The American Civil Liberties Union Foundation of Florida (ACLU of Florida) seeks a law student or recent law-school graduate to sponsor as an Equal Justice Works, Skadden, Justice Catalyst, Soros, or other externally funded (including law-school-funded) public-service fellowship candidate for the Fall 2026 application process. The fellowship would begin in Fall 2027, so the applicant must graduate no later than Summer 2027.

The American Civil Liberties Union Foundation of Florida is an affiliate of the national ACLU, a national public interest organization devoted to the defense of civil rights and civil liberties. For over 100 years, the ACLU has served as the nation’s primary protector of the liberties that define our democracy. The organization implements its vital civil liberties mission in all 50 states in large part through affiliate entities such as the ACLU of Florida.

The ACLU of Florida, the state’s largest civil rights and civil liberties organization, employs litigation, public-policy advocacy, communications strategies, and public education to protect and promote a broad range of constitutional values and individual rights, such as freedom of speech, equality, due process, racial justice, privacy, religious liberty, criminal-justice reform, voting rights, reproductive freedom, LGBTQ+ rights, disability rights, and immigrants’ rights. The ACLU of Florida litigates a broad range of constitutional cases in state and federal courts through direct representation, filing amicus briefs, and submitting administrative complaints to state and federal agencies.

NATURE OF FELLOWSHIP

The ACLU of Florida seeks rising third-year law students, judicial clerks, and law-school graduates to sponsor for externally funded one- or two-year legal fellowships. We will work with a successful applicant to develop a project proposal to submit to funding organizations. Please note that the ACLU of Florida does not have independent internal funding for this fellowship position; we seek to host an externally funded fellow only.

Applicants will be asked to submit ideas for a project proposal relating to civil liberties and civil rights in Florida. Proposed projects often combine impact litigation, policy advocacy, and public education.

Proposals should include a short description of the problem your project seeks to address, concrete strategies and tools to address the problem, goals for what you want to accomplish during the fellowship, and why you are the best candidate for this fellowship project. We understand that project proposals may be broad at this stage.

Likelihood of obtaining funding will be a consideration (so, for instance, having access to additional school-based funding opportunities would be advantageous).

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

The candidate must have exceptional analytic, research, and writing skills. In addition:

• By Fall 2027, you must have obtained a J.D. and either be a Florida Bar member or have sought admission to the Florida Bar from the start of the fellowship.
• You must meet the eligibility criteria for one or more externally funded fellowships that would fund a fellowship at the ACLU of Florida
• Your experience must include at least one clinical semester, one externship semester, or one summer internship working in a U.S. litigation setting involving legal research and writing.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

While no one person will have all of the qualities listed below, the successful candidate will bring many of the following qualifications and attributes:

• Strong and demonstrated commitment to civil rights and civil liberties consistent with the mission and goals of the ACLU.
• Demonstrated experience working in a fast-paced environment with a keen ability to simultaneously work on and manage multiple projects and deadlines and set priorities.
• Enthusiasm, patience, and cultural competence to work cooperatively on a variety of projects with lawyers, organizers, and other staff members, as well as with diverse community organizations and coalitions.
• Experience working and communicating with marginalized or vulnerable communities.
• Collaborative spirit and a sense of humor.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively and professionally with lawyers, paralegals, legal assistants, and clients.
• A commitment to diversity; a personal approach that values the individual and respects differences of race, ethnicity, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, religion, ability, and socio-economic circumstance.
• Ability and willingness to travel and work extended hours, including nights and weekends, as needed.
• Spanish-language skills.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

We will supplement the amount of the fellowship stipend so that the fellow will receive a salary of no less than $76,100 per year. (Florida has no state income tax.) For a fellowship that does not provide benefits, the ACLU of Florida will provide benefits that are available to all ACLU of Florida employees (including externally funded fellows), including employer-paid health insurance, vacation and medical leave, and 401(k) availability with an employer match. Base vacation leave is five weeks per year.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE

The deadline for applying is July 3, 2026, but our evaluation of candidates is rolling, so earlier submission is advantageous. To apply, please send an email with all required materials, preferably as PDF files, to Maya Albold at [email protected], with the subject line “Applicant for Legal Fellowship.”

Required materials:

• A copy of your resume that lists relevant experience
• A detailed cover letter explaining your interest in this fellowship, the nature of your proposed project and the population you seek to serve, and why you are well suited to carry out this particular project.
• A list of three references, including a sentence about each one identifying what information the person can provide. At least one of your references should be a practicing attorney.
• In place of a transcript, a list of all law-school courses that you have taken, are currently taking, or (where applicable) are scheduled to take next semester
• A writing sample that is your own work and not edited by others, and which is ideally a memo or brief analyzing a specific legal problem in the context of real or hypothetical litigation (as opposed to a legal complaint or a law-review article).
• A separate statement indicating whether, if your application for an Equal Justice Works, Skadden, Justice Catalyst, Soros, or other externally funded public service fellowship at ACLU of Florida is unsuccessful, your law school has a program that could fund a fellowship at ACLU of Florida, and if so, what rules govern the allocation of such school-based fellowships, how many such fellowships are awarded each year, and any conditions attached to such funding (such as a requirement to continue to apply for jobs during the fellowship year).

This description provides a general but non-comprehensive list of the essential responsibilities and qualifications required. It does not represent a contract of employment. The ACLU of Florida reserves the right to change the description and/or posting at any time without advance notice.

The ACLU of Florida is an equal opportunity employer. We value a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture. The ACLU of Florida encourages applications from all qualified individuals without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship, disability, or veteran status. We encourage formerly incarcerated individuals to apply.

The ACLU of Florida undertakes affirmative action strategies in its recruitment and employment efforts to ensure that persons with disabilities have full opportunities for employment in all positions.