Description
Position: Staff Attorney
Department: Racial Justice Center
Terms of Employment: Regular Full-Time/Exempt/ Local 2320 Union (NYCLU staff is currently working in a Hybrid model; a minimum of two days in-office each week, in addition to other in-person work requirements such as legislative visits, community events, and court appearances).
Location (s): 55 Broadway, New York, NY 10006 / New York Statewide
Salary: $92,000- $111,000 (Current starting salary for a lawyer with 2 years of experience is $92,000; for 6 years, $111,000; in accordance with Attorney Pay Scale).
Application Deadline: Applications will be considered until the position is filled.
The New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU) is one of the nation's leading advocates on behalf of constitutional rights and liberties. Founded in 1951, as the New York affiliate of the American Civil Liberties Union, the NYCLU is a not-for-profit, nonpartisan organization with more than 90,000 members and supporters, and eight offices statewide. We work in the courts, in the legislatures and on the streets to advocate for racial and economic justice, free speech, freedom of religion, privacy and equality before the law for all New Yorkers. For more information, please visit our website: www.nyclu.org.
Racial Justice Center (RJC) was established in 2023 to expand and deepen the NYCLU's racial justice portfolio. The NYCLU Racial Justice Center is in deep collaboration with the NYCLU departments and centers with all of the NYCLU priorities. The RJC also leads its own advocacy, legislation, and litigation docket. Primarily focuses on environmental justice, Indigenous rights, and restorative efforts.
DEI VISION STATEMENT
The NYCLU is committed to building an equitable, inclusive, and anti-racist workplace that centers the voices of marginalized and directly impacted communities. This commitment strengthens our mission to protect civil liberties and advance justice across New York. We welcome candidates of all backgrounds to apply, including people of color, women, LGBTQ+ individuals, people with disabilities, formerly incarcerated people, and others whose experiences reflect the diversity of the communities we serve.
SUMMARY DESCRIPTION
The NYCLU seeks an experienced, innovative, and dynamic racial justice legal expert who thrives in a collaborative, fast-paced organization. The candidate should have the ability to skillfully implement and/or support the NYCLU’s interdepartmental approach to racial justice and broad docket of civil rights and civil liberties issues. This position will play a key role in executing the NYCLU’s Racial Justice Center’s strategic priorities.
The staff attorney will have a particular focus on the intersectionality of racial justice with NYCLU priority areas, such as environmental racism and its impacts on school-aged children, Indigenous rights, and restorative justice matters including racial disparities in education. The staff attorney will utilize a range of strategies to advance racial justice in New York State, including legal research, identifying legislative priorities and threats, joining, and seeking new litigation, and civic engagement, including submitting public comments, testifying at hearings, Know Your Rights education, movement lawyering, coalition development, and strategic communications.
This position is situated in NYCLU’s Racial Justice Center and directly reports to the Racial Justice Center Director.
ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES
- Community-centered legal advocacy that allows those impacted to meaningfully participate in solution driven campaigns.
- Independently review state and local legislation and engage in related legislative advocacy and lobbying in connection with the Racial Justice Center strategic priorities.
- Engaging in pre-litigation analysis including evaluating and following up on intakes; conducting factual investigations and legal analyses; utilizing the Freedom of Information Law; and drafting demand letters.
- Work in close collaboration with the NYCLU’s legal department on developing RJC litigation strategies to promote and expand racial justice litigation priorities including close collaboration with the legal department in developing claims, preparing pleadings and briefs, conducting discovery and depositions, handle hearings and trials, and argue motions and appeals.
- Developing and conducting litigation in federal and state courts and in administrative forums. All NYCLU attorneys are responsible for identifying possible litigation and advocacy, preparing pleadings, motions, and briefs; conducting discovery; presenting oral arguments; and handling all aspects of appeals.
- Develop strong relationships with civil rights advocacy organizations and represent the NYCLU in multi-organization coalitions and working groups.
- Prepares and delivers testimony at public hearings and drafting public comments.
- In collaboration with NYCLU communications staff, provide expert commentary to the media, participate in media briefings, and contribute to op-eds, blog posts, and other publications.
- Work closely with staff across the NYCLU—including the Education Policy Center, Legal, Policy, and Field Departments, and our Regional Offices—to ensure that the NYCLU has an integrated approach to furthering the RJC’s mission and broadening the scope of the RJC issue areas.
QUALIFICATIONS
- At least 3-5 years of relevant experience.
- Must be licensed to practice in New York State.
