Fall 2023 Fellowship Sponsorship, National Prison Project

Job Description

ABOUT THE JOB

T he ACLU's National Prison Project (NPP) in our national office in Washington, D.C. seeks rising third-year law students and recent law graduates to apply for sponsorship for an externally- funded fellowship such as Equal Justice Works or other public interest fellowships, to begin in the fall of 202 3 .

Founded in 1972, NPP is the only organization that litigates prison conditions cases on a national level; we are currently litigating cases from the U.S. Virgin Islands to California. NPP works to ensure that our nation's prisons, jails, juvenile facilities, and immigration detention centers comply with the Constitution, domestic law, and international human rights principles. Through litigation, public education, and other forms of advocacy, we fight to ensure that conditions of confinement are consistent with health, safety, and human dignity, and we work to reverse the laws and policies that give the U.S. the highest incarceration rate in the world. Our priorities include improving health care, eliminating violence and maltreatment, ending solitary confinement, defending the First Amendment rights of incarcerated people, and increasing oversight and accountability in prisons, jails, and other places of detention.

Our staff will work with candidates to develop their proposals to external funders for submission, helping tailor the proposal to address an important civil liberties issue for incarcerated people. Proposed projects often combine litigation and advocacy with community outreach and public education.

We will review applications on a rolling basis, but priority consideration will be given to those who submit applications by June 15, 2022 .

RESPONSIBILITIES

• 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, including incarcerated persons
• Monitor prison and jail systems' compliance with settlement agreements
• 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
• Engage in public speaking and attend meetings and/or conferences as needed
• Center principles of equity, inclusion, and belonging in all work, embedding the values in program development, policy application, and organizational practices and processes
• Commitment to the mission of the ACLU
• Demonstrate a commitment to diversity within the office using a personal approach that values all individuals and respects differences in regards to race, ethnicity, age, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, religion, disability and socio-economic circumstance
• Commitment to work collaboratively and respectfully toward resolving obstacles and/or conflicts

EXPERIENCE & QUALIFICATIONS

• J.D. or expected to receive a J.D. by the spring of 202 3
• Demonstrated commitment to public interest law and criminal justice
• Willingness to work closely with NPP 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: $76,320- $87,787
• 3-5 years since law school graduation: $93,493-$104,553
• 6-10 years since law school graduation: $107,690- $121,206
• 11-15 years since law school graduation: $124,843-$140,511
• 16-20 years since law school graduation: $144,726-$162,891
• 21-25 years since law school graduation: $167,778-$188,835
• 26-30+ years since law school graduation: $194,500- $218,912

These salaries are reflective of positions based in New York, NY. The salary will be subject to a locality adjustment (according to a specific city and state), if an authorization is granted to work outside of the location listed in this posting. Note that most of the salaries listed on our job postings reflect New York, NY salaries, where our National offices are headquartered.

ABOUT THE ACLU

The ACLU dares to create a more perfect union – beyond one person, party, or side. Our mission is to realize this promise of the United States Constitution for all and expand the reach of its guarantees.

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 from government abuse and overreach.

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 a community committed to learning and growth, humility and grace, transparency and accountability. We believe in a collective responsibility to create 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 as committed to anti-oppression and anti-racism internally as we are externally. Because whether we’re in the courts or in the office, we believe ‘We the People’ means all of us.

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