2018-19 ACLU of Washington Legal Fellowship

We are no longer accepting applications for this position.

The ACLU of Washington welcomes applications from third-year law students and recent law school graduates for its Legal Fellowship.  The Fellowship will begin in the late summer/fall of 2018 and is a full-time position in ACLU of Washington’s Seattle office.  It provides recent graduates with a unique opportunity to participate in our organization’s legal work supporting the civil rights of all Washington citizens.
 
ACLU-WA is a state affiliate of the American Civil Liberties Union, the premier nationwide organization working daily in courts, legislatures, and communities to defend and preserve the individual rights and freedoms guaranteed by our Constitution and laws.  In support of this mission, the Fellow will work closely with ACLU-WA attorneys, lobbyists, and policymakers on the pressing civil rights issues facing Washington State.  
 
The ACLU is an equal opportunity employer. We value a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture.  The ACLU encourages applications from all qualified individuals without regard to race, color, religion, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship, disability, veteran status, socio-economic circumstance, or record of arrest or conviction.
 
RESPONSIBILITIES:

The ACLU-WA Legal Fellow will be responsible for a broad range of legal work in support of our mission, including:
  • Submitting public records requests and reviewing received documents for potential civil rights violations;
  • Drafting correspondence to government agencies in response to documented complaints of civil liberties and civil rights violations;
  • Pre-litigation investigative work;
  • Legal research and drafting memoranda;
  • Drafting amicus briefs;
  • Case work including discovery review, drafting motions, assisting with depositions, attending court hearings, and client communications; and
  • Community outreach on behalf of ACLU-WA, including Know Your Rights trainings, attending community meetings, and other ACLU-WA events.
A six month minimum commitment is required, and a nine to twelve month commitment is preferred.
 
QUALIFICATIONS:

Successful applicants for the ACLU-WA Legal Fellowship will be third year law students or recent law school graduates with the following qualifications:
  • Demonstrated interest in civil rights work;
  • Strong time management and the ability to juggle multiple assignments in a fast-paced office;
  • The ability to write in a clear and concise manner with an emphasis on legal writing;
  • Well-developed legal research skills; and
  • The ability to communicate effectively and appropriately with a wide range of stakeholders, including clients, community members, allied organizations, defendants, and court personnel.
COMPENSATION:

Although this position is unpaid, funding opportunities may be available through your law school and other outside sources. Applicants are encouraged to contact the public interest or career resources office of their law school about potential funding opportunities.
 
The ACLU-WA Legal Fellowship will give applicants the chance to gain experience at the staff-attorney level in a civil rights context, as well as mentorship opportunities from our office’s experienced staff members. The Fellow will also have access to regular in-house CLE’s hosted at the ACLU-WA office and the ability to network with other attorneys both at firms and non-profits.
 
HOW TO APPLY:

Interested applicants should submit a cover letter, resume, and legal writing sample (not to exceed 5 pages) to [email protected] with the applicant’s last name and “Legal Fellow” in the subject line.
 
Submissions for the 2018-19 Fellowship will be accepted on a rolling basis.
 
The ACLU of Washington comprises two separate corporate entities, the American Civil Liberties Union of Washington, Inc. and the American Civil Liberties Union of Washington Foundation. The two corporations share the same overall mission, office space, and employees. This job posting refers collectively to the two organizations under the name “ACLU of Washington.”