- Experience with litigation, drafting and amending legislation and legislative advocacy, community engagement, and leading legal priorities.
- Preferred experience working on racial justice issues, such as environmental racism, infrastructure equity, land-use laws, restorative principles such as reparations, education equity, and Indigenous rights.
- Significant experience working in policy, legal, or government settings; high familiarity with public and legislative policy, and legal procedures.
- Demonstrated ability to work successfully with organizations representing communities of color, including Black, Latine, AMEMSA, AAPI, and Indigenous communities and/or Tribes.
- Ability to work independently as well as within a team.
- Excellent interpersonal, relationship-building, and communication skills.
- Excellent research, writing, analytical, and communication skills.
- Ability to communicate complex legal and policy issues to government decision makers and the general public.
- Ability to work and communicate quickly and accurately, managing multiple projects and deliverables under pressure.
- Meaningfully commits to and supports the NYCLU’s internal and external commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
- Must be willing to travel throughout New York State.
HOW TO APPLY
If you would like to be considered for this position, please submit via https://recruiting.paylocity.com/recruiting/jobs/Details/4095894/New-York-Civil-Liberties-Union-Foundation/Staff-Attorney-New-York-Statewide as a single PDF document (1) a cover letter explaining your interest in the position and describing your qualifications, (2) an up-to-date resume, and (3) a writing sample of your choosing, not to exceed five (5) pages.
We strongly prefer writing samples that are recent and entirely or largely your own work. A wide variety of writing samples may be submitted, such as legal briefings or memo’s, pleadings, exert form legal research, public comments, advocacy letters, creative writing.
The NYCLU is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from all qualified individuals regardless of race, sex, gender identity or expression, age, disability, religion, national origin, citizenship, marital status, sexual orientation, veteran status, record of arrest or conviction or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. We are committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and having a workforce that reflects the communities that we serve.
The NYCLU 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 e-mail ldecicco@nyclu.org. If you are selected for an interview, you will receive additional information regarding how to request accommodation for the interview process.
This position may be eligible for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program.
Requirements:
PI283966052
Position: Policy Counsel
Terms of Employment: Temporary Full-Time / Exempt / Local 2320 Union / Post Grad (NYCLU funded for 2-3 years). NYCLU staff is currently working in a hybrid model; a number of in-person days will be required.
Location: 55 Broadway, New York, NY 10006
Salary: $90,000 - $105,000 (2-5 Years Experience Post Law School)
Application Deadline: Applications will be considered starting on May 15, 2026, and will be reviewed until the position is filled.
The New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU) is one of the nation's leading advocates on behalf of constitutional rights and liberties. Founded in 1951, as the New York affiliate of the American Civil Liberties Union, the NYCLU is a not-for-profit, nonpartisan organization with more than 90,000 members and supporters, and eight offices statewide. We work in the courts, in the legislatures and on the streets to advocate for racial and economic justice, free speech, freedom of religion, privacy and equality before the law for all New Yorkers. For more information, please visit our website: www.nyclu.org.
DEI VISION STATEMENT
The NYCLU is committed to building an equitable, inclusive, and anti-racist workplace that centers the voices of marginalized and directly impacted communities. This commitment strengthens our mission to protect civil liberties and advance justice across New York. We welcome candidates of all backgrounds to apply, including people of color, women, LGBTQ+ individuals, people with disabilities, formerly incarcerated people, and others whose experiences reflect the diversity of the communities we serve.
SUMMARY DESCRIPTION
The NYCLU Policy Department seeks an attorney with 2-5 years of experience for a three-year internally funded position. The Policy Counsel will primarily work with Policy team members to support the team’s immigration, policing, and/or criminal legal system reform policy dockets, though may also be staffed on work involving privacy and surveillance, protest, First Amendment rights, good government, and defensive work.
The NYCLU’s Policy Department implements and monitors legislative and policy initiatives across the state that implicate constitutional rights and liberties. The Policy Department drafts and supports affirmative legislation that advances constitutional freedoms, and opposes laws, rules, and policies that would compromise those freedoms. The work of the Policy Department includes (a) representing the NYCLU at the state legislative session in Albany, (b) monitoring and advocating before the New York City Council, (c) engaging in advocacy with other municipal bodies, in close collaboration with the NYCLU’s regional offices, and (d) engaging in rulemaking and implementation efforts. This work involves technical research, extensive written analysis and commentary, direct lobbying of and engagement with lawmakers and agency officials, collaboration with our Legal Department on litigation, collaboration with our Field Organizing team on campaign priorities, public education and testimony, close collaboration with colleagues to supervise and manage campaign work, strategic communications and media in close collaboration with our colleagues from the Communications team, and coalition building that engages NYCLU members and allied organizations. The successful candidate will implement these strategies in advancing their docket.
