LACLJ is seeking applicants to jointly apply for fellowships, including but not limited to Equal Justice Works (EJW) and Skadden fellowships during the 2024 application period. Upon selection of its candidate for the fellowship, LACLJ will work with the chosen candidate to develop a fellowship proposal and jointly apply for the fellowship.
LACLJ is particularly interested in hosting a fellow for a project to explore one of the following areas:
1. The intersection between the family and dependency court systems and how survivors of domestic violence interact with those intersecting systems. Ideally, the project would include elements of creating tools and strategies to use the family court system as a tool to prevent the filing of a dependency petition and would also develop strategies and best practices for case coordination and working with clients when there are cases concurrently open in both court systems; or
2. Working with noncitizen survivors of human trafficking, domestic violence, and sexual assault to clear criminal conviction and arrest records by applying for vacatur relief. The project would include building capacity within our pro bono partners to take on these cases and represent survivors in their petitions to vacate convictions and arrests occurring while they were a survivor of trafficking or abuse; or
3. Addressing technology-enabled abuse in the context of domestic violence, sexual assault and human trafficking. The project would empower survivors to navigate and combat technology-enabled abuse through providing digital safety and training, identifying emerging technologies and trends, and creating tools to better address tech abuse in court proceedings.
LACLJ is also willing to consider other project proposals of particular interest to the
candidate that expand on our work to serve survivors of domestic violence, human trafficking, and
sexual assault.
Required Qualifications
• A demonstrated commitment to public interest work;
• Fluency in oral and written English and Spanish;
• Strong writing, oral advocacy, research, and/or analytical skills;
• Self-motivated, organized, and detail-oriented;
• Candidates must be anticipating their J.D. or L.L.M. by September 2025 and planning to take the bar exam in 2025/26, or be an experienced attorney who is seeking to make a career change to public interest work;
• Candidates must not have held a full-time, permanent public interest attorney position previously (although those currently or previously involved in AmeriCorps or other EJW programs are eligible to apply).
Preferred Qualifications
• Experience working with vulnerable populations, including victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, and/or other gender-based violence;
• Knowledge of family law, dependency law, immigration law, or criminal justice advocacy;
• Candidates transitioning from the private sector are encouraged to apply, as are those in the midst of finishing clerkships.
Working Conditions and Physical Requirements
• Work will be performed remotely, though some in-person work may be required;
• LACLJ will provide all necessary work equipment;
• This position requires concentration on tasks while facing distractions;
• This position may require attendance at meetings, both remote and in person, in and outside the LACLJ office and requires applicants be located in Southern California;
• Use of office machines such as computers, photocopiers, and telephones;
• Ability to work at and travel between the LACLJ main office at 5301 Whittier Blvd. in East Los Angeles and various locations in Southern California.
Salary and Benefits
This is a permanent exempt position with an annual salary range of $68,000-72,000 per year depending on experience. LACLJ offers a generous benefits package, including a 35-hour workweek, paid vacation leave and sick leave, 14 paid holidays plus 2 floating holidays, and 100% employer-paid medical (Kaiser), dental, vision, long-term disability, and life insurance. Staff also has the option to participate in a 403(b) retirement plan and dependent and health flex savings accounts (FSA). LACLJ is an eligible nonprofit employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program.
To Apply
Please email the following items to [email protected] with “Fellowship Application” in the subject line:
• Resume including any language capabilities.
• Cover letter describing your proposed fellowship project, your areas of interest, and why you care about public interest work.
Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until a candidate is selected. Interested candidates are encouraged to apply as soon as possible but no later than June 28, 2024 to allow sufficient time to develop proposals before the fellowship submission deadlines:
• Skadden Fellowship submission deadline: September 6, 2024
• EJW Fellowship submission deadline: September 10, 2024