NJSBF LAW FELLOWSHIP SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITY

Notice to Third-Year Law Students andRecent Law Graduates:

TheAmericanCivilLibertiesUnionofNewJersey(ACLU-NJ)invitesthird-yearlawstudentsandjudiciallawclerkstoapplyforasponsorshipopportunity through theNew Jersey State Bar Foundation(NJSBF)toworkasapublicinterestlawfellow todefend andadvanceimmigrants’ rights.  

AsanintegralpartoftheACLU-NJ legal department,lawfellowsgainpracticalexperiencethroughdefendingandexpandingcivillibertiesandconstitutionalrights: they will have the opportunity to work on lawsuits, advocate for clients,educate New Jerseyans on their civil rights and liberties,and engage with our policy and communications teams on advancing legislation andpublic outreach.  

ACLU-NJ staff will work closely with the selected candidate tocraft a joint proposal centered around protecting and advancing the rights of immigrants and immigrant communities tosubmit to the NJSBF.The proposalwill build on the candidate’s interests and skills,includeappropriate supervision and mentorship,andalign with ACLU-NJ’s priorities.We are eager to develop proposed projects thatstrategicallycombine legal advocacy and impact litigation, policy advocacy, community outreach, and public education.  

PleasenotethattheACLU-NJdoesnothaveindependentinternalfundingforthisfellowshipposition and thus the position iscontingent on receiving theNJSBFgrant.  

OrganizationalOverview 

For more than 60 years, the ACLU of New Jersey has defended liberty and justice guided by the vision of a fair and equitable New Jersey for all. Our mission is to preserve, advance, and extend the individual rights and liberties guaranteed to every New Jerseyan by the state and federal constitutions in courts, in the legislature, and in our communities. We are committed to repairing and transforming spaces where constitutional promises have not been delivered. 

As part of an organization that uses an integrated, inter-departmental approach to advocacy, the staff attorney will joina 17+ person legal team that uses litigation and a wide range of advocacy tools to protect and expand civil rights and civil liberties, and that collaborates with colleagues across the organization to maximize the ACLU-NJ’s impact. 

Qualifications 

Inadditiontohavingpassionforcivil rights and civil liberties and alignment withthemissionoftheACLU-NJ,theidealcandidatewillbeaself-starterand be able toworkindependently, manage projects,andcollaborateandbe partofateam.Wearelookingtosponsorcandidateswhoareabletothinkcritically,writeclearlyandaccessibly,andhavesomelitigation(suchasaclinic,

internship,orclerkship)orpolicyadvocacyexperience.Theidealcandidatewillalsohaveastrongcommitmenttoracialequity,andanunderstandingofhowpowerismanifestedinmattersofrace,ethnicity,age,gender,sexualorientation,genderidentity,genderexpression,religion,ability,andsocio-economiccircumstances.Candidates fluent in Spanish or languages other than English are strongly encouraged to apply. 

Fellowship applicants will have to meet NJSBF requirements, includingsitting for the New Jersey bar exam and certifying that they plan to work or live in New Jersey after the fellowship.  

To Apply 

Please complete the application by uploading your cover letter outlining a fellowship project proposal, a resume, writing sample (5-10 pages), and law schooltranscript. We invite applicants to include in their cover letter information about how their background and/or experiences could contribute to the diversity, cultural vitality, and perspective of our staff and advocacy work.  

At this stage, your project proposal can be broad,while centered aroundimmigrants’ rights. Your project proposal should give us a sense of the kind of work you are hoping toultimately do as a part of your fellowship and allow us toanticipate how we could best work with you to craft that project. Please review theNJSBF’s website foradditional details on whatthe final proposalmust include. Please note that as part of the NJSBF’s application, candidatesare required tosubmit two letters of recommendation.  

The candidate will be expected to work closely with the ACLU-NJtofinalize and submit the joint project proposal byDecember 1, 2026.  

About the position 

Compensation: The ACLU-NJ payslaw fellows on the same scale as staffattorneys andstarts at$82,500 for a new law graduate. 

Location:Theposition is based at theACLU-NJ’s officelocated in Newark, NJ,where staff memberswork on a hybridremotework schedule, in office on Tuesdays andWednesdays,and need to beavailable to participate in hearings, meetings, and other events within New Jersey.  

Deadlines:Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basisuntilNovember 11, 2026.The final proposal is due to the NJSBF by December1,2026. 

The ACLU-NJ is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. We value a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture of belonging. It is our policy to employ qualified people without regard to race; color; gender, gender identity or expression; religion; sex; national origin or ancestry; age; disability; sexual orientation; veteran’s status; marital status; civil union status; arrest or court record; citizenship; credit history; genetic information; status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual violence, or stalking; or any other characteristic protected under federal or state 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-NJ makes every effort toassure that its recruitment and employment provide all qualifiedpersons, includingpersons with disabilities, with full opportunities for employment in all positions. We are committed to providing reasonable accommodationto individuals with disabilities. If you are aqualified individual with a disability and needassistance applying online, please email careers@aclu-nj.org. If you are selected for an interview, you will receiveadditional informationregarding how to requestan accommodation for the interview process.