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The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is a national not-for-profit public interest organization devoted to the defense of the Bill of Rights. The National Prison Project invites applicants for a Volunteer Litigation Fellowship, to begin in October 2009.

Founded in 1972 by the American Civil Liberties Union, the National Prison Project seeks to ensure constitutional conditions of confinement and strengthen prisoners’ rights through class action litigation and public education. Our policy priorities include reducing prison overcrowding, improving prisoner medical care, eliminating violence and maltreatment in prisons and jails, and minimizing the reliance on incarceration as a criminal justice sanction. The Project also publishes a semi-annual Journal, coordinates a nationwide network of litigators, conducts training and public education conferences, and provides expert advice and technical assistance to local community groups and Attorneys throughout the country.

The population in American prisons and jails has tripled in the past 15 years with the predictable consequence that facilities are overcrowded; medical systems are overwhelmed; work, education, and treatment programs are inadequate; and idleness and inadequate supervision lead to greater levels of violence. As our national prison and jail population has climbed to over two million persons, it has grown increasingly racially skewed. On any given day, one-third of all African-American males are under some form of criminal justice supervision, and for black males in their twenties, one in every eight is in prison or jail. These trends have been exacerbated by the impact of the "war on drugs," with three fourths of all those convicted of drug offenses being persons of color, far out of proportion to their share of drug users in society. The consequences of these racial disparities in the criminal justice system reach beyond the prison gates: for example, as a result of state felony disenfranchisement laws, an estimated 13% of all black males are not eligible to vote.

The Project, with a staff of eight attorneys, has fought and continues to fight unlawful prison conditions and practices through successful litigation on behalf of prisoners in more than 20 states. Since 1991, the Project has represented prisoners in five cases before the United States Supreme Court. It is the only organization litigating prison conditions of confinement nationwide on behalf of men, women, and juveniles.

JOB DESCRIPTION:
The volunteer Litigation Fellow will work closely with Staff Attorneys on major class action and damage cases in federal court. The work includes drafting pleadings and briefs, participating in discovery and motion practice, and assisting with trials and appeals. In addition, the Litigation Fellow will provide technical assistance to ACLU affiliates, cooperating lawyers, and others who seek assistance from the Project.

QUALIFICATIONS:
Applicants must have strong analytical, research and verbal skills, an ability to write clearly, and a commitment to civil liberties and public interest law. A familiarity with criminal justice issues is highly desirable. The Fellow will be selected from third-year law students or junior-level attorneys (less than five years of experience) and will serve for a one-year period .

COMPENSATION:
This is a voluntary opportunity without pay or benefits. The ACLU does carry a malpractice policy that will cover the volunteer Litigation Fellow.

The ACLU is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and encourages women, people of color, persons with disabilities, and lesbians and gay men 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.”

Applications should consist of a current resume, the names and phone numbers of three references, and at least one legal writing sample. The position will remain open until it is filled. Applications should be sent to:

Human Resources
Volunteer Attorney
American Civil Liberties Union
125 Broad Street, 18th Floor
New York, NY 10004

Please indicate in your cover letter where you found this job posting.