Counsel, Democracy Program

New York, NY

Full Time

Mid Level

The Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law is a nonpartisan law and policy institute that seeks to improve the systems of democracy and justice in the United States. We work to hold our political institutions and laws accountable to the twin American ideals of democracy and equal justice for all. Among our core priorities, we fight to protect voting rights, end mass incarceration, strengthen checks and balances, and preserve constitutional protections in the fight against terrorism. Part think tank, part advocacy group, part cutting-edge communications hub, we start with rigorous research. We craft innovative policies. And we fight for them – in Congress and the states, the courts, and in the court of public opinion.  

Position
The fight for a more secure, responsive, and equitable democracy has never been more urgent. The Brennan Center seeks a talented attorney to join its team in the Democracy Program, working on a range of issues related to voting rights and elections, redistricting and representation, money in politics, and abuse of power.  

This position will work under the supervision of and in close collaboration with a senior attorney who works on litigation initiatives across the Democracy Program. At the outset, the position will focus primarily on appellate and trial litigation and related advocacy and writing. Other work may include legislative and policy advocacy, legal and empirical research, media communications, and public education, based on interest and the Democracy Program’s needs.  

Note: Brennan Center employees adhere to a hybrid schedule that is subject to change, with employees currently required to work in the office a minimum of three days per week, on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. While most employees follow this in-person schedule, there may be some positions that require additional in-office days. This position is based in New York City or Washington, D.C. It will require occasional travel as well.

Responsibilities Include

Participating in litigation, including fact and legal research, motion and brief writing, and strategy development, with team members, allied organizations, and/or pro bono law firm counsel.
Assisting with the development and execution of amicus campaigns, including engaging with experts and scholars and coordinating with other organizations and pro bono partners.   
Developing legal strategies to address emerging issues, including identifying areas where empirical or other research is needed.
Producing legal, academic, or empirical research and writing relevant to litigation or advocacy strategies.
Writing and speaking for a general, non-legal audience, including potentially authoring publications and opinion pieces, speaking with the media, and participating in conferences and other public appearances.
Contributing to productive and collegial work within the team and across departments, including administration, recruitment, communications, and development.
Taking on special projects and other duties as assigned.

Qualifications
Required: The position requires a J.D. and admission to the bar of the office where the employee is based. If you are admitted to a Bar for a state other than the office where you are located, you must be eligible to practice or apply for admission to that state’s Bar within 6 months of hire.

Ideal. The ideal candidate will have some combination of the following experiences and qualifications. We recognize that many excellent candidates may not have all these experiences and qualifications and we will provide support for the successful candidate to acquire additional skills.

A minimum of three years’ legal work experience, including any clerkships.
Excellent legal research, writing, and analytic skills.
Strong organizational skills and the ability to prioritize effectively in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.

Experience with trial and/or appellate litigation, including anticipating and handling the day-to-day needs of litigation or advocacy campaigns.
A creative, problem-solving mindset with demonstrated ability to turn ideas into products or actions.
Strong interpersonal skills and sound judgment, including the ability to collaborate productively with diverse stakeholders both inside and outside the organization.
Familiarity with administrative law, civil rights law, and/or federal civil litigation.
Comfort working with social science research and experts.
Experience working with civil rights, immigrant rights, or good government organizations, or community-based groups in a legal or non-legal capacity.
Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
A growth mindset that seeks and applies constructive feedback.

The Brennan Center is committed to advancing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the workplace.  We continuously work with our staff to find new ways to increase diversity and to build and cultivate an inclusive and equitable work environment, where everyone can be their true-self and feel a strong sense of belonging.  As such, we seek to hire employees who have a commitment to and/or experience with diversity, equity, and inclusion.  In addition, we expect employees to participate/contribute with DEI initiatives or activities with recruitment, retention, and workplace culture.

Application Instructions 
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. We encourage interested applicants to apply early, as the position will be filled once a qualified candidate is found. To apply, visit >>LINK HERE<<.  Please upload the following documents: (1) a cover letter, (2) resume, (3) two writing samples (up to 10 pages), and (4) contact information for three references. If applicable, include internet hyperlinks to authored writing samples.     

