2008 FALL FELLOWSHIP OPPORTUNITY [BRFW-01]
NOTICE TO THIRD-YEAR LAW STUDENTS AND RECENT GRADUATES
First Amendment Working Group
American Civil Liberties Union, NY

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) invites applications for the William J. Brennan First Amendment Fellowship, which will begin in September 2008.

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is a nationwide, nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to the principles of liberty and equality embodied in the U.S. Constitution. Freedom of expression as guaranteed by the First Amendment is an area of special concern to the ACLU. In this connection, the ACLU National Legal Department has litigated numerous free speech cases before the United States Supreme Court. Historically, the ACLU has been vigilant in fighting government censorship that disproportionately impacts marginalized speakers and communities, including immigrants, people of color, and lesbians and gay men. Currently, the ACLU is at the forefront of groundbreaking cases to protect freedom of expression on the Internet. It is also fighting government efforts, in the name of the war on terrorism, to silence protestors and suppress the free speech rights of Arabs, South Asians and Muslims.

The Brennan Fellowship, established by a special gift from author Tom Peters and poet Catherine Abbe and named after retired Supreme Court Justice William Brennan, was created to give people just starting their careers an opportunity to receive training and experience in First Amendment advocacy, and to help the ACLU advance its First Amendment goals.

FELLOWSHIP OVERVIEW
The Brennan Fellow will function as an integral part of the ACLU’s National Legal Department, located in New York City, and will focus on our extensive docket of First Amendment cases. The docket currently includes cutting edge lawsuits opposing state and federal statutes that restrict Internet speech and limit online fair use by expanding digital property rights. The docket also includes cases challenging the suppression of speech in public places. Finally, the docket includes cases challenging government regulations and actions that chill and restrict the free speech rights of minors and journalists.

The Brennan Fellow's responsibilities will include active participation in trial litigation at all levels of the federal and state judiciary, including legal and factual research, interviewing clients, drafting briefs and pleadings, and discovery and motion practice. The Brennan Fellow will also assist in drafting amicus curiae briefs, provide support for ACLU affiliate litigation, serve as a resource for ACLU legislative and policy work, and advance ACLU policy goals through public education, organizing and participating in coalitions.

QUALIFICATIONS
Applicants should be self-motivated and capable of complex legal analytical work. Applicants should have a demonstrated commitment to public interest law, and excellent legal research and writing skills. A knowledge of and interest in First Amendment issues is preferred, but not required. The Fellow is selected from third-year law students or recent graduates and will serve for a one-year period starting September 2008.

COMPENSATION
The salary will be based on the ACLU salary scale; salaries begin in the high $50’s. Excellent medical and dental benefits are provided.

APPLICATIONS
Applications should include a cover letter, resume, two letters of recommendation and at least one legal writing sample. The application deadline is November 1, 2007. The application should be sent to:

Human Resources
Attention: [BRFW-01/WACLU]
American Civil Liberties Union
125 Broad St., 18th Floor
New York, NY 10004

The ACLU is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and encourages applications from women, people of color, persons with disabilities, and lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals.

The ACLU comprises two separate corporate entities, the American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU Foundation. Both the American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU Foundation are national organizations with the same overall mission, and share office space and employees. The ACLU has two separate corporate entities in order to do a broad range of work to protect civil liberties. This job posting refers collectively to the two organizations under the name “ACLU.”