The NAACP Legal Defense & Educational Fund, Inc. (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.

LDF seeks an Economic Justice Fellow to assist in the development and implementation of litigation and advocacy to (1) challenge housing discrimination and policies that result in the loss of land and home ownership by African Americans, (2) promote mobility (transportation) for African-American communities, (3) ensure access to affordable potable water and a clean, safe environment for residents in African-American urban and rural communities, (4) challenge employment discrimination and policies that result in barriers to employment for African Americans, and (5) address disparities in health care and environmental racism. The Economic Justice Fellow will primarily work on litigation and will report to a senior attorney in LDF’s litigation department but will also collaborate with other LDF departments.

This is a two-year position, starting in Fall 2024.

As of March 7, 2022, LDF transitioned to a hybrid work environment. Any candidate selected for this position should be prepared to work in the office location assigned at least two days per week.

Responsibilities:

  • Research potential claims, prepare complaints, interact with clients, participate in motion practice, discovery, hearings and oral arguments, trials, and appeals in economic justice litigation;
  • Engage in rapid response to new legal developments related to economic justice, including drafting summaries or analysis of new opinions and other changes in the legal landscape to share with colleagues; 
  • Assist in creating and implementing multi-pronged strategic plans for LDF’s economic justice work using litigation, organizing, public education, strategic research, legislation, and policy advocacy;
  • Develop and maintain relationships with community partners, coalition members, lawyers and civil rights organizations, legal allies, and other advocates;
  • Collaborate with LDF’s Equal Protection Initiative on cases aimed at fully realizing the U.S. Constitution’s promise of equal protection under law by safeguarding, expanding, and deepening efforts to remove and remediate barriers to economic opportunity for Black people;
  • Act as a resource for LDF’s policy team in devising and implementing strategies to advance LDF’s policy agenda related to economic justice;
  • Prepare policy reports, memoranda, briefing papers, and talking points for internal and external use on practice area issues;
  • Represent LDF at conferences and in other venues; and
  • Travel as necessary.

Qualifications:

The ideal candidate will possess the following:

  • A J.D. degree, with 1-3 years of litigation experience and admission to the Bars of New York, Georgia, or the District of Columbia (or eligibility to waive in), depending on the office location;
  • A demonstrated commitment to racial justice and civil rights;
  • Outstanding legal research, writing, and communication skills;
  • Relevant litigation experience at the trial and/or appellate level;
  • The ability to work both collaboratively and independently;
  • Capacity to analyze and articulate legal concepts and other complex issues to a variety of audiences; and
  • A vision for attacking persistent barriers to full access and equality for Black people in the United States.

To Apply:  Please submit your resume, cover letter, and writing sample:

Salary Range:

New York: $94,000 - $112,000

Washington D.C.: $90,000 - $107,500

Atlanta: $81,5000 - $97,000

This is not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, skills, efforts or requirements or working conditions associated with the job. While this is intended to be an accurate reflection of the current job, management reserves the right to revise the job or to require that other or different tasks be performed as assigned. This description does not constitute a contract of employment and LDF may exercise its employment-at-will rights at any time

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The NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to you without regard to race, creed, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy, marital status, age, veteran status, medical condition or disability, genetic information, gender identity, or any other protected status under federal, state, or local law.

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