Dunn Legal Fellow (Starting Fall 2025)
The ACLU of Virginia is seeking a motivated individual to be our next Legal Fellow. This individual will be ready to provide support to the ACLU-VA's legal team, and they will hit the ground running by participating in developing and executing litigation and other legal advocacy strategies to achieve the ACLU-VA’s strategic priorities, as well participating in non-litigation advocacy, including supporting legislative work, participating in public speaking engagements, and drafting press or public education materials.
Who We Are
The ACLU-VA strives to be Virginia's premier guardian of civil liberties and a recognized champion of civil rights for all Virginians. For nearly a hundred years (50 in Virginia), the ACLU has made a profound difference in the lives of clients and community members, as well as historic contributions to our country and state. Now, more people than ever before have turned to the ACLU to fight back against unprecedented new attacks on civil rights and liberties. We are also committed to pursuing impactful policy changes at the local and statewide levels that work to achieve racial equity and advance civil liberties and civil rights for everyone. The ACLU-VA is committed to ending racist policing, cutting the number of people incarcerated in Virginia, increasing access to quality mental and medical care, ending sex and gender-based discrimination at work and in schools, and securing a constitutional right to vote for everyone.
What You'll Do
You'll help us protect and advance the ACLU's mission by:
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Participating in litigation and legal advocacy by developing facts and research for new litigation; working with current and potential ACLU-VA clients; and participating in discovery matters in pending litigation;
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Supporting our legal program by conducting legal and policy research on a variety of issues; participating in settlement negotiations; and drafting sections of legal briefs and complaints;
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Supporting integrated advocacy model by collaborating with grassroots and community-based organizations;
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And more! See the full job description here.
Who You Are
Our "Must Have's"
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J.D. from an accredited law school.
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Membership in good standing with the Virginia State Bar obtained within a reasonable time.
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Commitment to the mission and values of the ACLU of Virginia, particularly including racial justice and civil rights issues and an understanding that these issues are central to overall protection of civil liberties.
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Willingness and availability to work beyond the normal workday, on weekends, and/or more than 40 hours a week as necessary.
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Willingness and ability to travel throughout Virginia, and occasionally to other states for conferences and training.
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A commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, to refrain from unlawful discrimination and to comply fully with all applicable laws; a personal approach that values the individual and respects differences of race, ethnicity and national origin, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, ability and socio-economic circumstance, and ability to work with diverse individuals within the organization and broader community.
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Familiarity with office technology and information systems, including databases, case management software, digital legal research sources, online communications, and word processing.
What Else You Should Know
The ACLU of Virginia is an equal opportunity employer. We strongly encourage applications from Black, Indigenous, and other people of color, immigrants, people with disabilities, bi- or multi-lingual (including Indigenous languages) speakers, multi-cultural individuals, members of the LGBTQ community, those who have been formerly incarcerated or are currently under supervision, and other people from underrepresented and historically marginalized groups. We seek to build a diverse team and an inclusive organizational culture. All qualified applicants who share our vision and who have a desire to contribute to our mission are encouraged to apply.
Salary is based on market factors and individual experience and abilities. The salary range for this position is $60,000 to $71,200. To preserve the opportunity for advancement, we do not typically hire above the mid-point of the range. We offer excellent benefits include paid time off, generous paid holidays, 401k plan with employer contribution, medical and dental insurance, life insurance, and income replacement during illness through a combination of annual sick leave, short-term and long-term disability insurance.
ACLU-VA office hours are 9:00 am – 5:00 pm Monday - Friday. Law fellows must reside in the Commonwealth of Virginia or within 150 miles of our downtown Richmond headquarters, and must be able to work in person in Richmond in accordance with ACLU-VA’s remote work policy and must be able to attend other in-person events in various locations in Virginia as needed.
What Now?
Please review the complete job description on our Careers page and apply from our career site. A resume and cover letter will be required. Our HR team will review applications on an ongoing basis until the position is filled.
Submit your application as soon as possible. We will begin reviewing applications on a rolling basis. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.