2023 Fellowship Sponsorship Opportunity – Workplace Justice

The Workplace Justice team at the National Women’s Law Center seeks rising third-year law students, judicial clerks, and other recent law school graduates interested in applying for Skadden, Equal Justice Works, Justice Catalyst, or other legal fellowships to begin in August or September 2023.

NWLC’s Workplace Justice program team deploys legal and policy advocacy to:

  • Advance workplace equality, including ending workplace sexual harassment and violence, pay discrimination, and pregnancy and caregiver discrimination;
  • Improve job quality, including raising wages, securing fair work schedules, and ensuring working people can care for themselves and their families without sacrificing their paychecks; and
  • Build worker power, including supporting workers’ ability to organize and bargain collectively, advocating for increased transparency about wages and working conditions, and pushing back against corporate practices that undermine workers’ rights on the job.

These efforts incorporate a strong focus on the rights of women and girls of color, LGBTQI+ individuals, and women and families with low incomes.

To break down discriminatory barriers to gender equality at work, NWLC invites fellowship project proposals addressing any of the following: equal pay; sex-based and intersectional forms of discrimination at work, including workplace sexual harassment and violence; discrimination against pregnant, parenting, and/or caregiving workers; job quality in occupations in which women of color are overrepresented, including domestic work; employment protections for workers on app-based platforms; gendered impacts of emerging technologies, such as algorithmic hiring and management systems and workplace surveillance technology; discrimination against LGBTQI+ workers; and other barriers to equality, dignity, and safety at work for women and LGBTQI+ individuals.

The fellow’s project may include: (1) public outreach and education, including creation of materials (such as fact sheets, reports and toolkits) to expand awareness of existing and/or needed federal and state legal protections; (2) local, state, and/or federal administrative and legislative advocacy to establish and strengthen workplace protections, including coalition work; and/or (3) participating in litigation (including assistance with amicus briefs) aimed at enforcing and expanding the rights of women and LGBTQI+ individuals at work. As needed, the fellow may also provide other program and organization-wide support.

The Organization

The National Women’s Law Center fights for gender justice — in the courts, in public policy, and in our society — working across the issues that are central to the lives of women and girls.

We use the law in all its forms to change culture and drive solutions to the gender inequity that shapes our society and to break down the barriers that harm all of us — especially those who face multiple forms of discrimination, including women of color, LGBTQI+ people, and low-income women and families.

For almost 50 years, we have been on the leading edge of every major legal and policy victory for women, and we need you with us to continue this fight. Find out more at NWLC.org.

Qualifications

The candidate must possess: 

  • A law degree and willingness to seek admission to the DC Bar
  • Excellent analytical, oral, and written communication skills
  • Attention to detail and strong organizational skills
  • Ability to collaborate with team members and coalition partners
  • Initiative and creativity
  • Willingness to ask questions and to give and receive feedback
  • A commitment to gender and racial equity

Additional preferred skills and knowledge, including: 

  • Experience working in a research, advocacy, or policymaking environment
  • Prior involvement engaging allies and stakeholders across sectors or movements
  • Background working in and/or building coalitions
  • Demonstrated commitment to and experience working on gender and racial equity and centering communities of color in approach to work

Compensation & Benefits

The salary for a first-year fellow is $83,000. NWLC offers a comprehensive benefits package and four weeks of annual vacation.

NWLC is a non-profit organization whose headquarters and staff are based in Washington, D.C. Due to the COVID-19 public health emergency, all NWLC staff are temporarily working remotely. We continue to monitor public health guidance and keep safety, science, and flexibility top of mind as we evaluate what reopening looks like for our team.

Classification

NWLC recognizes a staff bargaining unit, NWLC United, affiliated with the Nonprofit Professional Employees Union/IFPTE Local 70, a union for non-profit workers. This position is included in NWLC’s bargaining unit. Specific employment terms are subject to collective bargaining.

To Apply

To apply for this position, submit a cover letter outlining your interests and qualifications and potential project idea, resume, transcript, a 5-10 page writing sample, and contact information for three references: [email protected] and include the position title in the subject line. Applications submitted by July 6, will receive priority consideration. No calls please.

The National Women’s Law Center is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer and values a diverse workforce. We strongly encourage and seek applications from people with disabilities; women; men people of color, including bilingual and bicultural individuals; veterans; and LGBTQI+ individuals.

Reasonable Accommodations

If you require reasonable accommodations during any part of the hiring process, please email us at [email protected].