Public Law Fellow, Stanford Law School

Professor Michelle Wilde Anderson is establishing a new research and policy lab focused on city and county governments struggling with poverty, environmental/disaster risks, public safety challenges, and conflict with their states. We are committed to building civic knowledge, networks, and public information channels that improve public services in high-poverty areas. This lab will become the central hub of Professor Anderson’s Santa Clara County Law and Policy Partnership, the Stanford Legal Journalism Initiative, and existing partnerships with local governments.

About the role

We are seeking a Public Law Fellow to help shape and establish this program.

Responsibilities

• Assist with courses and policy labs related to local government law, poverty, environmental/disaster risks, public safety, and state-local conflict.
• Support Professor Anderson’s Santa Clara County Law and Policy Partnership.
• Expand/establish a project-based local government service model for partners in cities in the American South and Rust Belt.
• Supervise undergraduate and law student researchers.
• Co-author academic research papers and white papers.
• Organize educational content at the university (including through the Legal Journalism Initiative).
• Develop a communications strategy and program website.
• Grantwriting and reporting.
• Administer the budget.
• Oversee and administer research activities by evaluating academic programs, making recommendations that impact policies and programs, and coordinating and implementing changes.
• Collect and analyze data, create reports, review and explain trends to determine program effectiveness; formulate and evaluate alternative solutions and/or recommendations to achieve the goals of the program.
• Teach and/or assist in the teaching and administration of courses. Create and/or advise in the development of curriculum. Make recommendations for course improvements.
• Write and edit content for proposals, peer-reviewed publications, and other program activities under the general direction of Principal Investigator.
• Assist with the development of research grants (e.g., suggest new funding opportunities, write portions of grants, and/or summarize data for grant support).
• Represent the program or function as the key contact and subject matter expert within the department, unit, or school and develop communications for internal and external constituencies.
• Organize and/or participate in outreach activities such as events, partnerships, fundraising, training, and conferences. Lead workshops and facilitate meetings.
• Monitor expenses, budgets, and finances of the program. Make recommendations on funding based on program spend.
• May oversee and train student workers.

Requirements

• JD degree and an active Bar license.
• Preference will be given to applicants with:
  • Work experience (during law school or after graduation) with a local government attorney’s office (ideally, a city or county’s affirmative litigation team).
  • Research or academic background on local government law, poverty law, environmental law, state/local politics, and/or building civil society.
  • A record of finished publications in academic journals or public-facing media.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and two years of relevant experience or combination of education, training, and relevant experience. Advanced degree may be required for some programs.
• Program administration and/or research experience may be required.
• Demonstrated oral, written, and analytical skills, exhibiting fluency in area of specialization.
• Ability to oversee and provide basic direction to staff.
• For teaching jobs, advanced degree or certification may be required for some programs.

Schedule

This is a one-year position with a start date at the end of August/early September 2026. The fellow must be local to the Bay Area, though a hybrid of on-site and remote work is acceptable.