Skip to content
Circlebreaker

Funding

Salary

Aryeh Neier Fellowship

FellowshipUSA · New York

Human Rights Watch and the American Civil Liberties Union Foundation

Application Deadline

Closed · October 12, 2026

Expected to reopen

Official Page

The Aryeh Neier Fellowship is a joint program of Human Rights Watch and the ACLU Foundation. The fellow spends one year at each organization, most likely in their New York City offices, working on human rights in the United States.

The work covers field research, reports with legal and policy recommendations, advocacy and help with litigation strategy. The 2027–2029 call is open and closes on 12 October 2026.

Benefits & funding

  • US$70,000 in the first year, with a salary increase in the second year.
  • Full-time, two-year position starting September 2027.
  • Placement most likely in New York City; the fellow should be open to other US offices of either organization.
  • Human Rights Watch lists employer-paid health insurance, paid time off and retirement contributions for its employees.

Eligibility

  • A J.D. from a US law school, already held or granted by June 2027.
  • Must take and/or pass the bar exam before the September 2027 start, and be eligible to practise law in the US during the second year.
  • Academic or work experience related to protecting human rights and civil liberties in the United States.
  • Open to all nationalities (HRW FAQ); HRW will assist with and pay for work authorization where possible but cannot guarantee US work authorization, and the application form asks whether you hold it.
  • A language besides English is preferred, not required.

Can you apply?

Here's who can apply

Decoded from the official rules. A free account checks them against your passport, degree and age in seconds.

  • Education required

    Master Enrolled · Master

Check my eligibility — free

Circlebreaker is a free database of global fellowships, scholarships and programs — every one decoded like this.

We only check the criteria we have data for. Always confirm full eligibility on the official page before applying.

Application process

  1. 1
    Apply through the Human Rights Watch online portal by 11:59 pm ET on 12 October 2026.
  2. 2
    Attach a CV, a letter of interest and a brief writing sample unedited by others.
  3. 3
    If shortlisted, supply two letters of recommendation and an official law or graduate school transcript.
  4. 4
    Keep late November to mid-December 2026 free for an interview.

Program timeline

  1. applications close

    12 October 2026, 11:59 pm ET

  2. interviews

    Late November–mid-December 2026

  3. latest J.D. graduation date

    June 2027

  4. September 2027

    fellowship begins (2027–2029 cycle)

The monthly round-up

New fellowships, scholarships and programs, once a month. No account needed.