We are seeking a candidate who thrives in a collaborative organization and can skillfully handle diverse approaches to advance policy reform. The successful candidate is a creative thinker and collaborates well both internally and with external partners. Counsels must work closely with the NYCLU’s Policy, Legal, Field Organizing, and Communications Departments.
The Counsel will report to the Policy Director.
ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES
- Conduct legal research and analysis on issues involving immigration, police reform, criminal legal system change, privacy and surveillance, protest, First Amendment rights, and good government.
- Engage in legislative and administrative advocacy, including by:
- Developing legal and policy positions on local and state legislation, agency actions, proposed rules, directives, and ballot measures.
- Drafting and editing legislation and model policies.
- Drafting comments to proposed rules and regulations.
- Drafting public education materials, such as know your rights guides and public policy reports.
- Writing and providing testimony.
- Sharing expertise with policymakers.
- Work with Policy team members and other NYCLU departments and centers to advance the NYCLU’s public policy initiatives.
- Represent the NYCLU in lobby visits, and at community events, coalition meetings, panels and rallies.
- Assist in coordination of public events.
- Respond to requests for support from NYCLU chapters and the public.
- Actively support the NYCLU’s internal and external commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
QUALIFICATIONS
Required
- J.D. degree.
- 2-5 years of experience in legal or public policy advocacy.
- Demonstrated commitment to civil rights and civil liberties.
- Initiative, vision, and ability to develop and implement short and long-term policy strategies utilizing a broad range of political and legal tactics.
- Strong communications skills, including the ability to communicate in both writing and verbally to a variety of audiences.
- Excellent research and analytical skills.
- An understanding of the legislative process, and experience in organizing and working with coalitions to achieve public policy goals.
- Ability to develop and implement strategic initiatives and manage multiple issues at once in a fast-paced environment.
- Strong project and time management skills, including a high level of organization, attention to detail, and follow-through.
- Demonstrated experience engaging in creative problem solving, strategic flexibility, and good judgment.
- Ability to develop allies and work collaboratively and diplomatically.
- A strong commitment to diversity and a personal approach that values and respects differences of race, ethnicity, age, gender, sexual orientation, religion, ability, and socioeconomic circumstances.
- Willingness to travel within New York State for speaking events, meetings, and conferences.
HOW TO APPLY
If you would like to be considered for this position, please submit via https://recruiting.paylocity.com/recruiting/jobs/Details/4114732/New-York-Civil-Liberties-Union-Foundation/Policy-Counsel-Term-Limited as a single PDF document (1) a cover letter explaining your interest in the position and describing your qualifications, (2) and up-to-date resume, and (3) a policy- or legal- related writing sample of your choosing, reflecting your own work and not to exceed 10 pages. A wide variety of writing samples may be submitted, such as blogs, op-eds, advocacy letters, memos in opposition or support of policy proposals, comments submitted as part of a rule-making process, legal memos outlining an issue or policy proposal, legal briefs, etc.
The NYCLU will start considering applications on May 15, 2026, and will continue to review them until the position is filled.
The NYCLU is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and having a workforce that reflects the population that we serve. We are an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from all qualified individuals regardless of race, sex, gender identity or expression, age, disability, religion, national origin, citizenship, marital status, sexual orientation, veteran status, record of arrest or conviction or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.
The NYCLU 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 e-mail ldecicco@nyclu.org If you are selected for an interview, you will receive additional information regarding how to request an accommodation for the interview process.
This position may be eligible for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program.
PI284094521
Position: Legal Fellow Sponsorship
Terms of Employment: Temporary Full-Time/Exempt/Local Union 2320 (NYCLU staff is currently working in a hybrid model; a number of in-person days will be required).
Location: New York Civil Liberties Union, 125 Broad Street, New York, NY 10004
Salary: Subject to the NYCLU’s attorney salary scale, which is based on years of legal experience (new law-school graduates will start at $87,000 in 2027) *
Application Deadline: Sunday, June 14, 2026 (applications will be considered until the position is filled).
