Job Title: Drug Law Reform Project Fellowship
Organization: American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)
Location: Durham, NC
Salary:
FT Temporary
 
Job Description:
OVERVIEW:
The American Civil Liberties Union, (ACLU) is a nonpartisan organization
founded in 1920. With national and affiliate offices throughout the country,
the ACLU is widely regarded as one of the nation's premier public interest
law firms.
 
Founded in 1998, the Drug Law Reform Project is a division of the national
legal department of the ACLU. Our goal is to end punitive drug policies that
cause the widespread violation of constitutional and human rights, as well
as unprecedented levels of incarceration.
 
The Project plays a unique role as the only national litigation program
addressing the broad range of civil rights and civil liberties violations
arising from Americas drug policies. We have two programs that focus on
central aspects of the war on drugs: (1) racial disparities in drug
enforcement and incarceration, and (2) punishment of non-violent marijuana
users. The Project also works on other areas of drug policy that inflict
serious harms on individuals and communities.
 
The Project brings impact lawsuits throughout the country. Our current and
anticipated litigation of constitutional and statutory claims in federal
courts, state courts, and administrative agencies concerns the following
issues, among others:
 
The City of Seattles selective enforcement of drug laws against
African-Americans;
The Hawaii Board of Educations plan to require mandatory random drug
testing of teachers, librarians and other non-safety-sensitive employees;
The federal governments obstruction of medical marijuana research;
The federal governments concerted efforts to undermine state medical
marijuana laws through targeted enforcement of federal law in violation of
the 10th Amendment;
Retroactive implementation of the U.S. Sentencing Commissions recent
Guidelines amendments to reduce sentencing disparities for individuals
convicted of possessing crack and powder cocaine;
Law enforcements misuse of confidential informants in drug cases;
Challenging legislation enacted to overturn Ravin v. State, the 1975 Alaska
Supreme Court decision establishing that the State constitutional right to
privacy protects adults use of small amounts of marijuana in the home; and
San Diego Countys refusal to implement Californias statutory scheme for
allowing patients access to medical marijuana upon a doctors
recommendation.
Project attorneys have argued cases in the United States Supreme Court,
numerous courts of appeals, federal administrative agencies and trial courts
throughout the country. For more information, please visit our web site at
www.aclu.org/drugpolicy. The Drug Law Reform Project has 2 immediate
openings for One Year Fellowships.
 
ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
 
The Projects Fellows assist in all aspects of the Projects litigation. The
work can include the full panoply of appellate and district-court
litigation, including:
 
Drafting briefs and motions for litigation before the U.S. Supreme Court,
courts of appeals, and trial courts
Conducting discovery
Participating at oral arguments and hearings
Speaking with the press; meeting with clients
Preparing expert and percipient witnesses for courtroom testimony; and
devising new litigation.
REQUIREMENTS & QUALIFICATIONS:
 
Applicants should:
 
Be third year law students or recent graduates
Be self-motivated
Have a demonstrated commitment to public interest, civil rights, and civil
liberties issues,
Have excellent research and writing skills
Be willing to travel
COMPENSATION:
The ACLU offers a generous and comprehensive and benefits package,
commensurate with experience and within the parameters of the ACLU
compensation scale.
 
 
 
The ACLU is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and encourages
applications from women, people of color, persons with disabilities, and
lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals.
 
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.
 
 
 
How to Apply:
HOW TO APPLY:
Please send a cover letter explaining your interest in our work, a current
resume, law school transcript, the names and phone numbers of at least two
references, and a legal writing sample unedited by others to
hrjobs@aclu.org, RE:[DLRP-02 & DLRP-13/YNPN] OR mail to:
 
Human Resources
American Civil Liberties Union
Attn: [DLRP-02 & 13/YNPN]
125 Broad Street, 18th Floor
New York, N.Y. 10004
 
Please indicate in your cover letter where you found this job posting.
 
Application Deadline: No later that October 1, 2008, for the year beginning
September 2009.
Organization Web Site: www.aclu.org
 
Email replies to: hrjobs@aclu.org