Fall 2009 FELLOWSHIP OPPORTUNITY
RECENT LAW SCHOOL GRADUATES AND THIRD-YEAR LAW STUDENTS
American Civil Liberties Union, NY

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) invites candidates to apply for the William J. Brennan First Amendment Fellowship, which will begin in September 2009.

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.

OVERVIEW:
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.

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 2009.

COMPENSATION:
The ACLU offers a generous and comprehensive compensation and benefits package, commensurate with experience and within the parameters of the ACLU compensation scale.

HOW TO APPLY:
Applications should include a cover letter, resume, two letters of recommendation and at least one legal writing sample. The application should be sent by email to hrjobs@acluorg Reference [BRFW-01/WACLU] in subject line – or by mail to the address listed below.

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

The application deadline is November 1, 2008. Please indicate in your cover letter where you found this opportunity posted.

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.