The ACLU of Virginia is currently accepting applications from qualified third-year law students and recent law graduates with a commitment to civil rights and civil liberties for a two-year fellowship to begin in Fall 2025. 

The ACLU of Virginia’s current legal docket includes a wide range of active matters, including several class action cases, in the areas of prison conditions, criminal legal reform, First Amendment, voting rights, LGBTQ+ rights, immigrants’ rights, and other issues. The ACLU of Virginia also employs an integrated advocacy model, where the organization’s legal, policy, organizing, and communications departments work hand-in-hand to advance the affiliate’s priorities.

The fellow will be supervised by managers in the ACLU of Virginia legal team to support new and ongoing impact litigation and non-litigation advocacy done in collaboration with other teams. Previous fellows have had the opportunity to develop facts and research for new litigation; work with current and potential ACLU-VA clients; participate in discovery matters in pending litigation; conduct legal and policy research on a variety of issues; participate in settlement negotiations; draft sections of legal briefs and complaints; and collaborate with grassroots and community-based organizations. 

The ACLU of Virginia is an equal opportunity employer. We strongly encourage applications from Black, Indigenous, and other people of color, immigrants, people with disabilities, bi- or multi-lingual (including Indigenous languages) speakers, multi-cultural individuals, members of the LGBTQ community, those who have been formerly incarcerated or are currently under supervision, and other people from underrepresented and historically marginalized groups. We seek to build a diverse team and an inclusive organizational culture. All qualified applicants who share our vision and who have a desire to contribute to our mission are encouraged to apply. 

Compensation & Schedule: The salary range for this position is $60,000 - $71,200, with recent law school graduates starting closer to the bottom of the range. In addition, we offer excellent benefits including paid time off, generous paid holidays, a 401k plan with employer contribution, flexible spending account, paid medical, dental, and vision insurance, 50% employer-paid dependent medical coverage, life insurance, annual sick leave, short-term and long-term disability insurance, and professional development allowances. 

ACLU-VA office hours are 9:00 am – 5:00 pm Monday - Friday. Law fellows must reside in the Commonwealth of Virginia or within 150 miles of our downtown Richmond headquarters and must be able to work in person in Richmond in accordance with ACLU-VA’s remote work policy and must be able to attend other in-person events in various locations in Virginia as needed. 

Application process: Applications from all interested candidates are welcome and will be considered on a rolling basis. Applications must be in PDF format and include the following:

1. Cover Letter that includes a statement describing why you want to work at the ACLU of Virginia and your commitment to civil rights and civil liberties. 

2. Resume

3. Three Professional References

4. Writing Sample

· Note: the writing sample should be no more than 10 pages and should demonstrate the applicant’s legal research and writing ability. The writing sample must reflect the applicant’s own abilities and should not have been substantially edited by another person. 

Please have the above-mentioned PDF documents ready for upload before starting your application. If problems are encountered with the application form, please contact hr@acluva.org. 

Skills and Qualifications: Applicants should be third year law students or recent law school graduates. Applicants should be able to articulate a commitment to working to expand and defend civil rights, civil liberties, and the ideals of the ACLU. Qualified applicants are enthusiastic, creative, proactive, and detail-oriented; have excellent research, writing, communication, and interpersonal skills; and can work independently.

Selected candidates must be willing to sit for the Virginia Bar Exam prior to starting the position and become admitted to the Virginia Bar within six months of starting the position.