Founded in 1961, The American Civil Liberties Union of Delaware (ACLU of DE) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that uses legal, legislative, and advocacy approaches to protect and promote a broad range of constitutional rights and freedoms, including justice reform, education equity, free speech, racial justice, reproductive rights, LGBTQ rights, and more. The ACLU of Delaware is an affiliate of the national ACLU, the leading defender of civil liberties guaranteed by our nation’s Bill of Rights.
The ACLU of Delaware is one of this area’s premier public advocacy organizations. Based in Wilmington, Delaware, the ACLU of Delaware is led by a 19-member Board of Directors and a staff of nineteen. The Wilmington and broader Delaware communities are vibrant and collegial, and Delaware offers an excellent and affordable quality of life. Wilmington is also close to various attractions, including major cities such as New York City, Philadelphia, and Washington, DC and the beach.
THE OPPORTUNITY
ACLU of Delaware seeks applicants to pursue legal fellowships. Specifically, ACLU-DE intends on applying for Skadden, Equal Justice Works, Justice Catalyst, Soros, schoolbased, and other fellowships for the 2025-26 term. Once ACLU-DE selects its candidates, the organization will work with the candidates to craft a fellowship proposal and submit a joint application to the sponsoring school or organization. The fellow will work on fundamental education equity rights and liberties, including public school funding, disparate disciplinary issues, and equal access to education for historically marginalized communities.
The fellow essential duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to the following:
- Litigate high-impact cases at the trial and appellate level in federal and state courts.
- Conduct investigations, both independently and in collaboration with the Legal Director.
- Investigate, develop, and advance, in coordination with other departments, nonlitigation strategies for advancing civil rights and civil liberties.
- Serve as an ACLU-DE spokesperson with the media and external partners on identified issues.
- Foster an organizational culture within the legal program that encourages staff development through internal and external resources, and living out our organizational values of equity and inclusion.
- Develop and maintain strong, collaborative relationships with organizations in the field, community-based organizations, allies, stakeholders, communities affected by our work.
CANDIDATE PROFILE
The ideal candidate will have the following professional skills, qualities, and competencies:
- Juris Doctorate degree by Summer 2025 required. Admission to the Delaware Bar or prepared to sit for the Delaware Bar Exam is preferred.
- Personally committed to advancing the ACLU’s values, mission, goals and programs, with an understanding of the range of civil liberties issues and their implications.
- Flourishes in a fast-paced environment and can effectively manage multiple issues and projects simultaneously.
- Excellent communication skills. Able to easily present complex legal concepts in ways that non-attorneys and stakeholders can understand.
- Possesses competencies and commitment needed to create and support an equitable and high-performing work environment.
- Ability to influence others and understand the dynamics of personal and political influence.
- Able to earn trust and respect from the communities the ACLU-DE serves.
COMPENSATION & BENEFITS
Salary range is dependent upon the fellowship, generally $50,000-$65,000. ACLU-DE contributes excellent benefits include paid vacation, medical and dental insurance, retirement savings plan, life and long-term disability insurance, and generous paid holidays.
TO APPLY
Please include a detailed cover letter describing your interest in working with ACLU-DE, your interest in working on education equity issues, and your ideas for a fellowship project if applicable. Please also clearly identify which fellowship(s) you would like to apply for (e.g., Skadden, Equal Justice Works, particular law school fellowship, etc.). Applicants are encouraged to seek out any available sources of funding.
Please also attach your resume, list of three references, and a writing sample. Please send the documents in PDF format to dbensing@aclu-de.org with the subject line “Education Equity Fellowship Application” and your name.
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and the position will remain open until filled. All interviews will be held remotely. The ACLU is an equal-opportunity employer. We value a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture.
The ACLU encourages applications from all qualified individuals without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship, disability, veteran status and record of arrest or conviction.
The ACLU is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If you are a qualified individual with a disability and need assistance applying online, please email jobs@aclu-de.org. If you are selected for an interview, you will receive additional information regarding how to request an accommodation for the interview process.