The New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU) is one of the nation's leading advocates on behalf of constitutional rights and liberties. Founded in 1951, as the New York affiliate of the American Civil Liberties Union, the NYCLU is a not-for-profit, nonpartisan organization with more than 90,000 members and supporters, and eight offices statewide. We work in the courts, in the legislatures and on the streets to advocate for racial and economic justice, free speech, freedom of religion, privacy and equality before the law for all New Yorkers. For more information, please visit our website: www.nyclu.org.
DEI VISION STATEMENT
The NYCLU is committed to building an equitable, inclusive, and anti-racist workplace that centers the voices of marginalized and directly impacted communities. This commitment strengthens our mission to protect civil liberties and advance justice across New York. We welcome candidates of all backgrounds to apply, including people of color, women, LGBTQ+ individuals, people with disabilities, formerly incarcerated people, and others whose experiences reflect the diversity of the communities we serve.
SUMMARY DESCRIPTION
The NYCLU seeks rising third-year law students, judicial clerks, and recent law graduates to sponsor for one- or two-year legal fellowships with a funding organization, such as the Skadden Fellowship Foundation, Equal Justice Works, and/or Justice Catalyst. We will work with a successful applicant to develop a project proposal to submit. Please note that the NYCLU does not have independent internal funding for these fellowships (but does cover the difference between external funding and the NYCLU salary scale).
Applicants will be asked to submit a project proposal relating to civil liberties and civil rights in New York. Proposed projects often combine litigation, policy advocacy, community outreach, and public education. We encourage projects that are new and innovative, allowing the NYCLU to serve unmet legal needs or expand our reach to new populations. Proposals should include a short description of the problem your project seeks to address, concrete strategies and tools to address the problem, goals for what you want to accomplish during the fellowship, why you are the best candidate for this fellowship project, and how your project fits into the NYCLU’s work. We understand that project proposals may be broad at this stage.
To assist candidates in developing projects that best align with our current priorities, we particularly encourage project proposals that focus on immigrants’ rights. We will also consider proposals that focus on racial justice, criminal justice and police accountability, voting rights, gender equity, reproductive rights, LGBTQ rights, education equity, privacy and technology, economic justice, Indigenous justice, environmental justice, free speech, and/or projects that incorporate more than one of these areas of focus.
NYCLU staff is currently working in a hybrid model. A number of in-person days will be required.
QUALIFICATIONS
The ideal candidate should have a demonstrated commitment to public-interest law, civil liberties, and racial justice, as well as a commitment and ability to work with and support a wide range of communities and a diverse and inclusive workplace. We seek a candidate willing to collaborate with the NYCLU to shape the project proposal through the funding application process. Once the NYCLU selects its candidate, the NYCLU will work with the candidate to craft a fellowship proposal and submit application(s) to the sponsoring organization(s).
HOW TO APPLY
If you would like to be considered for sponsorship, please submit an application, including a resume, writing sample (no more than 5-10 pages), a cover letter, and a project proposal (no more than one- page, single-spaced) via
Application materials submitted as a single pdf are preferred but not required. To the extent possible, briefly indicate in your proposal how your project would also advance racial justice (e.g., by identifying, challenging, and undoing the effects and ideologies of racism). Because we are still assessing which subject areas to submit funding proposals for, please include in your cover letter whether you seek sponsorship for only your proposed project or whether you would be open to projects we suggest. Though the NYCLU will consider applications submitted after June 14, 2026, priority consideration will be given to those who submit applications by that date.
The NYCLU is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from all qualified individuals regardless of race, sex, gender identity or expression, age, disability, religion, national origin, citizenship, marital status, sexual orientation, veteran status, record of arrest or conviction or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.
The NYCLU 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 e-mail Director of Human Resources Lisa DeCicco at ldecicco@nyclu.org. If you are selected for an interview, you will receive additional information regarding how to request an accommodation for the interview process.
If you encounter any issues submitting your application or have specific questions about the application that are not answered in this posting, please see the FAQs below or contact Tatianna Sosa at tsosa@nyclu.org.
Fellowship FAQs
How long are fellowships at the NYCLU?
Fellowships are limited term positions. Fellows are expected to complete either a one- or two-year term, depending on the length provided for by their external funding.
What is the external funding process like?
Selected applicants will work together with the NYCLU to develop and submit proposals for national public interest law fellowships, such as the Skadden, Equal Justice Works, or Justice Catalyst Fellowships. These fellowships typically have deadlines in early fall.
Selected applicants who are eligible for law-school specific fellowships, such as the Yale Liman Fellowship, NYU-Dedicated Post-Graduate Fellowships, Harvard Law Review Public Interest Fellowship, or University of Chicago Public Interest Law Fellowships, and similar school-sponsored fellowships, are encouraged to apply for those as well. These fellowships typically have deadlines in late winter and early spring.
