Deferral Year Law Fellowship
Purpose
The Bill of Rights Defense Committee (BORDC), national office of America’s most widespread grassroots civil liberties movement, offers an exciting opportunity for recent law school graduates passionate about the restoration of constitutionally guaranteed civil liberties. BORDC’s Deferral Year Law Fellowship is a one-year position under the supervision of BORDC's executive director, civil rights attorney Shahid Buttar.
This fellowship is based in Washington, DC.
Hours
Full-time (35 hours per week).
Responsibilities
BORDC’s Deferral Year Law Fellow will work with BORDC staff, as well as a decentralized pool of hundreds of cooperating attorneys, to support civil liberties through projects including:
- Drafting proposed legislation for Congress, state legislatures, and local city councils;
- Preparing suggested questions (and potential testimony) for congressional hearings;
- Attending coalition meetings among substantive experts;
- Drafting letters expressing policy concerns on behalf of ad hoc coalitions among allied organizations;
- Compiling FOIA and Sunshine requests—and conducting potential related litigation—seeking transparency into government surveillance programs; and
- Drafting or coordinating amicus briefs on substantive issues of interest.
Qualifications
The ideal candidate will be a recent graduate of a U.S. law school furloughed from employment in private practice. Candidates with initiative, a demonstrated interest in constitutional and bill of rights issues, strong research skills, organizing experience, and the ability to translate complex materials for non-lawyers are especially encouraged to apply.
To apply:
To apply, email a cover letter, resume, 5-10 page writing sample, and three references to jobs@bordc.org with "Deferral Year Law Fellowship" in the subject line.
Electronic applications only. No phone calls or snail mail, please.
The Bill of Rights Defense Committee is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization and an equal opportunity employer: women, people of color, people with disabilities, and gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people are encouraged to apply.