Policy Legal Fellow

Seiu 49; New York (NY); On-site; USD 89,000 - 109,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Full employer-paid medical, dental and

Vision plan for employees and dependts

Paid time off: 3 weeks vacation, 11H,

Job summary

SEIU 32BJ seeks a Policy Legal Fellow to work from its New York City headquarters, focusing on economic, racial, immigrant and climate justice, with a goal to raise wage standards and expand rights for workers. The role is full-time for 1–2 years and involves travel to multiple states and DC.

The Fellow will draft legislation, conduct policy research, and develop advocacy materials, collaborating across staff and with government officials and union members.

Qualifications

• Recent law graduates, judicial clerks, and third-year law students are welcome to apply.
• Excellent research and writing skills.
• Demonstrated commitment to workers' rights and labor organizing; labor and employment coursework in law school.
• Commitment to economic, racial, immigrant and climate justice.
• Previous organizing or policy advocacy experience a plus but not required.

Responsibilities

• Legislative and policy drafting.
• Policy & Legal-related research.
• Development of advocacy materials, such as policy memos and testimony.
• Analyzing public contracts, leases, and financial agreements.
• Reviewing legislative proposals.
• Advising campaign teams on policy strategy.

Skills

Legal research

Legal writing

Workers' rights

Policy advocacy

Labor organizing

Education

Law degree candidate / JD

Job description

ABOUT US
With 190,000 members, SEIU 32BJ is the largest union representing property service workers in the country. Our members have fought for and achieved high standards for private and public sector property service workers, and we continue to fight for higher standards for thousands of unorganized service workers.

With a commitment to building power for low-wage workers, 32BJ is engaged in winning strong contracts for members, organizing workers, supporting progressive candidates for elected office and moving a broad policy agenda, including immigrant justice, organizing rights, affordable housing, increasing minimum wages, and expanding access to health care.

With over 450 staff across 17 offices from Boston to Miami, 32BJ engages in collective bargaining, organizing, political action, and policy advocacy on issues including immigrant justice, housing affordability, organizing rights, and health care access. 32BJ is an affiliate of SEIU, the Service Employees International Union, which represents two million members nationwide.

POSITION OVERVIEW:

The Research and Policy Department of Service Employees International Union Local 32BJ has an opening for a Policy Legal Fellow starting in August or September 2027. This is a full-time, 1-2-year position based in Local 32BJ's New York City Headquarters, with a competitive salary and full benefits.

The Fellow will work on a range of matters relating to economic, racial, immigrant, and climate justice, as well as questions of home rule and local authority. A major emphasis will be on raising wage and benefits standards and expanding legal rights for building service workers and other workers.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

The Fellow will work primarily on state and local legislative and policy advocacy throughout the 11 states and Washington, DC, in which Local 32BJ operates. This position does not involve litigation but will involve substantial legal work.

Responsibilities include:

• Legislative and policy drafting
• Policy & Legal-related research
• Development of advocacy materials, such as policy memos and testimony
• Analyzing public contracts, leases, and financial agreements
• Reviewing legislative proposals
• Advising campaign teams on policy strategy

The Fellow will work closely with staff throughout the organization and will also have opportunities to work directly with state and local government officials, union members, and progressive ally organizations.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

• Recent law graduates, judicial clerks, and third-year law students are welcome to apply.
• Excellent research and writing skills.
• Demonstrated commitment to workers' rights and labor organizing; labor and employment coursework in law school.
• Demonstrated commitment to some or all of the following: economic, racial, immigrant and climate justice.
• Previous organizing or policy advocacy experience a plus but not required.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

• This is a full-time position based in New York City.
• This position requires travel to other locations and events, including worksites, rallies, member meetings, and some out-of-state gatherings.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS:

The salary for this role is $99,274. 32BJ offers a generous benefits package that includes full employer-paid medical, dental and vision plan (for full-time employees and their qualified dependents). 32BJ offers paid time off including three weeks' vacation, eleven holidays, twelve sick days and four personal days. The union currently offers a remote work policy of one remote day per week at the discretion of the manager

applications will be accepted until December 15, 2026.

32BJ-SEIU is an inclusive and diverse organization, committed to advocating for social, racial and economic justice. We promote diversity and strongly encourage applications from people who believe in our mission. We strongly encourage women, first-generation college graduates, and people of color to apply.