Justice in Public Safety Project Legal Fellow

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, police brutality, and other acts of racial discrimination within the criminal legal system. 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 signature LDF project within its new Strategic Initiatives Department. Called the Justice in Public Safety Project (“the Project”), this innovative and community-centered advocacy uses an integrated strategy that brings together multiple tools at LDF’s disposal, including litigation, policy, organizing, communications, and research. Some of the Project’s key priorities include developing and implementing alternative models of public safety, as outlined in our Framework for Public Safety; deterring and redressing racially discriminatory policing practices; and mitigating and challenging public safety threats that undermine the foundations of our multi-racial democracy, such as biased policing of racial justice protesters.

LDF seeks a Justice in Public Safety Project Legal Fellow to engage in advocacy in the Justice in Public Safety Project.  This is a two-year position.

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:

• Assist with both litigation and non-litigation advocacy to advance police accountability, end racially discriminatory policing practices, and promote structural changes to public safety systems that combat the criminalization of Black people and promote the health and well-being of communities.
• Conduct legal and factual research on public safety, law enforcement practices or activity, racial discrimination, and related issues.  
• Assist with building and/or participating in national, state, and local coalitions, partnerships, and task forces working to advance racially just and equitable public safety strategies.
• Work collaboratively with LDF’s attorneys, organizers, policy counsel, and multidisciplinary teams to advance national, state, and local strategies to transform public safety systems.
• Work collaboratively with LDF’s attorneys, policy counsel and researchers to write, publish, and widely disseminate research and issue briefs, public education materials such as fact sheets, talking points, infographics, reports, and other documents that will educate target audiences, including government officials, community stakeholders, and the general public.
• Other duties as requested by the Project Director of the Justice in Public Safety Project, the Deputy Director of Strategic Initiatives, or the Director of Strategic Initiatives and other members of LDF’s Senior Leadership Team; and
• Other responsibilities as assigned.

Qualifications:

The ideal candidate will possess the following:

• Juris Doctor degree.
• 1-3 years of experience in litigation and/or policy reform or advocacy at the local, state, or federal level on policing or criminal legal system issues.
• Demonstrated commitment to the racial justice mission of LDF and civil rights.
• Excellent research, writing, and oral advocacy skills.
• Demonstrated ability to think and plan strategically, including an ability to help lead and manage complex litigation, advocacy, and policy reform efforts involving multiple issues and parties.
•  Fluency in discussing racial justice issues in multiple settings and venues.
•  A vision for attacking persistent barriers to full access and equality for people of color, and Black people in particular.
•  Ability to think creatively and “outside the box” to advance comprehensive and holistic advocacy strategies.
• Respect for impacted people and the expertise and insight they bring to racial justice advocacy.
• Ability to work both collaboratively and independently as a pro-active self-starter; and
• Ability to travel regularly, as needed.

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 is:

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

Atlanta: $81,500-$97,000

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

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