William J. Brennan Fellowship, Speech, Privacy & Technology Project
ACLU - National OfficeNew York, New York, United States · Posted 1 month agoDescription
ABOUT THE JOB
The ACLU seeks applicants for a full-time two-year fellowship position in the Speech, Privacy and Technology Project of the ACLU’s National office in New York, NY.
The Speech, Privacy, and Technology Project is dedicated to protecting and expanding the First Amendment freedoms of expression, association, and inquiry; expanding the right to privacy and increasing the control that individuals have over their personal information; and ensuring that civil liberties are enhanced rather than compromised by new advances in science and technology. The project is currently litigating cases and conducting other advocacy efforts on a variety of issues, including political protest, freedom of expression online, privacy of electronic information, journalists’ rights, scientific and academic freedom, the free speech rights of noncitizens, openness in the courts, privacy rights at the border, and the impact of big data and algorithmic decision-making.
The Brennan Fellowship, established by a special gift from author Tom Peters and poet Catherine Abbe and named after retired Supreme Court Justice William Brennan, was created to give people just starting their careers an opportunity to receive training and experience in First Amendment advocacy, and to help the ACLU advance its First Amendment goals. The Brennan Fellow will function as an integral part of the Speech, Privacy, and Technology Project, and will work on our extensive docket of First and Fourth Amendment cases. This is a two-year fellowship position, and starts in Fall 2027.
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, but priority consideration will be given to applications submitted by October 1, 2026.
RESPONSIBILITIES
The Brennan Fellow's responsibilities will include, but will not be limited to, the following:
- Participating in litigation at all levels of federal and state courts, including conducting legal and factual research, interviewing clients, drafting briefs and pleadings, and assisting in discovery and motion practice
- Assisting in drafting amicus curiae briefs
- Providing support for ACLU affiliate litigation
- Serving as a resource for ACLU legislative and policy work
- Advancing ACLU policy goals through public education and through organizing and participating in coalitions
- Helping manage summer legal internship program and supervising student interns
- Engaging in special projects and other duties as assigned
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
- J.D. (or an expectation of receiving one by the Spring of 2027)
- 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
- Excellent legal research, writing, and communication skills
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Skill at performing complex legal analytical work
- Demonstrated commitment to public-interest law
- Proven ability to work independently as well as within a team
- Ability to self-start and excellent interpersonal skills
- Knowledge of First and/or Fourth Amendment issues is preferred, but not required
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: $85,000-$106,182
- 3-5 years since law school graduation: $118,927-$140,309
- 6-10 years since law school graduation: $146,732-$165,531
- 11-15 years since law school graduation: $168,627-$178,198
- 16-20 years since law school graduation: $179,880-$184,512
- 21-25 years since law school graduation: $185,447-$189,246
- 26-30+ years since law school graduation: $190,158-$193,860
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 benefits.hrdept@aclu.org. If you are selected for an interview, you will receive additional information regarding how to request an accommodation for the interview process.
Similar jobs
Est. 108,039 USD
ABOUT THE JOB The ACLU seeks applicants for the Karpatkin Fellowship, a full-time, two-year fellowship in the Racial Justice Program (RJP) of the ACLU’s National office in New York, NY. This is a hybrid role that has in-…
Est. 120,009 USD
ABOUT THE JOB The ACLU seeks applicants for the full-time position of Staff Attorney, Senior Staff Attorney, or Senior Counsel, in the Immigrants’ Rights Project (IRP) of the ACLU’s National office in New York, NY or San…
Est. 167,568 USD
ABOUT THE JOB The ACLU seeks applicants for the full-time position of Technical Project Manager in the Information Technology Department of the ACLU’s National office in New York, NY, San Francisco, CA, or Washington, DC…
Est. 165,839 USD
ABOUT THE JOB The ACLU seeks applicants for the full-time position of Staff Attorney, Senior Staff Attorney, or Senior Counsel in the Criminal Law Reform Project of the ACLU’s National office in New York, NY. This is a h…
Est. 128,294 USD
ABOUT THE JOB The ACLU seeks applicants for the full-time position of Facilities Project Manager in the Business Operations and Support Services (BOSS) Department of the ACLU’s National office in Washington, D.C. This is…
Est. 229,096 USD
ABOUT THE JOB The ACLU seeks applicants for the full-time position of Director of Strategy & Innovation in the Strategy Office of the ACLU’s National office in New York, NY or Washington, DC. This is a hybrid role th…
Est. 142,694 USD
ABOUT THE JOB The ACLU seeks to fill multiple full-time positions for Regional Campaign Strategist in the National Political Advocacy Department of the ACLU's National office in Washington, DC or New York, NY. These posi…
