Leslie J. Winner Public Interest and Civil Rights Fellowship

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Job location
224 S. Dawson Street
Raleigh, NC 27601
United States
Organization information
Organization name: 
North Carolina Justice Center
Job type: 
Fellowship/Internship
Position Description: 

The North Carolina Justice Center is seeking a Leslie J. Winner Public Interest and Civil Rights Fellow. The Winner Fellowship provides the opportunity for a recent law school graduate to spend two years as a staff attorney at the North Carolina Justice Center – the state’s leading private, nonprofit, anti-poverty organization. The Fellowship is generously funded by the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation in honor of Leslie Winner, who has been a champion for the people of North Carolina. Winner spent much of her career as a public servant and public interest lawyer working on issues such as civil rights, gender equity, affordable housing, public education and higher education. She retired in 2016 after eight years of distinguished service to the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation and nearly 40 years of service to North Carolina.

The Fellow must be eligible for admission to the North Carolina bar by the commencement of the Fellowship. Applicants must have graduated from law school in 2016, 2017, or be expected to graduate in 2018. Applicants should possess excellent research, writing, and analytical skills, and a demonstrable passion for and commitment to social and economic justice. Applicants should have an interest in and commitment to developing the skills to handle public interest litigation.

About the Justice Center:
The Justice Center’s mission is to alleviate poverty in North Carolina by ensuring that every household has access to the resources, services and fair treatment it needs to achieve economic security. In order to improve the ability of families with low incomes to access opportunity and share in the state's prosperity, the Justice Center pursues a broad policy agenda around the issues of affordable housing, transportation, workforce development and training, public education, supports for working families, consumer protections, immigrants' rights, access to health care, state budget allocations and state tax policy.

Responsibilities:
The Winner Fellow will work alongside other litigation staff of the Justice Center. The Fellow will have the opportunity to participate in high-impact trial level and appellate litigation in a wide range of civil rights and poverty law areas that may include consumer, housing, education, health, and public benefits. The Justice Center’s litigation strategies are part of a multi-disciplinary approach to advocacy that integrates legal, policy, public engagement, research, and communications strategies. While the position will primarily assist with the Justice Center’s litigation efforts, the Winner Fellow will be exposed to all aspects of Justice Center’s work.

How to apply:
To apply for the 2018-2020 Fellowship (beginning between August and September 2018), applicants should submit a resume, law school transcript, the names of three professional or academic references, and a brief statement of interest (two pages or less) as a single PDF file that has your name in its title, and “Winner Fellowship” in the subject line to [email protected] by November 15, 2017. The statement of interest should explain your background, your commitment to social justice, why you want to engage in litigation at the North Carolina Justice Center, and how this fellowship will further your professional interests and goals.

The Justice Center is an equal opportunity employer. People of color and individuals from diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply for available positions. The Justice Center does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ethnic background, citizenship status, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, or disability.

Requirements: 

Please refer to job description.

To apply: 

Please refer to job description.

Notes: 
Equal Opportunity Employer
Submission deadline: 
Wednesday, November 15, 2017