Fall 2025 Legal Fellow Sponsorship

ABOUT THE ACLU OF MAINE 

Founded in 1920, the ACLU is a non-profit, non-partisan organization that uses legal, legislative, and public education approaches to protect and promote a broad range of civil rights and civil liberties including free speech, racial justice, criminal legal reform, immigrants' rights, voting rights, privacy, religious liberty, reproductive freedom, LGBTQ equality, and more. The ACLU of Maine is an affiliate of the national ACLU, the nation's leading defender of civil rights and civil liberties for over 100 years. 

Founded in 1968, the ACLU of Maine is a premier public advocacy organization, serving as Maine’s guardian of liberty. Based in Portland, the ACLU of Maine the organization has a highly skilled team of 15 staff who work tirelessly to protect the rights of all people in Maine and advance the ACLU of Maine’s priority issues. Non-managerial staff are members of a union, MSEA-SEIU Local 1989. 

ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY 

The ACLU of Maine (ACLU-ME) is seeking applications from third-year law students and recent law school graduates to apply for a sponsorship opportunity to work with us as a Legal Fellow. We seek applicants to consider for a sponsored public interest law fellowship, including Skadden, Equal Justice Works, Justice Catalyst, or law-school specific public interest fellowships, beginning in fall 2025.  

We welcome applicants with interest in projects relating to civil rights and civil liberties issues arising from the criminalization of poverty. The Fellow must secure external funding. Our staff will work with candidates to refine their proposals for submission, helping tailor the proposal within the scope of our civil rights and civil liberties work. 

QUALIFICATIONS 

Applicants should have a demonstrated commitment to civil liberties and civil rights, exceptional research and writing skills, a J.D. degree (or expect one within the next year), and eligibility for admission to the Maine Bar by fall 2025. 

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS 

This is a term-limited, one- or two-year position (depending on the length of the sponsoring fellowship program). The salary will be based on the terms of the fellowship awarded and the ACLU-ME pay scale. This is a salaried, non-exempt position. The ACLU of Maine works in partnership with MSEA, SEIU Local 1989, and this position is included in the collective bargaining unit. We are committed to creating and maintaining a diverse workforce through equity initiatives, which include equitable pay practices. 

Excellent benefits include 20 days paid time off, 10 paid holidays, individual employer-provided health and dental insurance, life insurance, long-term disability, paid family medical leave, and 401(k) plan with employer match of up to 5.5%. Additionally, staff are paid during the following office closures: the first full week in August, the week of Thanksgiving, and from December 24 through January 1. 

LOCATION 

The ACLU of Maine’s office is based in Portland, Maine. Currently, staff work on a hybrid schedule, with all staff in the office on Tuesday and Wednesday. 

HOW TO APPLY 

Please submit a resume, legal writing sample, and a cover letter that: 

• Briefly describes your areas of interest and ideas for a fellowship project related to civil rights and civil liberties issues arising from the criminalization of poverty, and describes your goals for what you want to accomplish during the fellowship; 
• Explains why you want ACLU-ME to host your project; and 
• Specifies the fellowships for which you would like to apply. 

Applications should be emailed to careers@aclumaine.org with the subject line Fall 2025 Legal Fellow Sponsorship. 

We will accept applications on a rolling basis, but applicants are strongly encouraged to apply by August 12, 2024 for consideration for national fellowships.  

If you need assistance or accommodation, contact us at careers@aclumaine.org. Your cover letter should explain ways in which you satisfy the skills and qualifications specified above. We also invite applicants to include information about how their background and/or experiences could contribute to the diversity, cultural vitality, and perspective of our staff and advocacy work.  

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

ABOUT THE ACLU OF MAINE 

Founded in 1920, the ACLU is a non-profit, non-partisan organization that uses legal, legislative, and public education approaches to protect and promote a broad range of civil rights and civil liberties including free speech, racial justice, criminal legal reform, immigrants' rights, voting rights, privacy, religious liberty, reproductive freedom, LGBTQ equality, and more. The ACLU of Maine is an affiliate of the national ACLU, the nation's leading defender of civil rights and civil liberties for over 100 years. 

Founded in 1968, the ACLU of Maine is a premier public advocacy organization, serving as Maine’s guardian of liberty. Based in Portland, the ACLU of Maine the organization has a highly skilled team of 15 staff who work tirelessly to protect the rights of all people in Maine and advance the ACLU of Maine’s priority issues. Non-managerial staff are members of a union, MSEA-SEIU Local 1989. 

ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY 

The ACLU of Maine (ACLU-ME) is seeking applications from third-year law students and recent law school graduates to apply for a sponsorship opportunity to work with us as a Legal Fellow. We seek applicants to consider for a sponsored public interest law fellowship, including Skadden, Equal Justice Works, Justice Catalyst, or law-school specific public interest fellowships, beginning in fall 2025.  

We welcome applicants with interest in projects relating to civil rights and civil liberties issues arising from the criminalization of poverty. The Fellow must secure external funding. Our staff will work with candidates to refine their proposals for submission, helping tailor the proposal within the scope of our civil rights and civil liberties work. 

QUALIFICATIONS 

Applicants should have a demonstrated commitment to civil liberties and civil rights, exceptional research and writing skills, a J.D. degree (or expect one within the next year), and eligibility for admission to the Maine Bar by fall 2025. 

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS 

This is a term-limited, one- or two-year position (depending on the length of the sponsoring fellowship program). The salary will be based on the terms of the fellowship awarded and the ACLU-ME pay scale. This is a salaried, non-exempt position. The ACLU of Maine works in partnership with MSEA, SEIU Local 1989, and this position is included in the collective bargaining unit. We are committed to creating and maintaining a diverse workforce through equity initiatives, which include equitable pay practices. 

Excellent benefits include 20 days paid time off, 10 paid holidays, individual employer-provided health and dental insurance, life insurance, long-term disability, paid family medical leave, and 401(k) plan with employer match of up to 5.5%. Additionally, staff are paid during the following office closures: the first full week in August, the week of Thanksgiving, and from December 24 through January 1. 

LOCATION 

The ACLU of Maine’s office is based in Portland, Maine. Currently, staff work on a hybrid schedule, with all staff in the office on Tuesday and Wednesday. 

HOW TO APPLY 

Please submit a resume, legal writing sample, and a cover letter that: 

• Briefly describes your areas of interest and ideas for a fellowship project related to civil rights and civil liberties issues arising from the criminalization of poverty, and describes your goals for what you want to accomplish during the fellowship; 
• Explains why you want ACLU-ME to host your project; and 
• Specifies the fellowships for which you would like to apply. 

Applications should be emailed to careers@aclumaine.org with the subject line Fall 2025 Legal Fellow Sponsorship. 

We will accept applications on a rolling basis, but applicants are strongly encouraged to apply by August 12, 2024 for consideration for national fellowships.  

If you need assistance or accommodation, contact us at careers@aclumaine.org. Your cover letter should explain ways in which you satisfy the skills and qualifications specified above. We also invite applicants to include information about how their background and/or experiences could contribute to the diversity, cultural vitality, and perspective of our staff and advocacy work.  

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