Counsel, Liberty & National Security Program

The Organization

The Brennan Center for Justice, at New York University School of Law is a non-partisan public policy and law institute that focuses on the fundamental issues of democracy and justice. Our work ranges from voting rights to campaign finance reform, from racial justice in criminal law to presidential power in the fight against terrorism. A singular institution – part think tank, part public interest law firm, part advocacy group – the Brennan Center combines scholarship, legislative and legal advocacy, and communications to win meaningful, measurable change in the public sector.

The Position

The Brennan Center’s Liberty and National Security Program works to advance effective national security policies that respect the rule of law and constitutional values. Our current program priorities include countering Islamophobic policies and rhetoric, ensuring that changes to immigration policy undertaken in the name of national security are rational and do not intrude into constitutionally protected spheres, evaluating the use of new surveillance technologies and developing safeguards against their abuse, and reining in overbroad emergency powers and government secrecy.

Position: The Brennan Center seeks an attorney for its Liberty and National Security Program. The position is based in the Brennan Center’s New York office and requires occasional travel to Washington, D.C. and other locations.

Ready to work for a wonderful organization? Check out the posting on PSJD.

2018 – 2019 PSJD Fellowship

Now known as NALP, The National Association for Law Placement® was founded in 1971, during a period of rapid change in both the legal profession and legal education, in response to a perceived need by many law schools and legal employers for a common forum to discuss issues involving placement and recruitment.

NALP is dedicated to facilitating legal career counseling and planning, recruitment and retention, and the professional development of law students and lawyers.

NALP administers the PSJD (formerly PSLawNet) website.

The Position

The PSJD Fellow is the principal manager and administrator of the PSJD.org website. PSJD, a NALP initiative, catalogues thousands of job announcements for public service legal positions each year and curates a directory of civil society, government, and other public-service-oriented employers. The site also publishes a library of professional development and career search resources to assist jobseekers with legal training pursuing public service careers. Law students and alumni from hundreds of law schools in the United States and Canada rely on these materials to help them discover opportunities and make decisions about their public service careers. In addition, the Fellow gains non-profit management and administration experience and has the opportunity to write for publication, speak publicly, and build relationships with public interest organizations across the country.

The Fellow will work at NALP’s Washington, DC office–with some travel required (varying slightly, year-to-year).

Ready to lead a noble cause? Check out the posting on PSJD.

Bilingual Immigration Attorney

Transgender Law Center works to change law, policy, and attitudes so that all people can live safely, authentically, and free from discrimination regardless of their gender identity or expression.

Transgender Law Center provides legal assistance and information to more than 2,200 transgender people and their families each year, and also engages in selective high-impact litigation to advance transgender rights, such as the recent groundbreaking EEOC decision in our case Macy v. Holder.

The Position

TLC’s Trans Immigrant Defense Effort was created as an emergency response to the current administration. That effort involves organizing support for local transgender and gender nonconforming (TGNC) immigrants, legal and policy advocacy, and direct pro bono legal assistance for TGNC immigrants. One critical element of the project is ensuring high quality, culturally appropriate representation for TGNC immigrants in their immigration petitions and immigration court proceedings therefore 50% of this position will be providing legal intakes to TGNC immigrants.

Ready to lead a noble cause? Check out the posting on PSJD.

Photo: Brenda Gottesman – CC License

Martin Luther King Jr. Fellowship

The Organization

Southwestern Pennsylvania Legal Services, Inc..  is the principal funder and oversight agency for organizations that provide legal assistance to low income residents of Pennsylvania. The Pennsylvania Legal Services system is a community of legal services provider organizations committed to the aspirational goal that: Every resident in the state will have access to the full range of legal services and legal remedies regardless of where they are in the state.

The Position

Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network, Inc. is currently seeking applicants for a Martin Luther King, Jr. Fellowship that will be located at Southwestern Pennsylvania Legal Services beginning in September 2018.

About Our Fellowship Program

In 2003, an evaluation of the Martin Luther King Jr., Summer Internship Program revealed that, while the internship experience had been a very positive one for Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network Inc. (PLAN) interns, clients and programs, the goal to enhance cultural and ethnic diversity within the programs was not being realized.

In response, PLAN Inc. created the Martin Luther King, Jr. Fellowship Program in 2004. In partnership with a sponsoring regional or specialty program, law school graduates and attorneys who are new to practice are hired as full time staff attorneys for a two-year fellowship.

Fellows are assigned mentors and supervised by experienced attorneys. Salary and benefits are determined by the host program. In addition, loan repayment assistance (LRA), up to $5,500, is available per fellowship year. Fellows are required to apply for LRA through the PA Bar Foundation IOLTA LRA Program, their law school, and/or the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) in order to receive PLAN Inc. LRA. The 2018-19 IOLTA-PA Bar Foundation Program application is expected to open in early September 2018. This fellowship is intended to support and promote new lawyers who are interested in long term public interest careers.

Is this your dream opportunity?  See the full-post on PSJD.

Attorney IV (Human Rights Advocate)

The Alaska State Commission for Human Rights is the state agency which enforces the Alaska Human Rights Law. The Commission consists of seven persons appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Legislature. The Commission employs a staff and maintains an office in Anchorage. The Commission has statewide powers and accepts complaints from all regions of the state.