Est. 89,020 USD
ABOUT THE JOB The ACLU seeks applicants for the full-time position of Program Associate in the Affiliate Support and Nationwide Initiatives Department of the ACLU’s National office in New York, NY. This is a hybrid role…
Est. 62,000 USD
ABOUT THE JOB The ACLU seeks applicants for the full-time position of Paralegal in the Program on Freedom Religion and Belief of the ACLU’s National office in Washington, DC. This is a hybrid role that has in-office requ…
Est. 70,000 USD
ABOUT THE JOB The ACLU invites rising third-year law students and law graduates to apply for a sponsorship opportunity to work with us as a Legal Fellow for one/two year(s). The Reproductive Freedom Project of the Nation…
Est. 188,816 USD
ABOUT THE JOB The ACLU seeks applicants for the full-time, term-limited position of Director of Strategic Communications in the Communications & Marketing Department of the ACLU’s National office in New York, NY or W…
Est. 196,369 USD
ABOUT THE JOB The ACLU seeks applicants for the full-time position of Senior Campaign Lead, Democracy in the National Political Advocacy Department of the ACLU’s National office in Washington, D.C. This is a hybrid role…
Est. 196,369 USD
ABOUT THE JOB The ACLU seeks applicants for the full-time position of Data Architect in the Product & Engineering division of the Technology Department at the ACLU’s National office in New York, NY, Washington, DC, o…
Est. 120,000 USD
ABOUT THE JOB The ACLU seeks applicants for the full-time position of Deputy Director, Support Transition in the Development Department of the ACLU’s National office in New York, NY. This is a hybrid role that has in-off…
Est. 167,568 USD
ABOUT THE JOB The ACLU seeks applicants for the full-time position of Senior Product Designer in the Technology Department of the ACLU’s National office in New York, NY. This is a hybrid role that has in-office requireme…
Est. 40,000 USD
The ACLU seeks an Undergraduate or Graduate Intern in the AFFILIATE SUPPORT & NATIONWIDE INITIATIVES- Organizational Management, Equity and Inclusion (OMEI) of the ACLU’s National office in Washington D.C. The Team:…
Est. 142,694 USD
ABOUT THE JOB The ACLU seeks applicants for the full-time position of Senior Content Strategist in the Communications and Marketing Department of the ACLU’s National office in New York, NY or Washington, DC. This is a hy…
Est. 120,000 USD
ABOUT THE JOB The ACLU seeks applicants for the full-time position of Senior Advisor, Affiliate Strategic Planning in the Affiliate Support and Nationwide Initiatives (ASNI) Department of the ACLU’s National office in Ne…
Est. 155,000 USD
Position: Racial Justice Center Director Department: Racial Justice Center Terms of Employment: Full-time/Exempt Location: New York Civil Liberties Union, New York, NY Salary: $140,000 - $170,000 (dependent on experience…
Est. 120,000 GBP
About Us At Cloudflare, we are on a mission to help build a better Internet. Today the company runs one of the world’s largest networks that powers millions of websites and other Internet properties for customers ranging…
Est. 112,764 USD
Legal Services NYC (LSNYC) fights poverty and seeks racial, social and economic justice for low-income New Yorkers. For over 50 years, we have challenged systemic injustices that trap people in poverty and provided legal…
Est. 111,450 USD
At Accenture Federal Services, nothing matters more than helping the US federal government make the nation stronger and safer and life better for people. Our 13,000+ people are united in a shared purpose to pursue the li…
Est. 227,000 USD
About Us At Cloudflare, we are on a mission to help build a better Internet. Today the company runs one of the world’s largest networks that powers millions of websites and other Internet properties for customers ranging…
Est. 178,500 GBP
About Us At Cloudflare, we are on a mission to help build a better Internet. Today the company runs one of the world’s largest networks that powers millions of websites and other Internet properties for customers ranging…
Est. 178,500 USD
About Us At Cloudflare, we are on a mission to help build a better Internet. Today the company runs one of the world’s largest networks that powers millions of websites and other Internet properties for customers ranging…
Est. 215,850 USD
At Accenture Federal Services, nothing matters more than helping the US federal government make the nation stronger and safer and life better for people. Our 13,000+ people are united in a shared purpose to pursue the li…
Est. 337,500 USD
About Us At Cloudflare, we are on a mission to help build a better Internet. Today the company runs one of the world’s largest networks that powers millions of websites and other Internet properties for customers ranging…
Est. 204,000 USD
At Accenture Federal Services, nothing matters more than helping the US federal government make the nation stronger and safer and life better for people. Our 13,000+ people are united in a shared purpose to pursue the li…
Est. 164,000 USD
At Accenture Federal Services, nothing matters more than helping the US federal government make the nation stronger and safer and life better for people. Our 13,000+ people are united in a shared purpose to pursue the li…
Est. 145,000 USD
Join Axon and be a Force for Good. At Axon, we’re on a mission to Protect Life. We’re explorers, pursuing society’s most critical safety and justice issues with our ecosystem of devices and cloud software. Like our produ…