About the Organization

The American Civil Liberties Union of the District of Columbia (ACLU-DC) is the affiliate of the national ACLU, dedicated to defending civil rights and liberties through strategic litigation, policy advocacy, and public education. ACLU-DC focuses on the rights of individuals impacted by D.C. government practices as well as selected challenges to federal policies.

Learn more at www.acludc.org.

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About the Fellowship

ACLU-DC invites applications from recent law graduates or current students graduating by summer 2026 to pursue externally-funded fellowships (e.g., Equal Justice Works, Justice Catalyst, Soros, or school-funded). The selected candidate will work with ACLU-DC to develop a project addressing civil liberties/civil rights in Washington, D.C., combining litigation, advocacy, and public education.

Notable past work includes:

• Lafayette Square protest litigation (BLM-DC),
• D.C. police cellphone seizure challenges,
• LGBTQ+ rights in detention settings,
• Mental health response litigation, and more.

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Event Timeline

Stage	Date
Application Deadline	6 July 2025 (11:59 PM ET)
Fellowship Start Date	Fall 2026
Rolling Application Review	Ongoing through July

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Format and Structure

Submit the following via the ACLU-DC Careers Portal:

• Resume
• Cover Letter (incl. fellowship project idea)
• 3 References
• Law school course list
• Legal writing sample (unedited)
• Statement on law school-based fellowship availability

Shortlisted candidates will be contacted for interviews. Selected fellows will receive direct mentorship, lead litigation projects, appear in court, and may engage in policy testimony.

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Location and Mode

📍 Venue: ACLU-DC Office, Washington, D.C.
🖥️ Mode: In-person (On-site)

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Additional Highlights

Fellowship Top-Up: ACLU-DC will supplement your external fellowship stipend to ensure a minimum $70,000 annual salary

Benefits:

• Employer-paid health insurance
• Paid leave
• 401(k) with employer match

🔍 Opportunities:

• Lead litigation as first chair
• Draft court filings and policy memos
• Conduct rights trainings
• Media engagement

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Eligibilit

✔️ Must graduate law school by summer 2026
✔️ Eligible for D.C. Bar or planning to take the exam
✔️ Eligible and planning to apply for externally funded fellowships
✔️ Strong legal writing, research, and communication skills
✔️ Prior experience in U.S. litigation environment (e.g., clinic, externship, or internship)
✔️ Demonstrated interest in civil liberties and public interest law

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Registration Fee

✅ No fee (Free application)

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Team/Individual

Individual applicants only

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FAQs

Q1: Do I need my own fellowship funding in place to apply?
A: No. ACLU-DC will work with you to apply for fellowships such as EJW, Justice Catalyst, etc.

Q2: Is this fellowship paid?
A: Yes. ACLU-DC supplements any awarded fellowship to ensure a minimum annual salary of $70,000.

Q3: Will I be able to litigate and advocate on behalf of clients?
A: Yes. Fellows often serve as lead counsel, draft pleadings, argue in court, and appear at policy hearings.

Q4: Is the position open to international students?
A: U.S. litigation experience is required; candidates must be eligible to work in the U.S.

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Important Links

Resource	Link
Application Portal	Click Here
Official Fellowship Page	Learn More
ACLU-DC Main Website	Visit Here

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Downloadables

Sample Cover Letter (PDF)

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Contact

📧 Email: hr@acludc.org
🌐 Website: www.acludc.org

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