Legal Fellow
Position Overview
The organization invites rising third-year law students and recent law graduates to apply for an opportunity to seek an externally funded fellowship to work as a Legal Fellow for up to two years in Anchorage, Alaska. The selected candidate(s) will be supported in applying for external sponsored fellowships, including school-specific fellowships and other public interest fellowships, to begin in the fall of 2026.
Since its founding in 1961, the organization has been the premier civil rights organization in the 49th state. Through litigation, legislative expertise, grassroots advocacy, and public education efforts, the organization works to protect the civil rights and individual liberties enshrined in the United States and Alaska Constitution. The organization strives 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 organization is especially interested in applicants seeking to pursue fellowships to address some, or all, of the following areas:
- Criminal Legal Reform/Conditions of Confinement: Fellows 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, are encouraged to apply.
Job Responsibilities
Legal Fellows will engage in various tasks and responsibilities, including:
- Conducting legal research and writing on issues related to civil rights and individual liberties.
- Collaborating with the organization’s team to develop and implement litigation strategies.
- Engaging in public education efforts to inform the community about civil rights issues.
- Advocating for legislative changes to protect and enhance civil rights.
- Working on specific fellowship projects related to the organization’s priority issue areas, as developed in dialogue with the organization.
Education and Experience Information
Applicants should have:
- A demonstrated commitment to public interest law and civil rights.
- Exceptional research and writing skills.
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Salary and Benefits
- The Legal Fellow’s salary will be $70,000 but is dependent upon securing external funding.
- A full benefits package, including health insurance, paid holidays, paid personal and sick leave, and access to the organization’s Employee Assistance Program, will be provided.
Commitment To Equity, Diversity, Belonging, and Inclusion
The organization is an equitable opportunity employer. It believes that having a board, staff, and volunteer base with diverse personal and professional backgrounds enhances its ability to meet its mission by creating an environment where all community members can thrive. The organization strongly encourages applications from all qualified persons, including people of color, immigrants, women, people with disabilities, members of the LGBTQIA2S+ community, those who have been formerly incarcerated, and other members of underrepresented groups. The organization 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. The organization is committed to providing a work environment that practices equitable and inclusive treatment and works diligently to prevent and address harassment or discrimination of any kind.
Applications
Applications will be reviewed as they are received and will be accepted until July 10, 2025. Interested applicants should email one PDF with a cover letter, resume, a writing sample, and the names and contact information of three references with the subject line “2026 Legal Fellow.” In the cover letter, applicants should discuss:
- A specific fellowship project related to one or more of the organization’s priority issue areas that they are interested in pursuing (noting that the ultimate fellowship project will be created in dialogue with the organization).
- The funding sources available to them, including any school-specific fellowships for which they are eligible.
- Whether they are interested in pursuing one- or two-year fellowships (or both).
