William J. Brennan First Amendment Fellowship
The Speech, Privacy and Technology Project of the ACLU National office in New York City invites applications from
3Ls and recent graduates for the William J. Brennan First Amendment Fellowship, which will last for a one-year period beginning in September 2011.
OVERVIEW:
The Project on Speech, Privacy, and Technology is part of the ACLU’s Center for Democracy, which works to strengthen democratic institutions and values and advocates for government transparency and accountability. In addition to the Project on Speech, Privacy, and Technology, the Center for Democracy includes the Human Rights Project and National Security Project.
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.
Freedom of expression as guaranteed by the First Amendment is an area of special concern to the ACLU, and the ACLU 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, lesbians and gay men. Currently, the ACLU is at the forefront of groundbreaking cases to protect freedom of expression on the Internet. The ACLU is also fighting government efforts, in the name of the war on terrorism, to silence protestors and suppress the free speech and privacy rights of other individuals.
The Brennan Fellow will function as an integral part of the Speech, Privacy and Technology Project, and will focus on our extensive docket of First Amendment cases. The docket currently includes several major cases relating to free speech, privacy, and technology. For example, attorneys in the Project are litigating a novel and landmark First Amendment challenge to the constitutionality of patents granted on the human genes associated with breast and ovarian cancer. They are representing several individuals who were improperly removed from presidential events based on the viewpoints they were expressing. They have also filed suit on behalf of former chief Guantanamo prosecutor Morris Davis in a lawsuit against the Congressional Research Service, which fired Davis from his government job because of his public writings concerning the military commissions.
ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES:
The Brennan Fellow's responsibilities will include, but will not be limited to:
• Participating in trial litigation at all levels of federal and state courts, including legal and factual research, interviewing clients, drafting briefs and pleadings, and discovery and motion practice;
• Assisting in drafting amicus curiae briefs;
• Providing support for ACLU affiliate litigation;
• Serving as a resource for ACLU legislative and policy work;
• Advancing ACLU policy goals through public education, organizing and participating in coalitions.
EXPERIENCE & QUALIFICATIONS:
• Third-year law students or recent graduates;
• Capable of performing complex legal analytical work;
• A demonstrated commitment to public interest law;
• Excellent legal research, writing and verbal communication skills;
• Proven ability to work independently as well as within a team;
• Self-starter with excellent interpersonal skills;
• A knowledge of and interest in First Amendment issues is preferred, but not required.
COMPENSATION:
The ACLU offers a generous and comprehensive compensation and benefits package, commensurate with experience and within parameters of the ACLU compensation scale.
HOW TO APPLY:
Please send application materials, which should include a cover letter, resume, two letters of recommendation, and at least one legal writing sample to
hrjobs@aclu.org – reference [BRFW-01/LAW] in subject line - or via mail to:
Human Resources
RE: [BRFW-01/LAW]
American Civil Liberties Union
125 Broad Street, 18th Floor
New York, N.Y. 10004
Marvin M. Karpatkin Fellowship
The Racial Justice Program (RJP) of the ACLU National office in New York City invites applications for the Marvin M. Karpatkin Fellowship, which will begin in September 2011.
OVERVIEW
The Fellowship was established by the ACLU Board of Directors in memory of Marvin M. Karpatkin, the late General Counsel of the American Civil Liberties Union, who died in January 1975, at the age of 48. Mr. Karpatkin was one of the ACLU's most active attorneys during the 1960s and early 1970s. He left his special mark in the areas of selective service and military law. His interest in those areas grew out of his own strong opposition to the Vietnam War and his desire to help those who, younger than himself, were faced with performing military service in a war they would not support.
Racial Justice Program (RJP) attorneys and staff work to challenge racial discrimination and related issues that have a disparate impact on communities of color, particularly in the areas of criminal justice and education. In the area of criminal justice, we are dedicated to reducing the unwarranted and disproportionate targeting and incarceration of people of color. In the area of education, we seek to ensure that all children have access to quality education, regardless of race or ethnicity. Specifically, we have filed civil challenges to the inadequate provision of indigent criminal and juvenile defense, racial profiling, and disparate educational opportunities. We have also campaigned against the racially-disproportionate imposition of incarceration and school discipline.
ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES
The Karpatkin Fellow functions as part of the ACLU's Racial Justice Program's litigation team. Responsibilities will include but are not limited to the following:
· Provide legal research and analysis and 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;
· Engage in public speaking and attend meetings and/or conferences as needed.
· Supervise student interns.
EXPERIENCE & QUALIFICATIONS
· The Fellow is selected from third-year law students or recent graduates and will serve for a one-year period starting September 2011.
· Demonstrated commitment to public interest law;
· Excellent research, writing and verbal communication skills;
· Proven ability to work independently as well as within a team;
· Self-starter with excellent interpersonal skills;
· Excellent computer skills including knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite;
· Commitment to the mission and goals of the ACLU.
COMPENSATION
The ACLU offers a generous and comprehensive compensation and benefits package, commensurate with experience and within parameters of the ACLU compensation scale.
HOW TO APPLY Applicants should send a cover letter, resume, two letters of recommendation and at least one legal writing sample by email to
hrjobs@aclu.org- reference [LGLF-06 & LGLF-45/LAW] in subject line – or by mail to:
Human Resources RE: [LGLF-06 & LGLF-45/LAW]
American Civil Liberties Union
125 Broad Street , 18 th Floor
New York , N.Y. 10004
The application deadline for both fellowships is November 1, 2010.
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