Fall 2021 Legal Fellowship Sponsorship – Women’s Rights Project in NYC
ABOUT THE JOB:
The Women’s Rights Project of the National office in New York, NY seeks third-year law students and recent law graduates to consider for a sponsored fellowship such as Skadden, Equal Justice Works, or other public interest fellowships to begin in the fall of 2021.
Since its founding by Ruth Bader Ginsburg in 1972, the ACLU’s Women’s Rights Project has been a trailblazer in fighting for gender equity under law. We engage in systemic legal reform to ensure that everyone has the freedom to live, work, and learn free from stereotypes, harassment, and violence based on sex. Our recent work includes fighting the military’s ban on women in combat, challenging employment rules that penalize workers for their pregnancies or push them out of the paid workforce altogether, and winning a historic settlement against Facebook for targeting ads for jobs, housing, and credit only at men.
Applicants for host sponsorship will be asked to include in their cover letter an idea for a project proposal with their applications. These ideas need not be fully formed, as our staff will work with the selected fellowship candidate to develop their proposal for submission, but we would like to see how you articulate and propose tackling an important gender justice issue. We are open to proposals on any gender justice topic about which you are passionate, but we are particularly interested in hearing from students who would like to address fairness for those who are on the front lines of the pandemic, such as domestic workers and caregivers, and who are disproportionately Black women and other women of color. We will review applications on a rolling basis, but priority consideration will be given to those who submit applications by July 15, 2020.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
• Conduct legal research and analysis and develop theories to support new litigation projects
• Draft legal memoranda, record requests, pleadings, declarations, motions, and briefs
• Interview potential witnesses and clients
• Participate in discovery and trial practice as opportunities arise
• Draft and edit public education and non-litigation advocacy materials
• Conduct outreach to national, state, and community partners to build coalitions and further advocacy goals
• Provide support and assistance to ACLU affiliates and cooperating attorneys
• Manage internship program and supervise student interns
• Engage in public speaking and attend meetings and/or conferences as needed
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
• J.D. or expected to receive a J.D. by the spring of 2021
• Demonstrated commitment to public interest law, civil rights, and gender equity
• Excellent research, writing, and verbal communication skills
• Demonstrated ability to conduct complex legal analysis
• Excellent interpersonal skills and a proven ability to work independently as well as within a team
• Self-motivated with the ability to take initiative, manage a variety of tasks and see projects through to completion
• Willingness to work closely with the ACLU through the funding application process
• 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
We will review applications on a rolling basis, but priority consideration will be given to those who submit applications by July 15, 2020.
Visit the website for details.