The ACLU-D.C. seeks a law student or recent law graduate for a one- or two-year attorney fellowship (two years preferred) to begin in fall 2026.
Note: This position is distinct from the ACLU-D.C.’s call for candidates to sponsor for externally funded fellowships. That posting has now closed, but timely applicants for the externally funded position who wish to be considered for the Dunn Fellowship also will be given the opportunity to indicate that through their application process; submitting a second application is not necessary.
The ACLU-D.C. is an affiliate office of the American Civil Liberties Union, a national nonprofit organization devoted to the protection of civil liberties and civil rights through litigation, legislation, organizing, and public education. The ACLU-D.C. works primarily on issues that directly impact people who live in, work in, and visit the District of Columbia, and also on challenges to certain federal government policies and practices where they fall within the jurisdiction of the D.C. federal courts.
Among the matters currently on our docket are: representing Black Lives Matter-DC and individual activists in challenging the attack by federal and local law enforcement on civil rights demonstrators in Lafayette Square on June 1, 2020; a challenge to the D.C. government’s practice of warehousing children who have been adjudicated delinquent in a jail-like detention facility instead of promptly transferring them to the rehabilitative placements to which they are entitled by law; a lawsuit seeking to reform the District’s practice of sending police and not trained mental health professionals to respond to individuals experiencing mental health crises; the representation of two D.C. agency workers who faced discrimination based on their family responsibilities (child care) in the application of remote work policies; a challenge to the D.C. police department’s practice of retaining arrestees’ cell phones for months or years after the owners are released or charges are dropped; a hostile work environment case on behalf of a D.C. Jail officer subjected to harassment and abuse based on his sexual orientation; and ten cases against policies and practices of the second Trump administration—five regarding immigration, two on trans rights, one voting rights, one about family planning funding, and a series of administrative complaints about the purge of federal workers associated with DEI. (Please note that our fellows tend to focus more on our cases challenging D.C. policies and practices than federal.)
To learn more about our work, visit acludc.org.
We seek a law student or recent law graduate who has a passion for defending civil rights and civil liberties. The Dunn Fellow will work full-time as a litigator in the ACLU-D.C. Legal Department under the supervision of experienced civil rights litigators who are deeply committed to providing comprehensive feedback and mentorship. Primary responsibilities include: conducting legal research in support of ongoing or potential litigation; interviewing witnesses and potential clients; investigating potential cases including through public records requests and interviews with affected community members; taking and responding to discovery; and drafting complaints, motions, and briefs. The Fellow will also support the Policy Department as a part of the ACLU-D.C.’s integrated advocacy, particularly where bills before the D.C. Council relate to current or potential ACLU-D.C. litigation, and by assisting with Know Your Rights trainings.
Past legal fellows have had the opportunity to develop their own cases and serve as lead counsel, testify before the D.C. Council, take depositions, argue in court, and speak on behalf of the ACLU-D.C. to national and local media outlets.
Salary: $70,000 / year. Benefits currently provided to all ACLU-D.C. employees include employer-paid health insurance (including vision and dental coverage); vacation and sick leave; generous paid holidays; 401(k) availability with partial employer match and tuition repayment assistance. The Dunn Fellow is a member of the ACLU-D.C. staff bargaining unit and is exempt under the Fair Labor Standards Act.
Position open until filled; evaluation of candidates is rolling and will begin immediately. Applications received after July 28, 2025 will not be considered. To apply, complete the application at www.acludc.org/careers. If you require accommodation(s) to complete the application, please email [email protected].
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The ACLU-D.C. is an equal opportunity employer. We value a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture. The ACLU-D.C. encourages applications from all qualified individuals without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship, disability, veteran status, or any other classification protected by the D.C. Human Rights Act or federal employment law. If you have a disability and need a reasonable accommodation regarding any part of the application process, please include your accommodation request(s) in your application email. We are responsive to reasonable accommodation requests at any point during the application process.
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