how do i become a lawyer for the aclu

How can I join the ACLU?

You can join online, by telephone 1-888-567-ACLU, or by sending a check to ACLU Membership Department, 125 Broad Street, 18 th floor, New York, NY 10004. Take a stand against the growing threats to our most cherished Constitutional liberties. I'm already an ACLU member. How can I contribute now?

What are the basic steps to become a lawyer?

Here are the basic steps to become a lawyer: 1. Earn a bachelor's degree You'll need to have a bachelor's degree to apply for law school. Law schools accept students with a wide range of degrees. However, some of the most common undergraduate majors include criminal justice, English, economics, philosophy and political science.

Who has access to my ACLU complaint?

Once any on-line complaint form you send arrives at the ACLU, only authorized members of the ACLU's Legal Department will have access to your complaint.

Will the ACLU represent me in any future lawsuit or proceeding?

I understand that, by receiving this complaint, the ACLU is not agreeing to represent me in any currently pending or future lawsuit or legal proceeding of any kind.

Can I join the ACLU?

You can become a member of the ACLU by calling 888-567-ACLU, by sending a check to ACLU Membership Department, 125 Broad Street, 18th floor, New York, NY 10004; or by joining our Guardians of Liberty program and taking a stand against the growing threats to our most cherished Constitutional liberties.

What does the ACLU advocate for?

The ACLU's work to defend and promote equality, liberty, democracy, and justice is organized around three Centers. The Centers serve as focal points for strategic thinking and collaborative initiatives involving the Legal Department, the Communications Department and the Affiliate Support and Advocacy Department.

What is a civil liberties advocate?

Civil rights and civil liberties lawyers work in areas of the law that typically fall under the First Amendment's freedom of expression, assembly, and religion (civil liberties), and under fourteenth amendment's equal protection clause (civil rights).

Is the ACLU a good organization?

Exceptional. This charity's score is 95.38, earning it a 4-Star rating. Donors can "Give with Confidence" to this charity.

Why do I want to work for the ACLU?

The ACLU challenges intolerance and bigotry wherever we find it. We work to root out any and all attempts to deny people the equal protection under the law that the Constitution guarantees. We are a citizen-supported organization with card-carrying members from every corner of the United States.

Is ACLU democratic?

The ACLU was directed by an executive committee, and it was not particularly democratic or egalitarian. The ACLU's base in New York resulted in its being dominated by people from the city and state.

What is the Acorn test?

The ACORN test is a check on a mission or project charter goal to determine if it well defined.

What are the 5 civil liberties?

The five freedoms it protects: speech, religion, press, assembly, and the right to petition the government.

What is the Oakes test?

The Test. The Court in R v Oakes created a two-step balancing test to determine whether a government can justify a law which limits a Charter right. 1. The government must establish that the law under review has a goal that is both “pressing and substantial.” The law must be both important and necessary.

Is the ACLU a socialist organization?

The ACLU has no political affiliations and makes no test of individuals' ideological leanings a condition of membership or employment.

What is the ACLU against?

The ACLU is a nationwide leader in fighting back against ongoing and persistent attacks on reproductive rights. As the only pro-choice organization with lawyers and advocates on the ground in all 50 states, the ACLU works to ensure access to birth control and abortion for women who often have nowhere else to turn.

Who is the ACLU funded by?

The ACLU is supported by dues and more than $50 million in contributions annually from individuals and grants from foundations, and receives no government funding. It does not charge its clients. The ACLU Foundation is the tax-deductible, 501(c)(3) arm of the ACLU.

Do meaningful work, create lasting change

We work to defend and expand civil rights and liberties – for everyone. Whether we’re arguing in the courts, leading campaigns, advocating in communities, growing our supporter and follower base, building new tech platforms and managing people and budgets, our employees engage in meaningful work that advances our mission.

Our Benefits

Taking care of people is central to what we do. We offer a comprehensive and generous benefits program:

How long does it take to get an ACLU membership card?

If you have recently become a member of the ACLU and are waiting to receive your member card in the mail, please note that it takes about 3-4 weeks to process a new membership application and card. If more than 4 weeks have passed and you have still not received your card, please contact membership@aclu.org or call 212-549-2585.

Where to send a check to the ACLU?

The ACLU accepts donations online, by telephone 1-888-567-ACLU, or by sending a check to ACLU Membership Department, 125 Broad Street, 18 th floor, New York, NY 10004. You can also join the Action Network to hear about pressing issues.

