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. This fellowship is designed to support the RJP in its mission to combat racial discrimination, ensure a fair criminal justice system, and advocate for constitutional conditions of confinement. Fellows work under the supervision of the Deputy Project Director and collaborate with staff attorneys and ACLU affiliates across the country.
What you'll do#
- Conduct legal research and analysis to develop theories for new litigation.
- Identify policies and practices for potential challenge through factual investigation.
- Draft legal memoranda, pleadings, affidavits, motions, and briefs.
- Review and analyze documents to support litigation and advocacy.
- Interview witnesses and potential clients.
- Participate in discovery and trial practice.
- Draft and edit public education and non-litigation advocacy materials.
- Provide support to ACLU affiliates and cooperating attorneys.
- Assist in managing the summer legal internship program and supervising student interns.
What you'll need#
- 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 and the ability to work both independently and collaboratively.
- Self-motivation with an ability to manage multiple tasks and complete projects.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite.
- If not currently admitted to the New York Bar, candidates must agree to become admitted within one year of hire.
Location & details#
- Location: New York, New York.
- Term: Fall 2027.
- Modality: This is a hybrid role requiring in-office attendance of two days per week or eight days per month.
About ACLU
The ACLU is a non-profit organization focused on the defense of civil rights and liberties. Founded in 1920, the group operates out of New York and Washington. It works on issues including voting rights, criminal justice reform, and freedom of speech. The organization employs over 1,200 people.
How to get in at ACLU
Securing an internship at the ACLU requires timing and persistence. Intern Insider sends an instant alert the moment a role matching your target is published anywhere, so you apply among the first, as early applicants get seen before the pile grows. This helps you avoid the frustration of submitting applications into a void. You can also use Intern Insider to surface the recruiters behind the company roles so you can reach out directly to ask about the position or a referral, which materially improves response rates. Connecting with a human recruiter often provides more clarity than a standard application portal.
