Public Policy Legal Fellow

Overview

This Public Policy Legal Fellowship provides essential legal research and fact gathering concerning a wide range of sexual violence issues. Fellows will draft materials as needed, including memoranda and one-page summaries, and may review and analyze legislation, regulations, and other policy documents.

Fellowship learning and exposure may include:

• Constitutional law
• Criminal law
• Criminal procedure
• Appellate law
• Family law
• State and federal policy

Term

Spring term: February – April. The term is 12 weeks, with start and end dates flexible to accommodate school or bar exam schedules.

Application reviews will begin 30 days after the Fellowship is posted and will continue until the position is filled or after receiving 30 applications.

Responsibilities & Learning Objectives

• Develop legal research skills by assisting with research projects focused on state sexual violence laws and related public policy issues.
• Gain exposure to legal and policy analysis by gathering and summarizing relevant statutes, case law, regulations, and other resources related to sexual assault issues.
• Contribute to the policy development process by preparing background research and supporting the preparation of memoranda, policy statements, briefing materials, and correspondence under staff guidance.
• Build professional administrative and organizational skills through participation in data entry, document management, and departmental support activities.
• Assist with the organization, updating, and enhancement of databases and other resource dissemination tools.
• Observe and support communications and projects involving pro bono law firm partners, as appropriate.
• Participate in team meetings, training opportunities, and mentorship activities.
• Engage in additional learning opportunities and special projects supporting educational experience and professional development.

Qualifications

• Current law student in or recent graduate from a Juris Doctor program (recent graduate means the fellowship will be complete within 2 years from the date of graduation from law school).
• Strong writing, research, analytical, and organizational skills.
• Strong interest in policy work.
• Demonstrated interest in the issue of sexual violence.
• Comfort with legal research tools, including LexisNexis and Westlaw.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Programs (especially Excel and Word) and Google Workspace (especially Google Docs and Google Sheets).
• Ability to use remote meeting platforms, such as Zoom, Google Meet, and WebEx.
• Strong interpersonal skills and a team player attitude.

Eligibility & Expectations

• Ability to dedicate 20 hours a week to the Fellowship’s work.
• Passed the bar examination, or intends to take the exam within a year.
• Can demonstrate substantial commitment to or preparation for pursuing a career in public interest law or government service.
• Will endeavor to obtain employment in the public interest or government sector before or immediately following the Fellowship’s conclusion.

Compensation & Benefits

• This is an unpaid opportunity. No nominal fee stipend will be provided.

Location

• Remote fellowship role.
• Regional placement may be available for someone whose residence is within the continental USA.

Remote requirements:

• Home office setup with a dependable high-speed internet connection sufficient to support all fellowship-related tasks, including accessing systems and communicating with teams.

Background Check

• The selected candidate must complete and pass a criminal background check administered by the organization.

Application Process

Required materials:

• Resume
• Cover letter
• Two writing samples (each must be no longer than 10 pages)

Review and submission notes:

• Only complete applications will be considered.
• No phone calls.

Equal Opportunity

• The organization does not discriminate against fellowship candidates or applicants because of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, age, individual identity, genetic information, disability, or protected veteran status.
• Encourages all qualified candidates to apply.