Justice Fellowship

Justiceonline; Washington, Northern (District of Columbia, KY); Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health and dental insurance (employer‑

Vision plan

Short term disability

3 weeks paid vacation

Personal and sick leave

11 paid federal holidays

Job summary

The Partnership for Civil Justice Fund invites applications for a full-time, one-year fellowship in Washington, DC, or Oakland, CA, with hybrid work arrangements. The Fellow will support the Center for Protest Law & Litigation and assist in civil rights matters at the intersection of First and Fourth Amendment rights.

We seek a recent law graduate, judicial clerk, or new attorney to join a nimble litigation team, gain practical experience, and contribute to national advocacy efforts alongside

Qualifications

• Excellent writing skills and ability to timely complete legal research that is specific, comprehensive, and accurate.
• Strong academic credentials and excellent communication skills.
• Meticulous attention to detail and a high level of organization.
• Ability to respond to direction, to work efficiently and manage time.
• Enthusiasm for and familiarity with the work of the organization and a demonstrated dedication to civil rights work, social and environmental justice issues.
• Excellent judgment and the highest level of professional integrity including in maintaining confidentiality.
• Well-developed interpersonal skills both individually and in teams.
• A strong work ethic and fighting spirit is essential as well as the capacity to work well under pressure, to juggle multiple tasks simultaneously, and to meet deadline requirements and rapid response needs, including working occasional weekends and evenings when necessary.

Responsibilities

• Support the legal team in advancing impact litigation including in discovery, depositions, motions practice and legal research.
• Work under the direction of legal team attorneys to prepare requests for documents including discovery and FOIA production; review and provide annotation, analysis and summaries of documents and videos.
• Participate in team meetings where the goal is to develop, evaluate and investigate potential claims, new projects and litigation strategies to forward our efforts to defend and advance civil rights and social justice nationally.
• May attend as appropriate depositions and court hearings as well as meetings with clients, allied political activists, grassroots organizations, or partner coalitions as part of the learning experience.
• Assist in other related duties as assigned.

Skills

Excellent writing

Legal research

Communication skills

Attention to detail

Organization

Time management

Professional integrity

Job description

Partnership for Civil Justice Fund
and its project, The Center for Protest Law & Litigation

Full-time one year fellowship, with possibility of renewal based on docket development. Position may be located in either the Washington, D.C. office or the Oakland, CA office. Both offices currently operate on a hybrid work schedule.

The Partnership for Civil Justice Fund seeks a skilled, enthusiastic, and motivated recent law graduate, judicial clerk or new lawyer to join our legal team and support the fight for civil rights, free speech and democracy and defend grassroots movements for justice. The work will involve the range of PCJF’s civil rights matters including the work of the Center for Protest Law & Litigation regarding legal matters at the intersection of First and Fourth Amendment rights in the context of free speech, assembly, and protest.

The Justice Fellow position, within a cutting edge and nimble litigation organization, offers an opportunity to gain practical experience, grow, learn, and contribute within a collaborative and creative team that has substantial expertise in constitutional rights litigation and in the defense of First Amendment activity.

About the Organization

As leaders in bringing high impact civil rights and constitutional rights litigation for 30 years, the Partnership for Civil Justice Fund (PCJF) has brought groundbreaking cases, changed laws and policies, and won millions in damages for persons whose rights have been violated. Our litigation work is integrated with outreach, education, and advocacy in partnership with affected groups, communities, activists, and organizations in racial, social, and environmental justice movements. Our work is focused ultimately on creating meaningful social, political, and legal changes and dismantling systems of repression.

The Center for Protest Law & Litigation at the PCJF protects and advances the rights of protestors to organize, assemble, and demand justice around the country.Wedefend free speech rights through affirmative civil litigation, including against the mechanisms of police and government violence, as well as criminal defense of protestors targeted for their First Amendment-protected expression.

Specific Duties and Responsibilities:

• Support the legal team in advancing impact litigation including in discovery, depositions, motions practice and legal research.
• Work under the direction of legal team attorneys to prepare requests for documents including discovery and FOIA production; review and provide annotation, analysis and summaries of documents and videos.
• Participate in team meetings where the goal is to develop, evaluate and investigate potential claims, new projects and litigation strategies to forward our efforts to defend and advance civil rights and social justice nationally.
• May attend as appropriate depositions and court hearings as well as meetings with clients, allied political activists, grassroots organizations, or partner coalitions as part of the learning experience.
• Assist in other related duties as assigned.

Required Professional Experience and Qualifications:

• Excellent writing skills and ability to timely complete legal research that is specific, comprehensive, and accurate.
• Strong academic credentials and excellent communication skills.
• Meticulous attention to detail and a high level of organization.
• Ability to respond to direction, to work efficiently and manage time.
• Enthusiasm for and familiarity with the work of the organization and a demonstrated dedication to civil rights work, social and environmental justice issues.
• Excellent judgment and the highest level of professional integrity including in maintaining confidentiality.
• Well-developed interpersonal skills both individually and in teams.
• A strong work ethic and fighting spirit is essential as well as the capacity to work well under pressure, to juggle multiple tasks simultaneously, and to meet deadline requirements and rapid response needs, including working occasional weekends and evenings when necessary.

Preferred: Experience working with frontline communities and/or grassroots social justice movements. On-the-ground experience at demonstration activities.

Fellows must be (at the time of their start):

• Awaiting the results of their bar exam, awaiting admission after passing the bar exam, or admitted to the bar of a state, territory, or district of the United States.

SALARY
The salary range is $70,000 – $80,000 and will depend on the applicant’s bar status, years out of law school, relevant experience, and qualifications. Benefits include outstanding health and dental insurance that is 100% employer paid and an optional vision plan; short term disability insurance; three weeks paid vacation; additional personal and sick leave; all 11 paid federal holidays.

Start date: September 2026 for graduating students after they have taken the bar; earlier start date for practicing lawyers depending on availability.

The Partnership for Civil Justice Fund is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender, age, formerly incarcerated person status, marital status, disability, or any other legally protected status. We strongly encourage candidates from underrepresented backgrounds to apply.

How you can help

Help us challenge federal and local law enforcement efforts to punish, threaten and silence movements for change. Join us in the fight for democracy, civil rights, and social and environmental justice – in the courts and in the streets.