NCLEJ is Seeking a Staff Attorney
The National Center for Law and Economic Justice (NCLEJ) seeks a dynamic and creative attorney with between 4 and 6 years of legal experience to enhance NCLEJ’s systemic advocacy to secure fundamental fairness and due process for low-income individuals in their dealings with government agencies.
About NCLEJ
For fifty years NCLEJ has been standing up for individuals, families, and communities living with poverty, using the law as a powerful instrument for improving the lives of the most economically oppressed members of our society.
In recent years, NCLEJ has addressed the civil rights of low-income people with disabilities; promoted access to housing through creative use of the Americans with Disabilities Act; improved access to critical work supports such as health coverage, child care, and nutrition assistance; addressed issues confronting low-wage workers, such as wage theft, equal pay for low-income women, and fair pay for low-income immigrants; and protected low-income individuals from unlawful debt collection practices. In the coming years, NCLEJ expects to move into additional areas of economic justice advocacy.
From the beginning, a strong theme in NCLEJ’s advocacy has been the protection of individuals’ rights to due process and fundamental fairness in the administration of public programs. We litigate extensively, typically as lead counsel, in federal and state courts across the country and partner with other public interest groups and the private bar.
The Position
We are seeking a full-time lawyer to engage in the full range of NCLEJ advocacy and to enhance NCLEJ’s work in a core area, namely, systemic advocacy to secure fundamental fairness and due process for low-income individuals in their dealings with government agencies. We seek candidates with knowledge of and experience with advocacy seeking systemic fairness in the administration of government benefits programs or in related institutional contexts; experience working with diverse community groups and other allies; demonstrated leadership skills; the ability to use a range of tools, including impact litigation, policy advocacy, and support for community organizations to achieve the desired outcome; and a commitment to NCLEJ’s mission.
More specifically, the attorney must have the ability to:
Work proactively and collaboratively to identify and analyze potential opportunities for legal advocacy in various states on issues addressed by NCLEJ, including those relating to fair administration of government programs and due process and to develop and execute advocacy strategies to address these issues
Build partnerships with colleagues in other states to initiate and conduct this advocacy
Prepare a variety of written materials, including legal analyses, memoranda, litigation papers, articles, and policy papers
Participate in litigation, policy advocacy, and support for low-income community organizations
Additional Qualifications:
Excellent writing, legal research, and oral advocacy skills
Knowledge of issues confronting low-income communities
An entrepreneurial spirit, imagination, determination, and creativity
Strong interpersonal skills
Experience in public interest legal advocacy, including impact litigation
Salary and Fringe Benefits
Salary is based on NCLEJ’s scale, which is comparable to that of similar organizations in New York City. Fringe benefits include health, dental, life, and long-term and short-term disability insurance; vacation, sick, family and medical leave, employer contributions to a 403(b) plan, flexible spending accounts, and generous holiday schedules.
Applying for the Position
Applicants should email a cover letter, resume, writing sample, and contact information for three employment references to [email protected]. Please include your first and last name in the subject line. In your cover letter, please tell us how you found out about this opportunity, describe your experience, and explain how your experience makes you a great candidate for this position. The position will remain open until filled.
NCLEJ is an equal opportunity employer and will not discriminate because of race, creed, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, predisposing genetic characteristics, marital or family status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or other consideration prohibited by law. People with disabilities, people of color, former recipients of public assistance, or people who have grown up in poverty, are especially encouraged to apply.
We are seeking a full-time lawyer to engage in the full range of NCLEJ advocacy and to enhance NCLEJ’s work in a core area, namely, systemic advocacy to secure fundamental fairness and due process for low-income individuals in their dealings with government agencies. We seek candidates with knowledge of and experience with advocacy seeking systemic fairness in the administration of government benefits programs or in related institutional contexts; experience working with diverse community groups and other allies; demonstrated leadership skills; the ability to use a range of tools, including impact litigation, policy advocacy, and support for community organizations to achieve the desired outcome; and a commitment to NCLEJ’s mission.
More specifically, the attorney must have the ability to:
Work proactively and collaboratively to identify and analyze potential opportunities for legal advocacy in various states on issues addressed by NCLEJ, including those relating to fair administration of government programs and due process and to develop and execute advocacy strategies to address these issues
Build partnerships with colleagues in other states to initiate and conduct this advocacy
Prepare a variety of written materials, including legal analyses, memoranda, litigation papers, articles, and policy papers
Participate in litigation, policy advocacy, and support for low-income community organizations
Additional Qualifications:
Excellent writing, legal research, and oral advocacy skills
Knowledge of issues confronting low-income communities
An entrepreneurial spirit, imagination, determination, and creativity
Strong interpersonal skills
Experience in public interest legal advocacy, including impact litigation
Applicants should email a cover letter, resume, writing sample, and contact information for three employment references to [email protected]. Please include your first and last name in the subject line. In your cover letter, please tell us how you found out about this opportunity, describe your experience, and explain how your experience makes you a great candidate for this position. The position will remain open until filled.
NCLEJ is an equal opportunity employer and will not discriminate because of race, creed, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, predisposing genetic characteristics, marital or family status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or other consideration prohibited by law. People with disabilities, people of color, former recipients of public assistance, or people who have grown up in poverty, are especially encouraged to apply.