Legal Fellow

ACLU-NJ Legal Fellow Fall 2026

The American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey (ACLU-NJ) seeks graduating law students or law graduates or judicial clerks from the Class of 2025 for a one-year legal fellowship in the Legal Department with a start date in September 2026. This internally funded opportunity is designed to provide emerging social justice leaders with excellent legal training and experience in impact litigation and integrated advocacy. The Fellow will assist in carrying out legal and advocacy work that advances ACLU-NJ’s strategic plans to protect and defend civil rights and liberties for all New Jerseyans. 

The position is based in Newark with a hybrid work schedule where staff members work in the office Tuesdays and Wednesdays. 

Organizational Overview  

For more than 60 years, the ACLU of New Jersey (ACLU-NJ) 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.    

In every facet of our work, we strive to be anti-racist and are actively committed to advancing racial justice in the institutions of New Jersey, for the people of New Jersey. We aim to center the voices and lived experiences of those who historically have not been fully protected by government systems or laws.    

Founded in 1960 and based in Newark, we are a non-partisan organization that operates on several fronts – political, legal, cultural – to bring about systemic change and build a more equitable society.  

As part of an organization that uses an integrated, inter-departmental approach to advocacy, the Fellow will join a 14+ person legal team that engages in litigation and a wide range of advocacy tools to protect and expand civil rights and civil liberties, and that works collaboratively with policy and communications colleagues to maximize the ACLU-NJ’s impact. 

Responsibilities

The Fellow will spend most of their time working closely with colleagues on existing litigation and advocacy projects spanning the full range of ACLU-NJ’s priority issues. Over the one-year term, the Fellow will focus on developing core legal advocacy, legal research, and writing skills. 

The Fellow will also work in collaboration with other departments and may have projects that require analyzing state and local legislative proposals, researching legislative history, drafting internal memos and testimony, and drafting or reviewing advocacy or public education materials. In addition, the Fellow’s work may include community outreach and representing the ACLU-NJ in coalition meetings and conferences, and public speaking engagements. Fellows are expected to participate in meetings, activities, and tasks that advance the work of the legal team and the organization as a whole.

Qualifications

This is a term-limited position without the possibility of an extension. It is designed for early career attorneys who will have graduated law school in 2025 or 2026 and will seek admission to the New Jersey bar. While no one person will have all of the qualities listed below, successful candidates will bring many of the following qualifications and attributes: 

• A strong understanding of and commitment to civil liberties, civil rights, and racial justice, including incorporating racial justice principles into legal work.  

• Excellent legal research, writing, and communication skills and keen interest in developing and refining these skills.

• Strong relationship-building and collaboration skills, including success working as a member of a team and/or with community organizations. 

• Strong time and project management skills, including a high level of organization, attention to detail, and follow-through. 

• Experience taking initiative and engaging in creative problem-solving. 

• Demonstrated commitment to diversity within the office using a personal approach that values all individuals and respects differences in race, ethnicity, age, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, religion, ability and socio-economic circumstance, and record of arrest or conviction. 

• Previous experience in or connection to New Jersey public interest advocacy is a plus. 

Compensation

The starting salary for a 2026 graduate is $74,000. The ACLU-NJ supports and plans for staff member professional growth and skill development through internal and external opportunities. We offer a comprehensive compensation and benefits package which currently includes 30 days paid time off, 12 office holidays and 16 health care leave days; medical, vision, and dental insurance; 20 weeks (100 days) paid family leave; life and long-term disability insurance; pre-tax transit benefits; and a 401(k) plan with employer match. This position is exempt under the Fair Labor Standards Act. 

About our Culture

We are a diverse workforce and take pride in our ability to attract and retain employees with a huge array of backgrounds and experiences. We work hard but also like to celebrate our successes. We strive to bring humility, empathy, kindness, and generosity to our work, internally within the organization and externally with our partners and those whom we are serving. We seek to build a work culture with a sense of respect and collegiality, and a willingness to be generous with our expertise and resources.

TO APPLY

Please complete the application by uploading a cover letter, resume, and a legal writing sample (6-10 pages) that is wholly your own unedited work. 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 job announcement will close on October 14th, 2025.    

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. The ACLU-NJ is committed to providing reasonable accommodations 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 accommodations for the interview process.