Litigation Fellow (School Based)

The NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. (“LDF”) invites rising third-year law students, judicial clerks, and other recent law school graduates to apply for LDF sponsorship for public interest fellowship projects to begin in Fall 2027. Sponsorship will enable the applicant to submit proposals for consideration to school-based fellowships.

LDF is the country’s first and foremost civil and human rights law organization. Founded in 1940 under the leadership of Thurgood Marshall, who subsequently became the first Black U.S. Supreme Court Justice, LDF was launched at a time when the nation’s aspirations for equality and due process of law were stifled by widespread state-sponsored racial inequality. From that era to the present, LDF’s mission has been transformative—to achieve racial justice, equality, and an inclusive society.

LDF’s litigation, public policy advocacy, and public education programs in the substantive areas of criminal justice, economic justice, education, and political participation seek to ensure the fundamental and basic human rights of all people to quality education, economic opportunity, the right to vote and fully participate in democracy, and the right to a fair and just judicial system. LDF continues to make an impact in the area of public service and was recognized by Fast Company as one of its 2023 Brands That Matter under its public service category.

About the role

We seek to sponsor a Fellow to work in our Litigation Department. The Fellow will litigate and strategize on a range of civil rights matters across LDF’s litigation docket.

Selected candidates will be required to seek their own funding. External funding programs may require that the candidate prepare and submit proposals, with guidance from the LDF staff. This fellowship is intended to be a one- or two-year appointment, contingent upon the continued availability of funding from the school.

LDF operates in a hybrid work environment where employees are expected to be in the office a minimum of two days per week, unless otherwise indicated.

Responsibilities

• Litigate and strategize on a range of civil rights matters across LDF’s litigation docket.

Requirements

• Demonstrated commitment to racial justice and addressing racial inequality.
• Outstanding research and writing skills.
• Ability to work both collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams and independently.
• Capacity for creative thinking.
• Rising third-year law students, judicial clerks, or other recent law school graduates.
• Prepare and submit proposals for external funding, if applicable, with guidance from LDF staff.

Application Process

Interested candidates should apply by sending the following materials:

• A cover letter specifying the candidate’s interest in working with LDF, a description of their relevant experience, and, if applicable for the funding that the candidate will seek, at least one project proposal that would fit within LDF’s four substantive areas (criminal justice, economic justice, education, and political participation).
• A resume.
• A list of three references.
• A legal writing sample.

Applications will be considered on a rolling basis; priority consideration will be given to applications received by September 11, 2026.