About the role#
The Marvin M. Karpatkin Fellowship is a full-time, two-year position within the Racial Justice Program (RJP) at the ACLU National office. Reporting to the Deputy Project Director, the fellow serves as a core member of a team dedicated to advancing racial justice through litigation, legislative advocacy, and public education. This role provides mentorship from staff attorneys and opportunities for specialized training in legal skills and strategic decision-making.
What you'll do#
- Conduct legal research, analysis, and factual investigations to support new litigation.
- Develop legal theories and identify policies or practices to challenge.
- Draft legal memoranda, pleadings, affidavits, motions, and briefs.
- Review and analyze documents, interview witnesses and potential clients, and participate in discovery and trial practice.
- Draft and edit public education and non-litigation advocacy materials.
- Provide support to ACLU affiliates and cooperating attorneys.
- Help manage the summer legal internship program and supervise student interns.
What you'll need#
- A J.D. degree at the time of hire.
- Demonstrated commitment to public interest law, civil liberties, and racial justice.
- Excellent research, writing, and verbal communication skills.
- Proven ability to conduct complex legal analysis and fact-finding.
- Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to work both independently and collaboratively within a team.
- Self-motivation and the ability to manage multiple tasks to completion.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite.
- If not currently admitted to the New York Bar, you must agree to become admitted within one year of hire.
Location & details#
- This is a paid, full-time fellowship for Fall 2027.
- The role is based in New York, New York.
- This position follows a hybrid work model, requiring in-office attendance of two days per week or eight days per month.
