Counsel, Voting Rights and Elections Program

Brennan Center for Justice; New York (NY); On-site; USD 84,000 - 127,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

401k plan

Wellness program

Office perks

Union representation (UAW 2320)

Job summary

The Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law seeks a talented attorney to join an interdisciplinary team working to ensure free and equal access to the ballot. This term-limited position focuses on combatting voter suppression and advancing pro-voter reforms at federal and state levels.

The role is based in New York City, with consideration for candidates in Washington, D.C. and occasional travel. We encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds and emphasize equal opportunity in hiring.

Qualifications

• J.D. required with admission to the bar in the hiring state. Eligible to practice or apply for admission within 6 months if bar is in another state.
• Recent law-school graduates, judicial law clerks, and others with 1–5 years of post-law school experience are welcome to apply.
• Ideal candidates have strong writing, research, and advocacy skills across legal and policy contexts.

Responsibilities

• Participating in litigation in trial and appellate courts, including research, motions, briefs, and strategy development with team members and pro bono partners.
• Assisting with amicus campaigns, engaging with experts and scholars, and coordinating with other organizations and pro bono partners.
• Providing research support for reports and policy proposals, including legal and social science research, fact-checking, and citation checks.

Skills

Excellent written & oral communication

Legal research & analysis

Legal writing for policy/public

Organizational skills

Interpersonal skills & judgment

Commitment to racial equity

Experience with social science data/re

Voting rights/democracy experience

Education

J.D. and bar admission

Job description

The Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law is a nonpartisan law and policy institute that seeks to improve the systems of democracy and justice in the United States. We work to hold our political institutions and laws accountable to the American ideals of democracy and equal justice for all. Among our core priorities, we fight to protect voting rights, end mass incarceration, strengthen checks and balances, and preserve constitutional protection in the fight against terrorism. Part think tank, part advocacy group, part cutting‑edge communications hub, we start with rigorous research. We craft innovative policies. And we fight for them — in Congress and the states, the courts, and in the court of public opinion.

Position

The Brennan Center’s seeks a talented attorney to join a cutting‑edge, interdisciplinary team working collaboratively to ensure that all U.S. citizens have free and equal access to the ballot box. The attorney’s focus will be to combat voter suppression and advance pro‑voter reforms at the state and federal levels.

This is a term‑limited position with an anticipated duration of two to three years.

This position is based at our headquarters in New York City. Candidates located at our Washington, D.C. office will still be considered. It will require occasional travel.

Responsibilities

• Participating in litigation in trial and appellate courts, including fact and legal research, motion and brief writing, and strategy development, with team members, allied organizations, and/or pro‑bono law firm counsel.
• Assisting with the development and execution of amicus campaigns, including engaging with experts and scholars and coordinating with other organizations and pro‑bono partners.
• Providing research support for reports and policy proposals, including research (legal, social science, and news‑based), fact checking, legal cite checking, and proofreading.
• Assisting with policy advocacy, including through work in coalitions, to change policies and laws at the local, state, and federal levels.
• Supporting the preparation of written work (including articles, opinion pieces, speeches, reports, legislative testimony, and organizational materials), with opportunities for named authorship.
• Co‑writing reports and policy proposals, with opportunities for named authorship.
• Taking on special projects and other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Required. The position requires a J.D. and admission to the bar of the office where the employee is based. If you are admitted to a bar for a state other than the office where you are located, you must be eligible to practice or apply for admission to that state’s bar within 6 months of hire. This position is open to applicants who are recent law school graduates, judicial law clerks, and others with 1‑5 years of post‑law school experience.

Ideal. The ideal candidate will have some combination of the following experiences and qualifications. We recognize that many excellent candidates may not have all these experiences and qualifications, and we will provide support for the successful candidate to acquire additional skills.

• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Excellent legal research and analysis skills.
• Strong ability and desire to write for legal, policy, and public audiences.
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to prioritize effectively in a fast‑paced environment.
• Strong interpersonal skills and sound judgment, including the ability to work with diverse constituencies both inside and outside the organization.
• A commitment to racial equity.
• Comfort working with social science research and experts.
• Experience working in government, in nonprofit or legal organizations, or on voting rights and democracy issues.

We are committed to considering a wide range of candidates, including those with diverse experiences and backgrounds. Whether you are new to the nonprofit law and policy sector, returning to work after a gap in employment, looking to make a career transition, or seeking to advance your professional path, we welcome your application. We are committed to a workplace based on equal opportunity and a strong belief in the increased effectiveness that comes from a diverse workforce. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, ethnicity, gender identity, socioeconomic identity, sexual orientation, national origin, previous incarceration, disability, military veteran/status, or any other basis prohibited by applicable law. To this end, we welcome all qualified applicants to apply.

Compensation and Benefits

The Brennan Center is a fantastic workplace! We offer competitive salaries and a comprehensive benefits package that is regularly assessed based on workplace trends and employee feedback.

This is a scaled position. The salary range assigned for the scale is$84,000-$127,000 and has been determined based on market competitiveness. Each salary in the scale is determined by the number of years of professional experience after the selected candidate graduated from law school.

• generous time off program
• 401k plan
• comprehensive health insurance (medical, dental, and vision)
• wellness and office perks

In addition, this position is part of a bargaining unit represented by the National Organization of Legal Services Workers, UAW local 2320.

We are committed to a workplace based on equal opportunity and a strong belief in the increased effectiveness that comes from a diverse workforce. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, ethnicity, gender identity, socioeconomic identity, sexual orientation, national origin, previous incarceration, disability, military veteran/status, or any other basis prohibited by applicable law. To this end, we welcome all qualified applicants to apply.