Externally Funded Legal Fellow 2027-2028

About the role

The Legal Fellow will support growth of legal and policy resources for members on a broad array of issues, as well as the in-depth work of the organization on climate justice, affordability, local government revenue generation, and opposing surveillance technology and data centers. The Fellow will provide research support to elected officials in a variety of geographies.

Responsibilities

• Support growth of legal and policy resources for members on a broad array of issues
• Provide research support to elected officials in a variety of geographies
• Support the organization's work on climate justice, affordability, local government revenue generation, and opposing surveillance technology and data centers
• Work under the supervision of the Deputy Legal Director, as well as closely with the remainder of the Legal and Policy team

Requirements

• A juris doctor degree required by start of fellowship 2027
• Excellent analytical skills for legal and policy research
• Strong attention to detail
• Ability to work independently
• Ability to balance multiple projects, anticipate obstacles, and identify ways to navigate said challenges
• Skilled in legal research tools like Westlaw and LexisNexis
• Exhibits comfort and skill in written and verbal communication skills
• Motivated by and has the ability to dive into new issue areas–specifically, the ability to quickly get up to speed on key policy considerations and relevant research and write clear summaries describing and synthesizing the state-of-play
• Awareness of and ability to address issues of power, race, class, gender, and other forms of privilege within the internal dynamics and culture of a workplace
• Mission alignment and a passion, excitement, and eagerness to engage in the substance of LP’s work
• A demonstrated commitment to social, racial, and economic justice and a deep interest in local policy, politics, and government

Qualifications

• Familiarity or experience with progressive policy campaigns
• Familiarity or experience with organizing, working with organizers, or movement lawyering
• Lived experience navigating the issues that the Impact Lab works on (for example, with wage theft, housing insecurity and discrimination, environmental racism, etc.)
• Familiarity or experience with legislative processes

Skills

• Legal research tools like Westlaw and LexisNexis
• Written and verbal communication skills
• Quickly getting up to speed on key policy considerations and relevant research
• Addressing issues of power, race, class, gender, and other forms of privilege within the workplace
• Engaging in the substance of LP’s work
• Organizing, working with organizers, or movement lawyering
• Navigating legislative processes

Benefits

This is a salaried exempt expected to start at step 11 of our salary scale with a starting salary of at least $77,700. Factors such as years of experience and advanced degrees will be taken into account. This position is included in a union-represented collective bargaining unit, and specific terms and conditions of employment are subject to the Collective Bargaining Agreement. We operate on a four day workweek with a default schedule of Monday through Thursday. We have a generous benefits package, including health insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, four weeks of vacation per year, 20 sick days per year, paid holidays, and contributions to individuals’ 403(b) plans. The Impact Lab office is closed between December 24 and January 1 annually.

Pay

The fellow’s salary is dependent upon securing external funding. This is a salaried exempt expected to start at step 11 of our salary scale with a starting salary of at least $77,700. Factors such as years of experience and advanced degrees will be taken into account.

Schedule

We operate on a four day workweek with a default schedule of Monday through Thursday.

Application

Applicants interested in working with the Impact Lab starting in 2027 should submit a resume and cover letter via JazzHR as soon as possible. We will review the first round of applications starting July 20 and will work closely with applicants to develop a project and apply to various externally-funded fellowship programs, including, for example, Equal Justice Works and law school-funded fellowships. We may conduct additional rounds of applicant review as needed as deadlines for various external sources of funding vary. Please also direct any questions to halexander@localprogress.org.