Law Fellow

Notice to Third-Year Law Students and Recent Law Graduates:

The American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey (ACLU-NJ) invites third-year law students and judicial law clerks to apply for a sponsorship opportunity through the New Jersey State Bar Foundation (NJSBF) to work as a public interest law fellow to defend and advance immigrants’ rights.

As an integral part of the ACLU-NJ legal department, law 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, educate New Jerseyans on their civil rights and liberties, and engage with our policy and communications teams on advancing legislation and public outreach. 

ACLU-NJ staff will work closely with the selected candidate to craft a joint proposal centered around protecting and advancing the rights of immigrants and immigrant communities to submit to the NJSBF. The proposal will build on the candidate’s interests and skills, include appropriate supervision and mentorship, and align with ACLU-NJ’s priorities. We are eager to develop proposed projects that strategically combine legal advocacy and impact litigation, policy advocacy, community outreach, and public education.

Please note that the ACLU-NJ does not have independent internal funding for this fellowship position and thus the position is contingent on receiving the NJSBF grant.

Organizational Overview

For more than 60 years, the ACLU of New Jersey has defended liberty and justice guided by the vision of a fair and equitable New Jersey for all. Our mission is to preserve, advance, and extend the individual rights and liberties guaranteed to every New Jerseyan by the state and federal constitutions in courts, in the legislature, and in our communities. We are committed to repairing and transforming spaces where constitutional promises have not been delivered.

As part of an organization that uses an integrated, inter-departmental approach to advocacy, the staff attorney will join a 17+ person legal team that uses litigation and a wide range of advocacy tools to protect and expand civil rights and civil liberties, and that collaborates with colleagues across the organization to maximize the ACLU-NJ’s impact.

Qualifications

In addition to having passion for civil rights and civil liberties and alignment with the mission of the ACLU-NJ, 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 some litigation (such as a clinic,

internship, 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. Candidates fluent in Spanish or languages other than English are strongly encouraged to apply.

Fellowship applicants will have to meet NJSBF requirements,including sitting for the New Jersey bar exam and certifying that they plan to work or live in New Jersey after the fellowship. 

To Apply

Please complete the application by uploading your cover letter outlining a fellowship project proposal, a resume, writing sample (5-10 pages), and law school transcript.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. 

At this stage, your project proposal can be broad, while centered around immigrants’ rights. Your project proposal should give us a sense of the kind of work you are hoping to ultimately do as a part of your fellowship and allow us to anticipate how we could best work with you to craft that project. Please review the NJSBF’s website for additional details on what the final proposal must include. Please note that as part of the NJSBF’s application, candidates are required to submit two letters of recommendation.

The candidate will be expected to work closely with the ACLU-NJ to finalize and submit the joint project proposal by December 1, 2026. 

About the position

Compensation: The ACLU-NJ pays law fellows on the same scale as staff attorneys and starts at $82,500 for a new law graduate.

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, in office on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and need to be available to participate in hearings, meetings, and other events within New Jersey. 

Deadlines: Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until November 11, 2026. The final proposal is due to the NJSBF by December 1, 2026. 

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 [email protected]. If you are selected for an interview, you will receive additional information regarding how to request an accommodation for the interview process.