Litigation Fellow (Fall 2027)

U.S. Bankruptcy Court - District of CT; Northern, New York (KY, NY); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental and Vision coverage

401(k) after year 1

Job summary

The Center for Reproductive Rights seeks a Litigation Fellow for Fall 2027 to support state and federal impact litigation on reproductive rights. Work includes drafting, researching, and advising on complex issues, with a focus on advancing non-discriminatory, high-quality care. Hybrid work in NYC or DC, with travel as needed.

Two-year fellowship beginning Fall 2027 offers exposure to U.S. litigation, policy, and advocacy work within a global human rights organization committed to advancing

Qualifications

• Excellent research and writing skills and ability to analyze complex legal issues.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to effectively communicate, orally and in writing.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills.
• Strong commitment to the Center’s mission and reproductive rights issues.
• Ability to travel as needed for court appearances and other work.

Responsibilities

• Assist in all aspects of trial and appellate litigation work, including drafting portions of briefs, motions, and discovery requests and responses.
• Conduct factual and legal research and prepare legal memoranda and litigation analyses.
• Assist in providing compliance advice to clients regarding complex legal issues and risk mitigation.
• Assist in monitoring and analyzing intakes.
• Bluebook and cite-check pleadings and briefs.
• Represent the Center at public events, conferences, and coalition meetings.

Skills

Research skills

Writing skills

Oral communication

Time management

Team collaboration

Education

J.D. degree

Job description

Title: Litigation Fellow (Fall 2027)

Department: Litigation, U.S. Program Division

Center Background

The Center for Reproductive Rights is a global human rights organization working to ensure that reproductive rights are protected in law as fundamental human rights worldwide. With offices in New York City, and Washington, D.C.; Nairobi, Kenya; Bogota, Colombia; and Geneva, Switzerland, the Center is a non-profit, non-partisan organization changing law and policy throughout Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, and the United States. Our 270+ diverse professionals are committed to advancing the Center’s human rights mission through game-changing litigation, legal policy, and advocacy work. This has powered the Center’s exceptional growth to an operating budget of over $60 million and won the respect of law firms in countries around the world. Our global pro bono network includes over 3,000 lawyers across 6 continents, 88 countries, and 140+ law firms. Last year, law firms contributed over $35 million USD in pro bono legal services. The Center’s Strategic Plan sets a high mark for impact: By 2030, half of the world’s population will be living under stronger protections for reproductive rights than they were in 2020. The Center has a record of success to back up this ambitious goal. Since our founding in 1992, the Center has transformed how reproductive rights are understood and applied by courts, governments, and human rights bodies worldwide on issues including maternal health, abortion, assisted reproduction, and adolescent sexual and reproductive health and rights. We have won groundbreaking cases before national courts, U.N. Committees, and regional human rights bodies. The Center has also led development of historic, proactive legislation advancing robust protections for reproductive rights. It has built the legal capacity of women’s rights advocates in more than 65 countries and counting. To learn more about the Center, please go to www.reproductiverights.org

The Job

The Litigation Fellows support the work of the U.S. Litigation Unit and report to a Senior Attorney on the team. They will join the Center at a critical time for reproductive rights and access in the U.S. The Litigation Fellows will participate in the Litigation Unit’s impact litigation in state and federal courts across the country to expand people’s access to non-discriminatory, high-quality reproductive health care – including abortion care, maternal health care, and assisted reproduction. They will support the team’s work to build a comprehensive and enduring right to reproductive autonomy grounded in principles of equality; racial, gender, and economic justice; and human rights.

The positions will be based in the Center’s New York City or Washington D.C. offices in a hybrid model of 3 days in-office, 2 days working from home.

Primary Responsibilities

• Assist in all aspects of trial and appellate litigation work, including drafting portions of briefs, motions, and discovery requests and responses.
• Conduct factual and legal research and prepare legal memoranda and litigation analyses to assess whether and how the Center will bring litigation.
• Assist in providing compliance advice to the Center’s clients regarding complex legal and regulatory issues and risk mitigation strategies.
• Assist in monitoring and analyzing intakes.
• Bluebook and cite-check pleadings and legal briefs.
• Represent the Center at public events, conferences, and coalition meetings, as needed.
• Collaborate across the U.S. Division to advance shared priorities and alignment of our legal strategies with our policy, advocacy, and external engagement goals.
• Supervise the work of legal interns.
• Assist with other tasks, as needed.
• Duration of Position: This is a full-time, two-year fellowship beginning in Fall 2027.

Compensation

The salary for this position is $90,000 for the first year of the fellowship and $100,000 for the second year. This salary reflects a position based in New York City or Washington, D.C. This salary will be subject to a downward locality adjustment if authorization is granted to work outside the location listed in this posting. Note that most of the salaries listed on our job postings reflect New York, NY salaries, where our National offices are headquartered.

Union Status

This position is within the bargaining unit represented by UAW Local 2325, (ALAA).

FLSA Exempt Status

This is an exempt position.

Career Level

L1 - Fellow

Benefits

• Health: The Center provides a comprehensive health insurance plan with no in-network deductible and best-in-class reproductive healthcare coverage, including infertility. The Center also offers Dental and Vision coverage.
• Well-being: The Center offers resources to help prevent and recover from burnout through different programs that enable mental, physical, and community well-being. The Center provides generous leave, including paid parental leave, personal days, vacation, and sick leave. We are closed the last week of December to allow staff to spend winter holiday time with their loved ones.
• Investment: After the first year of employment, the Center will contribute 7.5%* of your annual salary to a 401(k) (*applicable only in US and Kenya).

Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

The Center is committed to inclusive hiring and dedicated to diversity in our work and staff. We strongly encourage people from all communities to apply. If you are excited about this role but unsure about whether your experience aligns with the job description, we encourage you to apply. You may be the right candidate for this or other roles. To learn more about the Center’s commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, please visit Diversity, Equity and Inclusion | Center for Reproductive Rights.

Center policy on visa sponsorship for U.S.-based positions

Applicants for employment in the U.S. must have valid work authorization that does not now and will not in the future require sponsorship of a visa for employment authorization in the U.S. by The Center for Reproductive Rights.

• J.D. degree required.
• One to three years of post-law school experience is strongly preferred but not required.
• Excellent research and writing skills and ability to analyze complex legal issues.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to effectively communicate, orally and in writing.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills, including ability to self-motivate, juggle multiple cases/projects and deadlines simultaneously, and provide quick turnaround of assignments while collaborating as part of a team and maintaining a positive attitude.
• Strong commitment to the Center’s mission, purpose, and values, along with experience or knowledge of reproductive rights legal issues, reproductive justice, racial justice, or other human rights, civil rights, criminal law, or social justice issues.
• Displays a problem-solving and supportive attitude with colleagues and works to support the goals of the Litigation Unit, U.S. Program Division, and the Center.
• Demonstrates a commitment to inclusive equity work and incorporating inclusive equitable principles into legal, programmatic, and partnership work.
• Ability to work collaboratively with colleagues across the Center as well as with external partners, including clients, coalition members, and pro bono counsel.
• Ability to travel as needed for court appearances and other work, including to locations outside the New York and DC areas.