FELLOWSHIP OPPORTUNITY
Disability Rights Fellowship [LGLF-48]
American Civil Liberties Union
Legal Department, NY

OVERVIEW:
The American Civil Liberties Union Foundation (ACLUF) invites applications for a two-year Disability Rights Fellowship with the ACLU’s National Legal Department located in New York City.

The ACLU is a nationwide, nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to the principles of liberty and equality embodied in the federal and state constitutions, and in federal and state civil rights laws. The ACLU has a long history of defending the rights of people with disabilities. It played a major role in securing passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Its lawsuit on behalf of persons with mental retardation who were being warehoused at the Willowbrook State School in New York City was the first of its kind in the nation. The ACLU established the right to treatment for persons with mental illness who are involuntarily committed. It has fought to obtain adequate health care and access to services for prisoners with disabilities across the country. It has battled discrimination against persons with HIV/AIDS and stood up for the voting rights of persons with disabilities in the ongoing debate over electoral reform.

The Disability Rights Fellow will work with national and affiliate staff to identify disability rights issues where ACLU participation could make a difference, collaborate with ACLU staff in advocating on behalf of those issues, provide expertise on disability rights, serve as an ACLU liaison with other disability rights organizations, and act as an ACLU spokesperson on disability rights issues. The Disability Rights Fellow will report to a Senior Staff Attorney in the ACLU’s National Legal Department and work closely with the ACLU’s Legal Director.

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Assist in the coordination of existing disability rights work within the ACLU.
• Assist in development of a strategic plan for future ACLU work on disability rights.
• Provide expertise and support to ACLU staff working on disability rights issues.
• Prepare research memos and other advocacy tools, as needed.
• Participate in litigation as needed.
• Assist the ACLU in outreach to the disability rights community.
• Serve as a liaison with other disability rights organizations.
• Act as an ACLU spokesperson on disability rights issues.

EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS:

• J.D. Degree required.
• Demonstrated commitment to disability rights and experience working in the field.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Strong analytical skills.
• Ability to work independently as well as within a team.
• Ability to be creative and take initiative.

COMPENSATION:
The ACLU offers a generous and comprehensive compensation and benefits package, commensurate with experience and within the parameters of the ACLU compensation scale.

HOW TO APPLY:
Interested persons should submit: a cover letter, a resume, and a writing sample that demonstrates legal or policy analysis. Applications submitted by email should be sent to hrjobs@aclu.org, and the subject line should reference [LGLF-48/WACLU]. Applications submitted by regular mail should be sent to:

American Civil Liberties Union Foundation
Human Resources
Attn: [LGLF-48/WACLU]
125 Broad Street, 18^th Floor
New York, N.Y. 10004

Please indicate in your cover letter where you found this job listing.

The ACLU is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and encourages women, people of color, persons with disabilities, and lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals to apply.

The ACLU comprises two separate corporate entities, the American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU Foundation. Both the American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU Foundation are national organizations with the same overall mission, and share office space and employees. The ACLU has two separate corporate entities in order to do a broad range of work to protect civil liberties. This job posting refers collectively to the two organizations under the name “ACLU.”