The Zanial Legal Fellowship is a paid summer internship in the Legal Department of the ACLU of Kansas—the civil rights litigation arm of this integrated advocacy organization. Our department uses litigation as a tool to vindicate constitutional rights, critique unacceptable government practices, and support the policy and advocacy efforts of grassroots organizers. Our efforts are focused on serving and defending reproductive rights, racial justice, LGBTQ+ rights, First Amendment rights, immigrant rights, voting rights, criminal justice reform, and privacy rights; with 80% of our efforts and resources dedicated to protecting voting rights and criminal justice reform in 2025.
POSITION OVERVIEW
The Zanial Fellow will be a critical part of our team, assisting our attorneys with every aspect of their work including investigating potential cases, preparing pleadings and motions, drafting research memoranda, assisting with discovery, and participating in court proceedings and client consultations. This position will focus on issues of racial justice and religious freedom. The Zanial Fellow will work out of our offices in Overland Park, Kansas—a suburb of the Kansas City metro area.
QUALIFICATIONS/APPLICATION PROCEDURE
The Zanial Legal Fellowship is open to outstanding 1L or 2L students committed to pursuing a career in public interest litigation and enthusiastic about working with a small, dynamic team of attorneys passionate about their work. We expect our fellows to match our strong work ethic and to respond with openness and courage in the face of new challenges, while cultivating an office culture that embraces individuality and informality. Please submit a detailed letter of interest, a current resume, and a legal writing sample of no longer than 10 pages. Email your application to:
Monica Bennett Legal Director, ACLU of Kansas [email protected]
Please include “Zanial Summer Fellow” in the subject line. Applications will be reviewed beginning the week of November 13, 2023, and will be accepted until the position is filled. If you need a flexible start or end date due to your school’s calendar, please indicate that in your cover letter. No calls or in-person applications, please.
COMPENSATION
Fellows are paid a $5,000 stipend in two installments. The first installment is paid during the first week of the fellowship and the second installment is paid during the fourth week of the fellowship.
ABOUT THE ACLU OF KANSAS
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Kansas is a non-profit and non-partisan organization dedicated to preserving and advancing the civil rights and legal freedoms guaranteed by the United States Constitution and the Bill of Rights. The ACLU of Kansas works in the state legislature, the courts, and local communities to protect the rights of all people living in Kansas. The organization’s work includes efforts to strengthen and defend First Amendment rights, voting rights, reproductive rights, racial justice, LGBTQ+ rights, immigrants’ rights, stopping government surveillance, and reforming the criminal justice system. The ACLU of Kansas often works in broad-based coalitions made up of individuals and organizations from across the political, partisan, and ideological spectrum.
The ACLU of Kansas is an equal opportunity employer. We value a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture. The ACLU of Kansas encourages applications from all qualified individuals without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship, disability, and veteran status.