U.S. Litigation Fellow

Title: U.S. Litigation Fellow

Department: U.S. Programs, U.S. Litigation Program

Center Background: The Center for Reproductive Rights is a global human rights organization working to ensure that reproductive rights are protected in law as fundamental human rights worldwide. With offices in New York City, and Washington, D.C.; Nairobi, Kenya; Bogota, Colombia; and Geneva, Switzerland, the Center is a non-profit, non-partisan organization changing law and policy throughout Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, and the United States. Our 230+ diverse professionals are committed to advancing the Center’s human rights mission through game-changing litigation, legal policy, and advocacy work. This has fueled the Center’s exceptional growth to an operating budget of more than $50 million and won the respect of law firms worldwide. Our global pro bono network includes over 2,100 lawyers across 6 continents, 88 countries, and 125 law firms, contributing over $30 million USD in pro bono legal services annually. The Center’s Strategic Plan sets a high mark for impact: By 2030, half of the world’s population will be living under stronger protections for reproductive rights than they were in 2020. The Center has a record of success to back up this ambitious goal. Since our founding in 1992, the Center has transformed how reproductive rights are understood and applied by courts, governments, and human rights bodies worldwide on issues including maternal health, abortion, assisted reproduction, and adolescent sexual and reproductive health and rights. We have won groundbreaking cases before national courts, U.N. Committees, and regional human rights bodies. The Center has also led development of historic, proactive legislation advancing robust protections for reproductive rights. It has built the legal capacity of women’s rights advocates in more than 65 countries and counting. To learn more about the Center, please go to www.reproductiverights.org

The Job: The Center seeks two attorneys to join the Center’s U.S. Litigation Program as Litigation Fellows. The Litigation Fellows will join the Center at a critical time for reproductive rights and access in the U.S. The Center's high-profile and ground-breaking litigation often involves novel legal claims and has significantly advanced legal developments in reproductive rights in federal and state courts, vindicating the rights of health care providers, clinics, and individuals throughout the U.S.

The Litigation Fellows will participate in impact litigation on reproductive rights in federal and state courts to improve access to non-discriminatory, high-quality reproductive health care—including abortion care, maternal health care, and assisted reproduction. They will join the Center’s team as it works to build a comprehensive and enduring right of reproductive autonomy over the long term grounded in principles of equality, as well as racial, gender, and economic justice, and human rights.

The positions will be based in the Center’s New York City or Washington D.C. offices in a hybrid model of 3 days in-office, 2 days working from home. Covid-19 vaccination is required for all US-based employees of the Center.

Primary Responsibilities: The primary responsibilities of Litigation Fellows include:

• Assisting in all aspects of trial and appellate litigation work, including drafting portions of briefs, motions, and discovery requests and responses.
• Conducting legal research, and preparing legal memoranda and litigation analyses to asses whether and how the Center will bring litigation.
• Assisting in providing compliance advice for the Center’s clients regarding complex legal and regulatory issues.
• Bluebooking and cite-checking pleadings and legal briefs.
• Representing the Center at public events, conferences, and coalition meetings, as needed.
• Supervising the work of legal interns.

Qualifications:

• J.D. degree required.
• One to three years of post-law school experience is strongly preferred, but not required.
• Excellent research and writing skills and ability to analyze complex legal issues.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to effectively communicate, orally and in writing.
• Ability to receive and engage with feedback.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills, including ability to self-motivate, to handle multiple tasks and meet multiple deadlines simultaneously, and to provide quick turnaround of assignments while collaborating as part of a team and maintaining a positive attitude.
• Strong commitment to the Center’s mission, purpose, and values, along with experience or knowledge of reproductive rights legal issues, reproductive justice, racial justice, or other human rights, civil rights, criminal law, or social justice issues. 
• Ability to travel as needed for court appearances and other work, including to locations outside the New York and DC areas.

Duration of Position: This is a full-time, two-year fellowship beginning in Fall 2025.

Compensation: The salary for this role is $85,000 in the first year and $95,600 the second year. The Center also offers a comprehensive benefits program and generous PTO offering.

Union Status: This position is anticipated to be within the bargaining unit represented by UAW Local 2325, (ALAA).

FLSA Exempt Status: This is an exempt position.

Benefits:

• Health: The Center pays up to 90%* of the premium for a comprehensive health insurance plan with no in-network deductible and best-in-class reproductive healthcare coverage, including infertility. The Center also offers Dental and Vision coverage. (* % may differ in various countries).
• Flexibility: The Center currently operates in a hybrid model, requiring staff to work 3 days per week in the office and allowing work 2 days per week from home.
• Well-being: The Center offers resources to help prevent and recover from burnout through different programs that enable mental, physical, and community well-being. The Center provides generous leave, including paid parental leave, personal days, vacation, and sick leave. We are closed the last week of December to allow staff to spend winter holiday time with their loved ones.
• Growth: You will be working with and learning from some of the top legal and operational minds, all passionate about advancing reproductive rights worldwide. You will also be eligible for a stipend to use towards professional growth.
• Global: You will get a front-row seat to the fight for reproductive rights globally. You will have access to Employee Resource Groups to connect to colleagues with similar interests/backgrounds/views.
• Investment: After the first year of employment, the Center will contribute 7.5%* of your annual salary to a 401(k) (*applicable only in US and Kenya).

Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

The Center is committed to inclusive hiring and dedicated to diversity in our work and staff. We strongly encourage people from all communities to apply. If you are excited about this role but unsure about whether your experience aligns with the job description, we encourage you to apply. You may be the right candidate for this or other roles. To learn more about the Center’s commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, please visit Diversity, Equity and Inclusion | Center for Reproductive Rights.

Center policy on visa sponsorship for U.S.-based positions: Applicants for employment in the U.S. must have valid work authorization that does not now and will not in the future require sponsorship of a visa for employment authorization in the U.S. by The Center for Reproductive Rights.

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