The Position

The Commission is seeking a Human Rights Advocate/Attorney IV to prepare and present discrimination cases at public hearings, conduct discovery, coordinate the Commission’s appellate work, review investigative files and make recommendations regarding the sufficiency of the evidence, and conciliate resolutions to complaints in which the Commission has found substantial evidence of discrimination. This position requires a thorough understanding of Alaska Human Rights Law and court rules, well developed litigation, negotiation, and analytical skills, a high degree of professionalism and organization, and excellent written and oral communication skills. Candidates for this position must be able to practice independently. The Human Rights Advocate supervises an Attorney II/III and a Law Office Assistant I.

Ready to lead a noble cause? Check out the posting on PSJD.

Attorney (2 Positions)

The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland’s attorneys represent individual clients in a variety of legal issues that impact shelter, health/safety, and economic security.  Areas of practice include housing, consumer, public benefits, education, family/domestic violence, employment/barriers to employment, and tax.

The Position

In addition to providing legal assistance to individual clients, Legal Aid attorneys engage in broad-based advocacy to impact client groups and communities.  Legal Aid attorneys work in partnership with other service providers to address community issues and engage in community legal education.  For example, Legal Aid is currently building partnerships with schools and other providers to serve the needs of families with small children, with a goal of stabilizing families so that children are able to succeed in school.  Legal Aid attorneys also collaborate with local, state and national colleagues.

One attorney hired during this process will represent clients in a variety of immigration matters, but especially focused on serving those immigrants whose physical safety is at risk – victims of domestic violence, crime, and human trafficking.  The other attorney’s assignment will be determined.

Ready to lead a noble cause? Check out the posting on PSJD.

Photo: Brenda Gottesman – CC License

Immigration Justice Campaign Fellow, Pro Bono Coordinator

The Organization

The American Friends Service Committee promotes a longstanding Quaker concern for the causes and impact of human migration.  Since 1988, the Immigrant Rights Program based in New Jersey has worked to increase the protection of the rights of immigrants and refugees through legal representation, community education, community organizing, monitoring of rights, advocacy, and training.

Since 1996, the AFSC has provided legal counseling and representation to thousands of immigrants, including people in detention, youth, and survivors of domestic violence and other crimes.  AFSC has also conducted training sessions and education to immigrant communities, social service providers and attorneys in New Jersey.

The Position

In collaboration with the Immigration Justice Campaign, a joint initiative between the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) and the American Immigration Council (AIC), AFSC will expand pro bono referral efforts and the reach of AFSC’s work. This position will develop and pilot strategies for further engaging and retaining pro bono attorneys to ensure greater access to representation for immigrants detained in New Jersey and facing deportation. The fellowship is funded for one year.

Is this your dream opportunity?  See the full-post on PSJD.

Legal Extern

Equality Ohio Education Fund and Equality Ohio were founded in 2005 by a group of 65 dedicated lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) activists and allies from all corners of Ohio after voters passed a constitutional amendment prohibiting same sex marriage and civil unions. EOEF continues to advance its vision and mission by working to change the hearts and minds of Ohioans about the LGBTQ community and our civil rights.

The Position

Assist the Managing Legal Director and/or Executive Director with the:

• Creation and implementation of a legal survey to analyze current legal need of the LGBTQ community in Ohio;
• Outreach to LGBTQ & Allied attorneys, legal-serving organizations, and LGBTQ-serving organizations;
• Assist in the creation of LGBTQ Know Your Rights pamphlets and brochures;
• Analysis of legal servicing intake tools and technologies; and
• Other tasks as assigned.

Ready for this new opportunity? Check it out here on PSJD.

Director of Litigation and Policy

Neighborhood Legal Services of Los Angeles County is one of Los Angeles County’s leading public interest law offices and has been the primary legal aid program serving the San Fernando and Antelope Valleys for 48 years and the San Gabriel and Pomona Valleys since 2001.  NLSLA’s staff of 100+, including 40 lawyers, provides legal assistance to low-income individuals, families and groups in the areas of family law, domestic violence, housing, health care, education, public benefits, economic and job development, immigrant rights, consumer rights, and environmental justice.  NLSLA’s program offices are located in Pacoima and the cities of Glendale and El Monte.

The Position

NLSLA is seeking a Director of Litigation & Policy, the position will be based at its El Monte office. The Director is expected to provide overall leadership and direction to the legal staff, with the support of the NLSLA senior team to ensure high quality advocacy, community engagement, strategically strong decision-making, grant compliance, leadership, and professional development both substantively and procedurally. The Director should lead overall program advocacy focused on the unique diversity of the San Gabriel Valley. It is also expected that the Director will develop and lead advocacy to address some specific area(s) of poverty law in which NLSLA is not now focused.

Ready to lead a noble cause? Check out the posting on PSJD.

Photo: Brenda Gottesman – CC License

Staff Attorney

The Organization: 

Tahirih Justice Center 

By providing holistic legal services and engaging in national public policy advocacy, the Tahirih Justice Center (Tahirih), a national, non-profit organization, protects courageous immigrant women and girls who refuse to be victims of violence. Tahirih elevates the voices of our clients in communities, courts, and Congress to create a world where women and girls enjoy equality and live in safety and with dignity. Tahirih is a Baha’i-inspired nonprofit organization that offers pro bono representation to women and girls seeking protection from such gender-based human rights abuses as domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, female genital cutting, honor crimes, and forced marriage. Winner of the 2007 Washington Post Award for Excellence in Nonprofit Management, Tahirih has offices in Falls Church, VA; Houston, TX; and Baltimore, MD.

The Position:

Tahirih is recruiting for the full-time position of Immigration Staff Attorney to represent immigrant women residing in the Greater Houston area who have suffered sexual assault. This position will be based in the Houston, Texas office. This position is a one-year grant funded position with the possibility of renewal.

Want to make a difference? See the full post on PSJD.