Fall 2027 Fellowship Sponsorship, Program on Freedom of Religion and Belief

ABOUT THE JOB  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 one or two years. The Program on Freedom of Religion and Belief of the National office in Washington, D.C. seeks applicants to consider for a sponsored public interest fellowship to begin in the fall of 2027.  OVERVIEW  We will review applications on a rolling basis, but priority consideration will be given to those who submit applications by July 1, 2026. This position is part of a collective bargaining unit. It is represented by ACLU Staff United (ASU).   WHAT YOU'LL DO  Reporting to the Project Director, the Fellow will support the litigation and advocacy work of the project, focusing on safeguarding the separation of church and state and protecting  the right to religious exercise. YOUR DAY TO DAY  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  Engage in special projects and other duties as assigned   FUTURE ACLU'ERS WILL  Be committed to advancing the mission of the ACLU  Center and embed the principles of equity, inclusion and belonging in their work by demonstrating commitment to diversity with an approach that respects and values multiple perspectives  Be committed to work collaboratively and respectfully toward resolving obstacles and conflicts   WHAT YOU'LL BRING  J.D. or expected to receive a J.D. by the spring of 2027  Admission to practice in Washington, D.C; if not currently admitted, agreement to become admitted within one year of hire  Demonstrated commitment to public interest law, civil liberties, criminal justice, and racial justice  Willingness to work closely with the Program on Freedom of Religion and Belief 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 hiri...