ACLU of Massachusetts
Fall 2027 Public Interest Legal Fellowships

Notice to Third-Year Law Students & Recent Law Graduates
(applications due July 1, 2026 for fellowships with fall deadlines)

The American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts (ACLUM) is accepting applications from candidates interested in working at ACLUM through externally-funded public interest legal fellowships, including but not limited to those funded by Equal Justice Works, the Skadden Fellowship Foundation, Open Society Foundations, Justice Catalyst, and individual law schools. Third-year law students and attorneys interested in work involving civil rights and civil liberties may apply for either or both sources of funding.

ACLUM works on cutting-edge civil rights and civil liberties issues. The organization has undertaken groundbreaking litigation and non-litigation advocacy in areas including, but not limited to free speech, immigrants’ rights, criminal justice, reproductive rights, incarceration during COVID-19, transgender rights, open government, police accountability, government surveillance, racial justice, voting rights, democracy, and the separation of church and state. For more, please visit www.aclum.org. 

Summary 

Subject Areas of the Fellowships

Qualifications

• Excellent legal research, writing, and analysis skills.
• Demonstrated familiarity with issues related to civil rights, civil liberties, and social justice.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, as well as strong teamwork and collaboration abilities.
• Self-motivated with proven ability to work well with a wide range of stakeholders.
• Strong belief in the ACLU’s mission and work to defend and strengthen civil rights and liberties.
• Commitment to diversity and inclusion. Respect for differences in race, ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, ability, and socio-economic background.
• Current or recent judicial law clerks are encouraged to apply, but judicial clerkship experience is not required.

Compensation

About the ACLU of Massachusetts

To Apply

Applicants for this position should submit a resume, cover letter, writing sample (see specifications below), and a list of three references (two former or current direct supervisors and one colleague or peer).

Your cover letter should include a 2–3 sentence description of a potential project in your intended issue area. ACLUM works across many issue areas and does not have a preferred issue area for this process. We are interested in learning about your interests and seeing a potential project that you envision proposing to funders. If you are selected, ACLUM will work with you to develop a final project proposal, which may differ from your initial concept while remaining within your area(s) of interest. If you have multiple issue areas in which you are willing to do projects, it is fine to note that in addition to proposing one or two specific projects.

Your writing sample should be one for which you were the sole or primary author that demonstrates your legal analysis and writing skills. Include a brief description of the context for the piece and whether anyone other than you edited or worked on it. If the sample contains confidential information, please ensure all identifying facts, names, or otherwise sensitive data have been redacted.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and must be submitted no later than July 1, 2026, for fellowships with fall deadlines.