Voting Rights Project Fellowship
About the Lawyers’ Committee Fellowship:
The Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law is one of the nation’s foremost civil rights legal organizations. Our fellowships provide an opportunity for recent law school graduates to become familiar with civil rights practice by working with many of the nation’s leading civil rights attorneys at our national office in Washington, D.C.
Position Description:
The Lawyers’ Committee is seeking bright and creative recent law school graduates to serve as Fall 2017 Voting Rights Project (VRP) Fellows.
VRP Fellows will support three areas: 1) Election Protection – the nation’s largest, nonpartisan voter protection program which works year-round to address barriers to the ballot box for traditionally disenfranchised voters; 2) litigation to ensure that all eligible voters, particularly those from traditionally disfranchised communities, have full and unfettered access to the ballot; and 3) other voting rights programmatic activities.
Potential work for VRP Fellows may include involvement with substantive legal activities, partnerships to create a problem solving infrastructure in target states, engagement in public policy advocacy, and public education on important civil rights matters. Job responsibilities may include but, are not limited to:
• legal research
• drafting of legal memos
• contributing to drafting of pleadings and discovery materials
• meeting with local and state partners
• volunteer recruitment, training, and management
• reviewing legal materials
• developing strategies to address voting problems.
Ideal candidates will complement their legal abilities with strong interpersonal and leadership skills that help foster teamwork and consensus-building. These fellowships are unpaid and voluntary positions, and are particularly well-suited for law school bridge fellows, or for individuals who have obtained other outside sources of funding. For questions about the VRP Fellowship, please email tostbye@lawyerscommittee.org.
Qualifications:
The positions require candidates who can handle significant responsibilities and make thoughtful decisions during pre-election periods when the pressures resemble a campaign-type environment. Candidates will become proficient in identifying and addressing obstacles to the ballot box, and will work with pro bono legal networks to identify legal issues and develop and implement solutions. Applicants must possess excellent legal writing and legal research skills, and must be organized with exceptional attention to detail. The ideal candidates will have a demonstrated interest in civil rights and/or voting rights and the ability to work well with a wide range of stakeholders, both legal and non-legal.
Fluency in Spanish is a plus. Some travel may be required and approved travel expenses will be reimbursed. Fellows are expected to remain with the Lawyers’ Committee through November 30th, 2017.
NOTE: In addition to completing the form below, please attach your cover letter, resume, unofficial transcript, and a legal writing sample to your application to Podio.
The Lawyers’ Committee is an equal opportunity employer with a standing policy of nondiscrimination. Diversity is an essential component of the Lawyers’ Committee, and we encourage women and minorities to apply. All qualified persons are accorded an equal opportunity for selection without regard to actual or perceived race, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, disability, medical condition, marital status, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, family responsibility, personal appearance, genetic information, matriculation or political affiliation.