What does the ACLU believe?

The ACLU believes that the right of each and every American to practice his or her own religion, or no religion at all, is among the most fundamental of the freedoms guaranteed by the Bill of Rights. The ACLU works to ensure religious liberty is protected by keeping the government out of the realm of all religions.

What is ACLU Action Center?

The ACLU Action Center has a number of current action alerts that help you take action on a range of important issues. You can also join the ACLU Action Network and subscribe to weekly action alerts on the key issues and send free faxes to your members of Congress.

What is a plug in for the ACLU?

A "plug-in" is an additional piece of software used by a Web browser to display information, often in the form of audio, video and large-document files like court dockets. ACLU.org uses primarily the free-to-download software Flash Player and Adobe Acrobat Reader.

Who are the members of the ACLU?

Members and staff of the national ACLU and its affiliates may be Republicans, Democrats, Communists, Federalists, Libertarians, or members of any other political party or no party at all. What the ACLU asks of its staff and officials is that they consistently defend civil liberties and the Constitution.

What is the American Civil Liberties Union?

The American Civil Liberties Union was founded in 1920 and is our nation's guardian of liberty. The ACLU works in the courts, legislatures and communities to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed to all people in this country by the Constitution and laws of the United States. Read more about the history and mission of ...

What is the last step to become a lawyer?

The last step in becoming a lawyer is passing the bar examination. You will need to pass the bar exam for whichever states you would like to practice law in. For example, if you want to practice law in New York, you will need to pass the New York State Bar Exam.

What are the best courses to take to become a lawyer?

Some courses you can expect to take while earning your J.D. are: 1 Constitutional law 2 Courtroom procedures 3 Criminal law 4 Civil law 5 International law 6 Torts 7 Property and real estate law

How much does a lawyer make?

Average lawyer salary. The average salary for a lawyer in the United States is $70,336 per year, though some salaries range from $14,000 to $201,000 per year. Salaries may depend on experience level, field of legal practice and a lawyer's location.

What are the majors in law school?

However, some of the most common undergraduate majors include criminal justice, English, economics, philosophy and political science. Spend your undergraduate time taking classes related to the area of law you think you would like to practice.

What is the next step after a bachelor's degree?

After earning your bachelor's degree, your next step is to take the LSAT. It consists of five multiple-choice sections that cover topics such as reading comprehension, critical thinking and argumentation. It is administered at a testing location on a specific date through electronic tablets.

What is the first day of the multi state bar exam?

On the first day, you will complete the Multi-state Bar Examination, and the second day consists of a written exam portion. After completing the test, the state's bar examiners will consider your test scores along with your educational background, character and ability to represent others in legal matters.

What kinds of cases does the ACLU of Iowa take?

Because we have a focused legal program, we stick to our core mission of defending constitutional rights and liberties. We seldom take cases that involve a large number of unrelated factual disputes. Most cases that we take involve the government in some way--private disputes seldom involve questions of basic constitutional rights.

How can I get legal advice?

The ACLU Foundation of Iowa Legal Program can only give legal advice to those who have become its clients. Unless you have signed a retainer agreement with us you must seek legal advice through an attorney of your own choosing and at your own expense.

Can you tell me if I have a good case?

When we review a case we are looking not only for legal merit, but for other things that would make a case a worthwhile investment for our limited resources. We do not take cases that are primarily factual disputes, have little bearing on the rights of others or do not involve a civil liberties issue.

Who reviews requests for assistance?

Requests for legal assistance are often screened by lay staff and volunteers who report to and work under the direction of our lawyers. Their response, if any, to you should not be interpreted as a legal opinion.

Are my communications with the ACLU legal program private?

Yes, we regard all requests for assistance to be an attempt to communicate with our lawyers for the purpose of obtaining legal assistance. Any information that you provide us in pursuit of that goal is covered by the attorney-client privilege and obligation of confidentiality.

Why haven't I heard back from the ACLU about my legal complaint?

Unfortunately, we do not have the staff or trained volunteers necessary to respond to all of the email, phone calls and letters we receive. If you have tried to reach us it is likely that we have read your letter or email or heard your phone message. However, unless we have a specific reason to respond, you might not hear from us.

What is case "sponsorship?"

When we accept a case, we generally act as a “sponsor” of the litigation. That means that the ACLU of Iowa will attempt to recruit a volunteer attorney to handle the case, and will pay the ordinary costs of litigation.