Legal Fellow
Legal Fellow
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Job Description
Position: Legal Fellow
Department: Policy
Terms of Employment: FullTime/ Exempt/Union 2320/Post Grad (NYCLU funded 23 Years). NYCLU staff are currently working in a hybrid model; a number of inperson days will be required.
Location: 55 Broadway New York NY 10006
Salary: $90000 $Years Experience Post Law School)
Application Deadline: Applications will be reviewed upon receipt and will be considered until hiring is complete. To ensure full consideration application materials should be received no later than June 15 2025.
The New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU) is one of the nations leading advocates on behalf of constitutional rights and liberties. Founded in 1951 as the New York affiliate of the American Civil Liberties Union the NYCLU is a notforprofit nonpartisan organization with more than 90000 members and supporters and eight offices statewide. We work in the courts in the legislatures and on the streets to advocate for racial and economic justice free speech freedom of religion privacy and equality before the law for all New Yorkers. For more information please visit our website: .
DEI VISION STATEMENT
The NYCLU affirmatively values the humanity and contributions of those we work with inside and outside of the organization; and will take action to build and sustain an equitable antiracist culture that centers the voices and experiences of marginalized and directly impacted people and communities and an organizational environment where all people feel valued trusted and respected. We are committed to diversity equity and inclusion and having a workforce that reflects the population that we serve and actively recruit people of color women people with disabilities formerly incarcerated people and LGBTQ and gender nonconforming people.
SUMMARY DESCRIPTION
The NYCLU seeks an attorney with 25 years of experience for a two or threeyear internally funded legal fellowship. The Fellow will primarily work with Policy team members to support the immigration policing and/or criminal legal system reform policy dockets though may also be staffed on work involving privacy and surveillance protest First Amendment rights and defensive work.
The NYCLUs Policy Department implements and monitors legislative and policy initiatives across the state that implicate constitutional rights and liberties. The Policy Department drafts and supports affirmative legislation that advances constitutional freedoms and opposes laws rules and policies that would compromise those freedoms. The work of the Policy Department includes (a) representing the NYCLU at the state legislative session in Albany (b) monitoring and advocating before the New York City Council (c) engaging in advocacy with other municipal bodies in close collaboration with the NYCLUs regional offices and (d) engaging in rulemaking and implementation efforts. This work involves technical research extensive written analysis and commentary direct lobbying of and engagement with lawmakers and agency officials collaboration with our Legal Department on litigation collaboration with our Field Organizing team on campaign priorities public education and testimony supervision and management of personnel and campaign work strategic communications and media in close collaboration with our colleagues from the Communications team and coalition building that engages NYCLU members and allied organizations. The successful candidate will implement these strategies in advancing their docket.
We are seeking a candidate who thrives in a collaborative organization and can skillfully handle diverse approaches to advance policy reform. The successful candidate is a creative thinker and collaborates well both internally and with external partners. Fellows must work closely with the NYCLUs Policy Legal Field Organizing and Communications Departments.
The Fellow will report to the Policy Director.
ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES
- Conduct legal research and analysis on issues involving immigration police reform criminal legal system change privacy and surveillance protest and First Amendment rights.
- Engage in legislative and administrative advocacy including by:
developing legal and policy positions on local and state legislation agency actions
proposed rules directives and ballot measures.
drafting and editing legislation and model policies.
drafting comments to proposed rules and regulations.
drafting public education materials such as know your rights guides and public policy reports.
writing and providing testimony; and
sharing expertise with policymakers.
- Work with Policy team members and other NYCLU departments and centers to advance the NYCLUs public policy initiatives.
- Represent the NYCLU in lobby visits and at community events coalition meetings panels and rallies.
- Assist in coordination of public events.
- Respond to requests for support from NYCLU chapters and the public.
- Actively support the NYCLUs internal and external commitment to diversity equity and inclusion.
QUALIFICATIONS
Required
- J.D. degree.
- 25 years of experience in legal or public policy advocacy.
- Demonstrated commitment to civil rights and civil liberties.
- Initiative vision and ability to develop and implement short and longterm policy strategies utilizing a broad range of political and legal tactics.
- Strong communications skills including the ability to communicate in both writing and verbally to a variety of audiences.
- Excellent research and analytical skills.
- An understanding of the legislative process and experience in organizing and working with coalitions to achieve public policy goals.
- Ability to develop and implement strategic initiatives and manage multiple issues at once in a fastpaced environment.
- Strong project and time management skills including a high level of organization attention to detail and followthrough.
- Demonstrated experience engaging in creative problem solving strategic flexibility and good judgment.
- Ability to develop allies and work collaboratively and diplomatically.
- A strong commitment to diversity and a personal approach that values and respects differences of race ethnicity age gender sexual orientation religion ability and socioeconomic circumstances.
- Willingness to travel within New York State for speaking events meetings and conferences.
HOW TO APPLY
Please submit your resume cover letter (describing your unique qualifications for this position and how you learned of this job posting) and a recent writing sample not to exceed 10 pages that is wholly your own unedited work via
If feasible please submit these materials as a single PDF.
The NYCLU is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from all qualified individuals regardless of race sex gender identity or expression age disability religion national origin citizenship marital status sexual orientation veteran status record of arrest or conviction or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. We are committed to diversity equity and inclusion and having a workforce that reflects the communities that we serve.
The NYCLU is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If you are a qualified individual with a disability and need assistance applying online please email If you are selected for an interview you will receive additional information regarding how to request accommodation for the interview process. This position may be eligible for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program.
Employment Type
Grant
