Fall 2027 Public Interest Legal Fellowships

Job Description

Job Description

ACLU of Massachusetts
Fall 2027 Public Interest Legal Fellowships

Notice to Third-Year Law Students & Recent Law Graduates
(applications due July 1, 2026 for fellowships with fall deadlines)

The American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts (ACLUM) is accepting applications from candidates interested in working at ACLUM through externally-funded public interest legal fellowships, including but not limited to those funded by Equal Justice Works, the Skadden Fellowship Foundation, Open Society Foundations, Justice Catalyst, and individual law schools. Third-year law students and attorneys interested in work involving civil rights and civil liberties may apply for either or both sources of funding.

ACLUM works on cutting-edge civil rights and civil liberties issues. The organization has undertaken groundbreaking litigation and non-litigation advocacy in areas including, but not limited to free speech, immigrants’ rights, criminal justice, reproductive rights, incarceration during COVID-19, transgender rights, open government, police accountability, government surveillance, racial justice, voting rights, democracy, and the separation of church and state. For more, please visit   Summary 

If funded, selected fellows will work with ACLUM’s Legal Director, managing attorneys and staff attorneys on trial-level and appellate work, and may focus on a particular issue or work on a range of issues, to the extent permitted by the fellowship. Although litigation will be the strong focus of the fellowship, fellows may also work with staff members on some non-litigation advocacy, such as public education, legislative work, public speaking, community organizing, and investigation.

During the funding application process, ACLUM staff will work with selected fellowship candidates to develop their proposals for submission, helping tailor the proposals to address an important civil rights or civil liberties issue. The duration of the fellowship will be governed by the funding organization’s policy. Subject Areas of the Fellowships

ACLUM welcomes applications from prospective fellows who are interested in any significant issue involving civil rights or liberties. Recent ACLUM fellows have litigated key cases on free expression, immigrants’ rights, access to medication for addiction treatment, police accountability, open government, and the rights of incarcerated individuals to access adequate medical treatment, both in the midst of the pandemic and more generally. Priority issue areas for ACLUM in 2027 might include free speech, freedom of religion, police accountability, immigrants’ rights, reproductive rights, LGBTQ+ rights, criminal law, racial justice, and government surveillance. 

Qualifications

The required qualifications for ACLUM’s fellowship consideration are:

• Excellent legal research, writing, and analysis skills.
• Demonstrated familiarity with issues related to civil rights, civil liberties, and social justice.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, as well as strong teamwork and collaboration abilities.
• Self-motivated with proven ability to work well with a wide range of stakeholders.
• Strong belief in the ACLU’s mission and work to defend and strengthen civil rights and liberties.
• Commitment to diversity and inclusion. Respect for differences in race, ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, ability, and socio-economic background.
• Current or recent judicial law clerks are encouraged to apply, but judicial clerkship experience is not required.

Compensation

The salary range for this position is $72,000 to $78,000. Benefits include 401(k) plan plus employer match, medical and dental insurance, and paid vacation and holidays. Reimbursement for mileage may be provided in accordance with ACLUM policies, when applicable.

About the ACLU of Massachusetts

The ACLU of Massachusetts (ACLUM) was founded in 1920 and is an affiliate of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), a nationwide, non-profit, non-partisan membership organization that works to preserve and expand the freedoms guaranteed by the Bill of Rights. Through strategies of litigation, advocacy, public education, and grassroots activism, we strengthen and expand public understanding of racial justice, juvenile justice, LGBTQ rights (including equal marriage), women’s rights, criminal justice issues, equal opportunity, free speech and assembly, privacy rights, religious liberty, students’ rights, voting rights, and reproductive rights. ACLUM staff are unionized and this position will be within the bargaining unit.

ACLUM is an equal opportunity employer and encourages women, people of color, persons with disabilities, queer people, and formerly incarcerated people to apply. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

This position will be based in Boston, MA and eligible for a hybrid work schedule, being in-person an average of three days per week, with the ability to be in the office on any given day as needed and assigned. ACLUM has a Covid-19 vaccine mandate, and candidates receiving a job offer will be required to show proof of being fully vaccinated against COVID-19 prior to commencing employment. Exemptions to this requirement will be considered on a case-by-case basis in accordance with applicable law. Applicants should be aware that fully remote work will not be deemed a reasonable accommodation. To Apply

Applicants for this position should submit a resume, cover letter, writing sample (see specifications below), and a list of three references (two former or current direct supervisors and one colleague or peer).

Your cover letter should include a 2–3 sentence description of a potential project in your intended issue area. ACLUM works across many issue areas and does not have a preferred issue area for this process. We are interested in learning about your interests and seeing a potential project that you envision proposing to funders. If you are selected, ACLUM will work with you to develop a final project proposal, which may differ from your initial concept while remaining within your area(s) of interest. If you have multiple issue areas in which you are willing to do projects, it is fine to note that in addition to proposing one or two specific projects.

Your writing sample should be one for which you were the sole or primary author that demonstrates your legal analysis and writing skills. Include a brief description of the context for the piece and whether anyone other than you edited or worked on it. If the sample contains confidential information, please ensure all identifying facts, names, or otherwise sensitive data have been redacted.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and must be submitted no later than July 1, 2026, for fellowships with fall deadlines.

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