ACLU - National Office
Fall 2026 Fellowship Sponsorship, Disability Rights Program
ACLU - National Office, San Francisco, California, United States, 94199
Fall 2026 Fellowship Sponsorship, Disability Rights Program
San Francisco, California, United States; Washington, District of Columbia, United States
Overview 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 up to one or two year(s). The Disability Rights Project of the National Office in San Francisco, CA or Washington, DC seeks applicants to consider for a sponsored fellowship (e.g., Equal Justice Works or other public interest fellowships) to begin in the fall of 2026. This is a hybrid role that has in-office requirements of two (2) days per week or eight (8) days per month.
We will review applications on a rolling basis, but priority consideration will be given to those who submit applications by June 27, 2025.
Candidates are invited to propose projects in one of the following areas: AI and algorithmic discrimination against people with disabilities; discrimination against people with mental health and substance use disorder in the criminal legal system; or disability challenges to voter suppression laws. Candidates may also propose projects on other topics related to disability and civil liberties.
This position is part of a collective bargaining unit. It is represented by ACLU Staff United (ASU).
Responsibilities
Reporting to the Project Director, the Fellow will pursue a litigation-focused project focusing on: AI and algorithmic discrimination against people with disabilities; discrimination against people with mental health and substance use disorder in the criminal legal system; disability challenges to voter suppression laws; or another topic of their choice related to disability and civil liberties.
Conduct legal research and analysis and develop theories to support new litigation projects
Draft legal memoranda, pleadings, affidavits, motions, and briefs
Interview witnesses and potential clients
Participate in discovery and trial practice
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
Qualifications
J.D. or expected to receive a J.D. by the spring of 2026
Demonstrated commitment to public interest law, civil liberties, disability rights, and the disability community
Willingness to work closely with the Disability Rights 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: $92,374-$115,393
3-5 years since law school graduation: $129,244-$152,480
6-10 years since law school graduation: $159,461-$179,891
11-15 years since law school graduation: $183,255-$193,657
16-20 years since law school graduation: $195,485-$200,519
21-25 years since law school graduation: $201,534-$205,663
26-30+ years since law school graduation: $206,654-$210,677
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 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 (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. We are committed to learning and growth, humility and accountability, and to creating 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 committed to anti-oppression, anti-ableism, and anti-racism both internally and 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.
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Overview 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 up to one or two year(s). The Disability Rights Project of the National Office in San Francisco, CA or Washington, DC seeks applicants to consider for a sponsored fellowship (e.g., Equal Justice Works or other public interest fellowships) to begin in the fall of 2026. This is a hybrid role that has in-office requirements of two (2) days per week or eight (8) days per month.
We will review applications on a rolling basis, but priority consideration will be given to those who submit applications by June 27, 2025.
Candidates are invited to propose projects in one of the following areas: AI and algorithmic discrimination against people with disabilities; discrimination against people with mental health and substance use disorder in the criminal legal system; or disability challenges to voter suppression laws. Candidates may also propose projects on other topics related to disability and civil liberties.
This position is part of a collective bargaining unit. It is represented by ACLU Staff United (ASU).
Responsibilities
Reporting to the Project Director, the Fellow will pursue a litigation-focused project focusing on: AI and algorithmic discrimination against people with disabilities; discrimination against people with mental health and substance use disorder in the criminal legal system; disability challenges to voter suppression laws; or another topic of their choice related to disability and civil liberties.
Conduct legal research and analysis and develop theories to support new litigation projects
Draft legal memoranda, pleadings, affidavits, motions, and briefs
Interview witnesses and potential clients
Participate in discovery and trial practice
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
Qualifications
J.D. or expected to receive a J.D. by the spring of 2026
Demonstrated commitment to public interest law, civil liberties, disability rights, and the disability community
Willingness to work closely with the Disability Rights 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: $92,374-$115,393
3-5 years since law school graduation: $129,244-$152,480
6-10 years since law school graduation: $159,461-$179,891
11-15 years since law school graduation: $183,255-$193,657
16-20 years since law school graduation: $195,485-$200,519
21-25 years since law school graduation: $201,534-$205,663
26-30+ years since law school graduation: $206,654-$210,677
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 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 (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. We are committed to learning and growth, humility and accountability, and to creating 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 committed to anti-oppression, anti-ableism, and anti-racism both internally and 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.
#J-18808-Ljbffr