FALL 2009 FELLOWSHIP OPPORTUNITY
NOTICE TO THIRD-YEAR LAW STUDENTS AND RECENT GRADUATES
American Civil Liberties Union
National Security Project, NY

The American Civil Liberties Union Foundation (ACLU) invites applications for a two-year Fellowship with the ACLU’s National Security Project which will begin in September 2009. The Fellow will work with a team of lawyers in the ACLU’s national headquarters in New York City on the ACLU’s national security docket.

The ACLU is a nationwide, nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to the principles of liberty and equality embodied in the U.S. Constitution. Since September 2001, the ACLU’s National Security Project has litigated numerous challenges to government attempts to restrict civil liberties and human rights in the name of national security. For example, we are currently challenging the government’s “rendition” program, under which the CIA has kidnapped foreign nationals and transferred them to the custody of foreign intelligence services that use torture. We have brought several constitutional challenges to the FBI’s authority to issue “national security letters,” and in two cases we are contesting the government’s practice of denying visas to foreign scholars whose political views the government disfavors. In August 2008, we filed a constitutional challenge to recent amendments to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. Since 2004, we have also been engaged in Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) litigation for information about the torture and maltreatment of detainees held in U.S. custody abroad; that litigation has resulted in the release of more than 100,000 pages of government documents. We are litigating a number of other cases relating to dissent, discrimination, surveillance, secrecy, detention, and torture.

OVERVIEW:
The Fellow will function as part of the National Security Project’s legal team and, depending on need, may be asked to: provide legal research and analysis; develop theories to support new litigation projects; draft pleadings, affidavits, motions, and briefs; interview witnesses and potential plaintiffs; participate in discovery and trial practice; provide support and assistance to ACLU affiliates and cooperating attorneys; and supervise student interns. The Fellow may also be asked to do some public speaking and attend meetings or conferences.

QUALIFICATIONS:
Applicants for the Fellowship must have a J.D. degree or be expecting to receive one by the Spring of 2008. Applicants must have a demonstrated commitment to public interest law, and excellent research, writing, and communication skills. Applicants should be self-motivated and should have the ability to conduct complex legal analysis and fact-finding. A demonstrated interest in civil liberties issues related to national security is preferred but not required.

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:
Applicants should send a cover letter, resume, law school transcript, two letters of recommendation, and at least one legal writing sample. The application should be sent by email to hrjobs@aclu.org. Reference [PE-02/WACLU] in subject line – or by mail to the address listed below.

Human Resources
Re: [PE-02/WACLU]
American Civil Liberties Union
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.