ACLU Fellowship Opportunity

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FELLOWSHIP OPPORTUNITY
MARVIN M. KARPATKIN FELLOWSHIP [LGLF-06]
NOTICE TO THIRD-YEAR LAW STUDENTS AND RECENT GRADUATES
American Civil Liberties Union Foundation

Racial Justice Program, NY

For nearly 100 years, the ACLU has been our nation’s guardian of liberty, working in courts, legislatures, and communities to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties that the Constitution and the laws of the United States guarantee everyone in this country. Whether it’s achieving full equality for the LGBT community, establishing new privacy protections for our digital age, ending mass incarceration, 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. With more than a million members, activists, and supporters, the ACLU is a nationwide organization that fights tirelessly in all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and Washington, D.C., for the principle that every individual’s rights must be protected equally under the law, regardless of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability or national origin.

The Racial Justice Program (RJP) of the ACLU National office in New York City invites applications for the Marvin M. Karpatkin Fellowship, which will begin in September 2015.

 OVERVIEW

The Fellowship was established by the ACLU Board of Directors in memory of Marvin M. Karpatkin, the late General Counsel of the American Civil Liberties Union, who died in January 1975, at the age of 48.  Mr. Karpatkin was one of the ACLU’s most active attorneys during the 1960s and early 1970s.  He left his special mark in the areas of selective service and military law.  His interest in those areas grew out of his own strong opposition to the Vietnam War and his desire to help those who, younger than himself, were faced with performing military service in a war they would not support.

Racial Justice Program (RJP) attorneys and staff work to challenge racial discrimination and related issues that have a disparate impact on communities of color, particularly in the areas of criminal justice and education and seeks to provide full access to participation in the economic system regardless of race or ethnicity.  In the area of criminal justice, we are dedicated to reducing the unwarranted and disproportionate targeting and incarceration of people of color.  In the area of education, we seek to ensure that all children have access to quality education, regardless of race or ethnicity. Specifically, we have filed civil challenges to the inadequate provision of indigent criminal and juvenile defense, racial profiling, and disparate educational opportunities.  We have also campaigned against the racially-disproportionate imposition of incarceration and school discipline and are working to counteract the negative effects of discrimination in mortgage lending on communities of color.

ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES

The Karpatkin Fellow functions as part of the ACLU’s Racial Justice Program’s litigation team. Responsibilities will include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Provide legal research and analysis and develop theories to support new litigation projects.
  • Draft pleadings, affidavits, motions, and briefs.
  • Interview witnesses and potential plaintiffs.
  • Participate in discovery and trial practice.
  • Provide support and assistance to ACLU affiliates and cooperating attorneys.
  • Engage in public speaking and attend meetings and/or conferences as needed.
  • Supervise student interns.

EXPERIENCE & QUALIFICATIONS

  • J.D. degree or J. D. expected by the Spring of 2015.
  • A demonstrated ability to conduct complex legal analysis and fact-finding.
  • Excellent research, writing and verbal communication skills.
  • Self-starter with excellent interpersonal skills.
  • Proven ability to work independently as well as within a team.
  • Excellent computer skills including knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite.
  • Demonstrated commitment to public interest law.
  • Commitment to the mission and goals of the ACLU.

COMPENSATION

The ACLU offers a generous and comprehensive compensation and benefits package, commensurate with experience and within parameters of the ACLU compensation scale.

HOW TO APPLY

Applicants should send a cover letter, resume, two letters of recommendation and at least one legal writing sample by email to hrjobs@aclu.org – reference [LGLF-06/NABA] in the subject line.   Please indicate in your cover letter where you learned of this opportunity.

The application deadline is October 15, 2014. 

This posting provides a general but not comprehensive list of the essential responsibilities and qualifications required.  It does not represent a contract of employment. The ACLU reserves the right to change the posting at any time without advance notice.

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, and veteran status.   

The ACLU undertakes affirmative action strategies in its recruitment and employment efforts to assure that persons with disabilities have full opportunities for employment in all positions.

We encourage applicants with disabilities who may need accommodations in the application process to contact: hrjobsinclreq@aclu.org. Correspondence sent to this email address that is not related to requests for accommodations will not be reviewed. Applicants should follow the instructions above regarding how to apply.

The ACLU comprises two separate corporate entities, the American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU Foundation. Both the American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU Foundation are national organizations with the same overall mission, and share office space and employees. The ACLU has two separate corporate entities in order to do a broad range of work to protect civil liberties. This job posting refers collectively to the two organizations under the name “ACLU.”