Fall 2027 Fellowship Sponsorship, National Prison Project

The ACLUs National Prison Project (NPP)invites rising third-year law students andrecentlaw graduates to apply forsponsorship foranexternally-fundedfellowshipsuch as Equal Justice Works Justice Catalystor other public interest fellowshipsto begin in the fall of 2027. This is ahybridrolethat has in-office requirements of two (2) days per week or eight (8) days per month.

Founded in 1972 NPP is the only organization that litigatescarceralconditions cases on a national level. NPP works to ensure that our nations 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; to center the humanity of incarcerated people their families and their communities;and to reverse the laws and policies that give the U.S. the highest incarceration rate in the world. Our priorities include improving health carein prisons eliminating violence and maltreatment ending solitary confinement defending the First Amendment rights of incarcerated people and increasingoversight and accountability in prisons jailsICE detentionand other places of detention.

We will review applications on a rolling basisandpriority consideration will be given to those who submit applications byJune19 2026.

This position is part of a collective bargaining unit. It is represented by ACLU Staff United (ASU).

Reporting to theDeputy Project DirectortheFellowwillboth work on existing cases and focus on their fellowship project to advance the body of law for incarcerated people.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. NPP has identified the following as priorityproject proposal topics but we are open to and would like to hear candidates alternative project ideas:

• Litigationand advocacyto move people with mental illness who have been found incompetent to stand trial out of litigation against jails all too often we find thatthosewho are spending the longest periods of time in jailare people with serious mental illness who are either awaiting competency evaluation or have been found incompetent to stand trial. These people often cycle in andout of solitary confinement dueto their poorly managed mental health care. This project would buildonthe work done by some ACLU affiliates in state and federal courts challenging the long-term incarceration of people in need of community mental health services through litigation advocacy and public education.
• Litigation and advocacy challengingcarceral systems widespread and unregulated use of private transport companies to move incarcerated and detained peopleacross the country and around the year tens of thousands of people are packed into vans and buses operated by private companieshired to transport people who have been arrested and in recent yearsa pattern has emerged of people being abused sexually assaulted neglected ordyingwhile on multiple-day journeysacross the country.According to a 2016 report at that time corrections departments in 26 states relied upon private prisonertransport ICE is increasingly relying uponprivate aviation companies and third-party contractors to fly noncitizens across the United States between detention centers and overseas on deportation and third-country removal flights.Immigrants reportbeing shackled including in restraints normally used only for people experiencing mental health crises on flights lastingmanyhours.A 2023 Department of Homeland Security internalreport raised concerns about using full-body restraints known as the WRAP or spit hoods on immigrants who pose no safety risk to others in part because of the number of deaths that have occurred when the WRAP was used by local law enforcement in arrests.

• 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 people
• Monitor prison and jail systems compliance with existing 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
• Engage in special projects and other duties as assigned

• 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

• J.D. or expected to receive a an accredited U.S. law schoolby the spring of 2027.Please note that sponsorship is limited to people who qualify for externally funded fellowships: people who will graduate from law school in 2027or in a qualifying bridge fellowshipor have recently completed a clerkship.The position is not open to actively practicing lawyers or people not enrolled in or recently graduated from law school.
• Admission to the applicable state or D.C. Bar or taking a bar exam no later than Summer 2027
• Demonstratedpastcommitment to public interest law civil libertiesandcriminal justiceissues
• Prior experienceor knowledge ofmass incarceration (via work educational studiesorlivedexperience) preferred but not required
• Willingness to work closely withNPPduringthe funding application process
• Excellent research writing and verbal communication skills
• Demonstrated ability to conduct complex legal analysis and fact-finding
• Excellent interpersonal skills and proven ability to work independently as well as within a team
• Self-motivated with the ability to take initiative manage a variety of tasksand see projects through to completion

The ACLU has a litigator scale thatdeterminespay for attorneys in our Legal Department. The range of salaries are the following based onyearof law school graduation (please consult the hiring manager for specific salary details based on individual circumstances).

• 0-2 years since law school graduation: $96069 - $120009
• 3-5 years since law school graduation: $134414 - $158579
• 6-10 years since law school graduation: $165839 - $187087
• 11-15 years since law school graduation: $190585 - $201403
• 16-20 years since law school graduation: $203304 - $208540
• 21-25 years since law school graduation: $209595 - $213890
• 26-30 years since law school graduation: $214920 - $219104

The ACLU is committed to equity transparency and clarity in pay. These salaries are reflective of positions based in New YorkNYwhereourNational Offices are are subject to a regional pay adjustment if authorization is granted to work outside of the location listed in thisposting.

For details on our pay structure please visit:

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. Whetheritsending mass incarceration achieving full equality for the LGBTQ communityestablishingnew 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.

We know that great people make a great organization. We value our people and know that what we offer is essential notjusttheir work but to their overall well-being.

At the ACLU we offer a broad range of benefits which include:

• Time away to focus on the things that matter with a generous paid time-off policy

• Focus on your well-being with comprehensive healthcare benefits (including medical dental and vision coverage parental leave gender affirming care & fertility treatment)

• Plan for your retirement with 401k plan and employer match

• We support employee growth and development through annual professional development funds internal professional development programs and workshops

Accessibility equity diversity and inclusion are core values of the ACLU and central to our work to advance liberty equality and justice for all. For us diversity equity accessibility and inclusion are not just check-the-box activities but a chance for us to make long-term meaningful change. 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 anti-ableism and anti-racism internally as we are externally. Because whether were in the courts or in the office we believe We the People means all of us.

With this commitment in mind we strongly encourage 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.

The ACLU is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If you are a qualified individual with a disability and needassistanceapplying online please email. If you are selected for an interview you will receiveadditionalinformationregardinghow to requestan accommodationfor the interview process.