Legal Fellow

Overview of the ACLU of Connecticut:

Founded in 1948, the ACLU of Connecticut is a nonpartisan, nonprofit membership organization that promotes and preserves individual rights and liberties in courts, the General Assembly, and the state’s towns and cities. We carry out this work from our office in Hartford with a staff of seventeen. We are one of fifty-three affiliates of the American Civil Liberties Union nationwide.

This is a critical time to join the ACLU. With enormous threats to civil rights arising in nearly every area of the ACLU’s work, we’ve seen a phenomenal outpouring of support from new members, donors, and volunteers who view the ACLU as the nation’s principal defender of fundamental freedoms and liberties. The ACLU of Connecticut is doing its part in the nationwide struggle to defend the Constitution while working to protect and advance civil rights and liberties here in Connecticut.

To learn more about the work of the ACLU, please visit www.acluct.org and www.aclu.org.

Position Overview:

As a legal fellow with the ACLU of Connecticut, you will join a legal team committed to fighting the toughest civil liberties and civil rights cases to defend all people from government abuse and overreach. We envision a world in which Connecticut’s legal promises of liberty, justice, and equality are fully realized for all people from all walks of life. We fight for a more perfect union in which America protects the rights of vulnerable people who have not typically held the reins of political power. We seek to end mass incarceration, create police accountability, stop police brutality, achieve freedom for LGBTQ people, establish privacy protections in the digital age, ensure reproductive freedom, dismantle institutional white supremacy and racism, and more. In our seven decades of existence, our legal team has ended the state’s ban on abortion coverage for women enrolled in the state Medicaid program, defended the rights of people illegally searched by police, protected the free speech rights of conscientious objectors, struck down discriminatory jury selection practices, and consistently fought for incarcerated people’s rights.

Primary Responsibilities/Essential Duties:

The legal fellow will:

• devise legal theory and strategy, with particular emphasis on state law
• perform all aspects of legal research
• draft filings
• draft motions and briefs
• engage in discovery
• engage in non-litigation advocacy like public speaking and education
• work closely with the ACLU of Connecticut’s staff and volunteers

Qualifications:

The ideal candidate will:

• possess a foundational commitment to civil liberties, civil rights, and the ACLU’s mission
• be committed to fighting racism, and have a personal approach that values the individual and respects differences of race, ethnicity, age, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, religion, ability, and socio-economic circumstance
• be licensed to practice law in Connecticut, or able to be so within six months of hire (we will reimburse you for the costs of admission).
• be able to work cooperatively on a variety of projects, with colleagues and diverse community organizations and coalitions
• have superior writing and analytical skills.

Our ideal candidate has 2-3 years of relevant experience, but we will consider interested candidates at all experience levels.

Compensation and Benefits:

The position is full-time and will pay an annual salary between $78,000 - $88-000 depending on experience. The ACLU of Connecticut also offers a generous and comprehensive benefits package starting with four weeks paid vacation, plus paid sick and personal time; 100%-employer premium paid medical, dental, and vision insurance; a supplemental wellness benefit; 401(k) Plan including employer contribution; and 13 paid holidays. (The ACLU of Connecticut reserves the right to alter or eliminate its current employee benefit plans and programs). This position is full-time, salaried, and exempt under the Fair Labor Standards Act and applicable Connecticut law.

How to Apply

We will accept applications until 11:59 PM Eastern Standard Time on Monday, May 26th and begin considering them thereafter. For consideration, email the phrase “I’m in” with your resume attached in PDF format to search@acluct.org. You need not send (and we will not read) a cover letter.

We encourage applicants with disabilities who may need accommodations in the application process to include this information in your initial email to search@acluct.org, or to call 860-523-9146 to discuss your needs.

To interrupt perpetuation of the existing power structure within the legal profession, our initial reviews of candidates will be blind: candidates’ identifying information (including schools attended) will be redacted and reviewers will not know who is in the applicant pool. The interview process will be as follows unless otherwise needed:

• Applicants email PDF resume and “I’m in” to search@acluct.org by May 26th
• Applications are reviewed beginning week of May 26th
• First exercise
• Second exercise
• Short interview
• Final interview
• Offer extended

The ACLU of Connecticut is proud to be an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and encourages all applicants regardless of race, sex, gender identity, age, disability, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, veteran status or record of arrest or conviction. We are committed to diversity, equity and inclusion, and to having a workforce that reflects all of Connecticut.

The ACLU of Connecticut undertakes affirmative action strategies in its recruitment and employment efforts to assure that all persons – including but not limited to persons with disabilities – have full opportunities for employment in all positions.