The ACLU of Alaska invites rising third-year law students and recent law graduates to apply for an opportunity to seek an externally funded fellowship to work with us as a Legal Fellow for up to two years in Anchorage, Alaska. We will support the selected candidate(s) in applying for externally sponsored fellowships, including school-specific fellowships and other public interest fellowships, to begin in the fall of 2027.

Since its founding in 1961, the ACLU of Alaska has been the premier civil liberties and civil rights organization in the 49th state. Through our litigation, legislative expertise, grassroots advocacy, and public education efforts, we work to protect the civil rights and individual liberties enshrined in the United States and Alaska Constitutions. We strive to ensure that those who have historically been denied their rights are afforded equal protection, dignity, and respect, including people of color, members of the LGBTQIA2S+ community, incarcerated individuals, and Alaska Native peoples.

The ACLU of Alaska is especially interested in applicants seeking to pursue fellowships to address any of the following areas:

• Criminal Legal Reform/Conditions of Confinement. Fellows are welcome to apply who are passionate about advocating for constitutionally adequate conditions of confinement in Alaska state prisons and other issues related to criminal legal reform, including access to counsel and issues facing the large pre-trial population in Alaska. More information about the priority areas of the ACLU-AK’s prison work can be found here.
• Behavioral Health. Alaska’s constitution includes unique provisions requiring the legislature to “provide for the promotion and protection of public health” and to “provide for public welfare.” We invite fellowship projects that propose giving these provisions enforceable meaning, especially as to unmet behavioral and mental health needs throughout the state.
• Queer & Trans Justice. Fellows are welcome to apply who are passionate about advancing and protecting the rights of LGBTQIA2S+ Alaskans. The ACLU-AK has a long history of supporting and defending the rights of LGBTQIA2S+ Alaskans. Most recently, this has included litigation advocating for the rights of transgender students in Alaskan schools and Know-Your-Rights series for our state-wide community. More information about the Queer and Trans Justice Program can found here.

Qualifications

• Applicants should have a demonstrated commitment to public interest law and civil rights
• Exceptional research and writing skills
• J.D. degree from an accredited law school (or expect one within the next year).
• Ability to work proactively, collaboratively, and independently as needed
• Ability to work flexibly in a hybrid in-person/work-from-home environment, remaining attentive to the team’s needs regardless of setting
• Passion for the ACLU of Alaska’s mission

Applications

Applications will be reviewed as they are received and will be accepted until June 17, 2026. Please email one PDF with your cover letter, resume, a writing sample, and the names and contact information of three references to [email protected] with the subject line “2027 Legal Fellow.” In the cover letter, please be sure to discuss:

1. A one- or two-paragraph proposal for a fellowship project related to one or more of the priority issue areas identified above (please note that the specific details of the ultimate fellowship project will be created in consultation and collaboration with the ACLU of Alaska);
2. How your professional experiences, including any law school clinics or other fellowships, have prepared you to complete the project you are proposing;
3. The funding sources available to you, including any school-specific fellowships for which you are eligible; and
   Whether you are interested in pursuing one- or two-year fellowships (or both).

Compensation

This is a Full-time, Exempt position. Salary will be $70,000 and is dependent upon securing external funding. Includes excellent benefits, including health, dental, life, and disability insurance, wellness days and support, and generous vacation, sick, and holiday leave.

Commitment To Equity, Diversity, Belonging, and Inclusion

ACLU AK operates according to the following principles: We are equitable, knowing that the strength of Alaska’s justice ecosystem lies in reciprocity and relationship; We are generational, building strong, integrated systems that sustain organizational wellness and longevity; We are transparent, remaining accountable to our community, our staff, and our Constitutions; and We are place-based, rooting our work in the strengths of the communities and lands we serve.

ACLU AK is an equitable opportunity employer. We believe that having a board, staff, and volunteer base with diverse personal and professional backgrounds enhances our ability to meet our mission by creating an environment where all community members can thrive. We strongly encourage applications from all qualified persons, including people of color, immigrants, women, people with disabilities, members of the LGBTQ community, those who have been formerly incarcerated, and other members of underrepresented groups.

ACLU AK does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship, disability, veteran status, or record of arrest or conviction. We are committed to providing a work environment that practices equitable and inclusive treatment. We work diligently to prevent and address harassment or discrimination of any kind.