  strong  commitment  to racial  equity,  and an 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.  

The ACLU-NJ values  a  diverse  work  environment and  strongly  encourages applications from  women,  people  of  color,  people   who   identify   as   LGBTQ,  people  with  disabilities, people  who   have   experienced  poverty  or  homelessness, people  who   have   had  prior contact  with  the  juvenile,   criminal,   child   welfare,   or  immigration  systems,  and people who  have  personal  experience   with   other  issues  we  work  on.  

To Apply:  

To   apply ,  please upload   one  pdf with your  résumé  and one pdf with  a  writing sample,  law   school   transcript  and   a   cover   letter   that  details specific  interests  and outlines  a   fellowship  pro ject  proposal.   

At this stage, your project proposal can be broad  so  long as it is  centered  around voting rights  and /o r democratic partic ipation  in New Jersey.  You  might want to consider some of the following questions when outlining your project proposal:  

• What makes this issue ripe for work in New Jersey?   

• W hat unique skills or perspectives are you bringing to this particular issue?    

• What is your  personal  connection to the issue or group you wish to serve?   

• In what ways will your project advance racial justice in New Jersey?  

There is no need to answer  any of  these questions  explicitly,   but a good proposal should be thoughtful about what makes the project the right fit for you and , ideally,  the ACLU-NJ.  To that end, a  project can be, but need not be, novel .  What’s  impo rtant  is that it suits you and advances the mission of the ACLU-NJ.  We   invite  applicants to include  in  their  cover   letter  information about  how   their   background   and/or  experiences  could  contribute to the diversity,  cultural  vitality, and perspective  of   our  staff  and  advocacy  work.  

The candidate will be expected to work closely with the ACLU-NJ through the funding process.  In turn, we will be invested in helping you develop your project proposal to present it to potential funders.  

  About the position:  

Compensation: The ACLU-NJ pays  law fellows on the same scale as staff attorneys, and  starts at $ 7 7 ,000 for a new law graduate, even if the funding from the external fellowship does not  match .  

Location:  The position  is based at the  ACLU-NJ ’s office  located in Newark, NJ,  where staff members  work on a  hybrid  remote  work schedule  (two in-office days per week)  and need to be  available to participate in hearings, meetings, and other events within New Jersey.   

  We will begin to review applications  on  July 1 5 ,  2026 ,  and  will make decisions in   August .  Fellow applicants sponsored during this cycle w ill have a start date in  September  2027 .  

The ACLU-NJ is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. We value a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture of belonging. It is our policy to employ qualified people without regard to race; color; gender, gender identity or expression; religion; sex; national origin or ancestry; age; disability; sexual orientation; veteran’s status; marital status; civil union status; arrest or court record; citizenship; credit history; genetic information; status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual violence, or stalking; or any other characteristic protected under federal or state law. Black people, Indigenous people, people of color; lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex people, women, people with disabilities, protected veterans, and formerly incarcerated individuals are all strongly encouraged to apply.  

The ACLU-NJ makes every effort to  assure  that its recruitment and employment provide all qualified persons, including persons with disabilities, with full opportunities for employment in all positions. We are 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 careers@aclu-nj.org. If you are selected for an interview, you will receive  additional  information  regarding  how to request an accommodation for the interview process.