External fellowship funders will generally require applicants to submit a project proposal depending on the fellowship’s requirements. Proposed projects often combine legal advocacy and impact litigation, policy advocacy, community outreach, and public education. Whatever the topic, we will collaborate with the selected fellowship candidate to develop a proposal that builds on the candidate’s interests and skills, ensures appropriate supervision and mentorship, fits with the NYCLU’s priorities, and employs strategies most likely to be effective in advancing the project’s goals. The NYCLU will collaborate with candidates to draft an application for external funding and prepare for interviews.
How many fellows does the NYCLU sponsor?
The number of fellows the NYCLU sponsors each year (between one and two fellows) depends on the specific fellowships to which applicants are applying and on space limitations. The position is contingent on a successful application to an externally funded fellowship program.
In the past, the NYCLU has agreed to sponsor candidates who we initially sponsored for EJW, Skadden, or Justice Catalyst—but were not selected—for a school-sponsored fellowship later on. We will sponsor those candidates who were not selected for organization-based funding through school-based fellowship. The school-based funding must cover most of the annual salary.
What NYCLU departments can fellows work in?
NYCLU fellows may be housed in the Legal Department, Policy Department, Education Policy Center or Racial Justice Center. Some fellows work in more than one department.
The Legal Department engages primarily in impact litigation and files lawsuits in federal and state courts in cases that raise civil liberties and civil rights issues that have potential impact on a large number of people. The Policy Department monitors legislative and policy initiatives statewide that implicate constitutional rights and liberties; drafts and supports affirmative legislation that advances constitutional freedoms, and opposes legislation, rules, and policies that would compromise those freedoms; represents the NYCLU at the state legislature in Albany; and advocates with state and local government agencies on rules and regulations. The Education Policy Center advances young people’s civil rights and liberties through legislative advocacy, litigation, community outreach and public education, focusing on ending the school-to-prison pipeline, promoting school integration efforts, ensuring safe and supportive schools for all students, and securing comprehensive and inclusive sexuality education across the state. The Racial Justice Center is committed to strengthening efforts of eliminating racism in every corner of NY. The Racial Justice center challenges the ideologies of white supremacy and the impacts of racism, leveraging the NYCLU’s tools of litigation, community advocacy, legislative initiatives, and public education.
Where is the NYCLU’s staff located?
The Legal Department, Policy Department, Education Policy Center and Racial Justice Center are primarily located in its New York City offices, but the NYCLU will consider applicants who wish to base their work in one of the NYCLU’s regional areas.
NYCLU staff is currently working in a hybrid model. A number of in-person days will be required.
What are the salary and benefits?
This fellowship is a union position covered by the NYCLU’s Collective Bargaining Agreement with the National Organization of Legal Services Workers, UAW Local 2320.
A fellow’s salary is subject to the NYCLU’s attorney salary scale, which is based on years since law school graduation. New law school graduates will start at $87,000 in 2027. If the fellowship pays less, the NYCLU will pay the additional amount to bring the fellow up to the attorney salary scale.
The NYCLU offers a competitive benefits package in accordance with the Collective Bargaining Agreement .
After I submit my sponsorship application to the NYCLU, when will I hear back?
The NYCLU will make decisions in July once the priority deadline of June 14th passes. We may consider additional applications until the positions are filled.
What are some examples of past fellowship projects?
In the past, we have sponsored fellowship candidates to conduct litigation, research, and/or advocacy on a wide range of issues.
Some recent examples include:
- Challenging the acquisition, deployment, and disparate impact of school surveillance technologies that magnify the harms of punitive school discipline and policing on Black and Brown students in New York State;
- Supporting Section 8 voucher recipients who face discrimination in Onondaga County using public education, direct representation, and impact litigation.
- Enforcing tenants’ rights using a multi-pronged litigation strategy, public education and advocacy to protect those who hold CityFHEPS vouchers from unlawful eviction and those in rent stabilized units from dramatic rent increases.
- Combatting family separation and surveillance through the child welfare system (“the new Jane Crow”) by improving parent representation through policy advocacy and community education;
- Engaging in advocacy, public education, outreach, and litigation to challenge the use of religion to discriminate against individuals seeking reproductive health care and LGBTQ New Yorkers;
- Protecting the constitutional rights of people on parole in the state of New York
PI284476215
