Justice in Public Safety Project Counsel

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.

The Justice in Public Safety Project.  Since its inception, LDF has worked to address police violence and accountability failures for Black people in the United States through advocacy pertaining to the death penalty, wrongful convictions, police brutality, and discrimination, among other issues. Initially launched as the Policing Reform Campaign in 2015 in the aftermath of the police killings of Eric Garner, Michael Brown, Walter Scott, and Freddie Gray, the campaign is now a permanent LDF project, titled the Justice in Public Safety Project (“the Project”). The Project uses an integrated advocacy strategy, which brings together litigation, policy, organizing, communications, and research, to develop and implement alternative models of public safety, as outlined in our Framework for Public Safety, deter and redress racially discriminatory policing practices, and mitigate and challenge public safety threats that undermine the foundations of our multi-racial democracy, such as biased policing of racial justice protesters.

The Project seeks a Justice in Public Safety Project Counsel to implement legislative and policy reform strategies at the local and state levels, and support the Policy Department with policy advocacy at the federal level, to advance the Project’s goals, with particular emphasis on preventing the use of discriminatory law enforcement technologies, protecting racial justice protesters from abuse and criminalization by police, and reducing the footprint of law enforcement in public safety systems. 

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:

• Identify, develop, and implement legislative and policy reform strategies at the local and state levels, and support the Policy Department with similar strategies at the federal level, regarding law enforcement’s use of advanced technologies, the protection of racial justice protesters, and other substantive priorities of the Project in collaboration with the Policy Department.
• Conduct legal and factual research concerning the Project’s priorities, including advanced law enforcement technologies, rights to speech and protest, public safety systems, law enforcement policies and practices, and related criminal justice issues.
• Assist with building and/or participating in national, state, and local coalitions, partnerships, and task forces to advance community safety with a racial justice lens that prioritizes directly-impacted communities.
• Work collaboratively with LDF’s attorneys, organizers, policy staff, communications specialists, and researchers in multidisciplinary teams that advance the Project’s priorities in close partnership with local stakeholders.
• In collaboration with other LDF staff and departments, contribute to and support the drafting, publishing, and wide dissemination of research and issue briefs, fact sheets, talking points, infographics, reports, and other documents that educate multiple audiences, including government officials, stakeholders, and the general public.
• Other duties as requested by the Manager of the Justice in Public Safety Project, the Director of Strategic Initiatives, and/or other members of LDF’s Senior Leadership Team.

Qualifications:

• Juris Doctor degree and good standing with a state bar, with admission to additional bars as needed depending on office location.
• Five or more years of experience in litigation, policy reform and/or advocacy at the federal, state, or local level related to policing or criminal justice, with particular focus on racial justice issues.
• Experience with advanced law enforcement technologies and/or protest related issues preferred.
• Excellent research, writing, and public speaking skills.
• Experience working with communities and/or individuals directly impacted by the criminal legal system.
• Experience working with multiple and diverse stakeholders within both formal and informal coalition structures.
• A demonstrated commitment to civil rights and racial justice.
• A demonstrated ability to think and plan strategically, including an ability to lead and manage complex advocacy and policy reform efforts involving multiple issues and parties.
• Proactive self-starter with ability to work independently and on teams.
• Ability to travel regularly.

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.

The salary range(s) for this position are:

New York: $120,000 – $181,000

Washington, D.C.: $115,000 – $173,500

Atlanta: $104,000 – $157,000

 LDF offers all eligible employees a generous benefits package.  To learn more click the following link 2025 Benefits Overview.

* * * * *