Please, no phone calls or faxes; it is strongly preferred that you apply on our website. If you have difficulty with the online system, you may send your application by e-mail to: [email protected] with “Counsel, Democracy Program in the subject line, after registering in the online system. 

Compensation and Benefits: 
This is a scaled position. The salary range assigned for the scale is $110,200 - $139,100 and has been determined based on market competitiveness. Each salary in the scale is determined by the number of years of professional experience after the selected candidate graduated from law school. Additionally, we offer a very robust and competitive array of benefits such as a generous time off program, 401k plan, comprehensive health insurance (medical, dental, and vision), and wellness and office perks.  

In addition, this position is part of a bargaining unit represented by the National Organization of Legal Services Workers, UAW local 2320.  

Note: The Brennan Center is committed to public health and to the safety and wellbeing of our colleagues and visitors. As such, we have adopted a policy requiring all employees working in the New York and Washington, DC offices to be vaccinated against COVID-19, including having a booster, or to meet the legal guidelines for an exemption.  

The Brennan Center for Justice is committed to a workplace based on equal opportunity and a strong belief in the increased effectiveness that comes from a diverse workforce. To this end, Brennan Center

Welcomes applicants with disabilities and applicants of all races, ethnicities, gender identities, socioeconomic identities, sexual orientations, and national origin or citizenship, including people who have been previously incarcerated;
Hires diverse candidates and works to improve our recruitment practices to allow for such
Creates a workplace where true diversity is fostered and different perspectives are valued and freely exchanged;
Ensures that all members of the Brennan Center community feel welcome and respected, and have equal opportunities to thrive and advance within the institution; and
Is committed to supporting low-income communities and communities of color particularly affected by social inequities.

Apply for this position

Required*

Apply with Indeed

First Name*

Last Name*

Email Address*

Phone*

Address

Resume*

We've received your resume. Click here to update it.

Attach resume or Paste resume

Attach resume as .pdf, .doc, .docx, .odt, .txt, or .rtf (limit 5MB) or Paste resume

Paste your resume here or Attach resume file

What's your highest level of education completed?

Earliest start date?

Where did you learn about this open position? (Select from the alphabetical list below)*

If you selected Other, how did you learn about this job opening?*

Do you currently, or will you in the future, need assistance obtaining legal authorization to work at an organization in the U.S.?*

As it relates to gender identification, please indicate if you would like to make a selection other than “Male, Female, or Decline to Answer” such as Non-Binary or Other. If so, please indicate.

What is your preferred name? (first and last)

Please indicate what pronouns you identify with (i.e., He/Him, She/Her, They/Them, etc.)

Have you been admitted to the New York Bar or DC Bar?*

Please upload your cover letter with information on why you are interested in the role and department.*

Please upload a writing sample (up to 10 pages).*

Please upload a second writing sample (up to 10 pages).*

Please upload contact information for three supervisor references.*

The following questions are entirely optional.

To comply with government Equal Employment Opportunity and/or Affirmative Action reporting regulations, we are requesting (but NOT requiring) that you enter this personal data. This information will not be used in connection with any employment decisions, and will be used solely as permitted by state and federal law. Your voluntary cooperation would be appreciated. Learn more.

Gender

Race/Ethnicity

Invitation for Job Applicants to Self-Identify as a U.S. Veteran

A “disabled veteran” is one of the following:
- a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or
- a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.
A “recently separated veteran” means any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.
An “active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran” means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.
An “Armed forces service medal veteran” means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.

Veteran status

I IDENTIFY AS ONE OR MORE OF THE CLASSIFICATIONS OF PROTECTED VETERAN LISTED ABOVE
I AM NOT A PROTECTED VETERAN
I DON’T WISH TO ANSWER

Voluntary Self-Identification of Disability

Voluntary Self-Identification of Disability Form CC-305
OMB Control Number 1250-0005
Expires 04/30/2026

Why are you being asked to complete this form?

We are a federal contractor or subcontractor. The law requires us to provide equal employment opportunity to qualified people with disabilities. We have a goal of having at least 7% of our workers as people with disabilities. The law says we must measure our progress towards this goal. To do this, we must ask applicants and employees if they have a disability or have ever had one. People can become disabled, so we need to ask this question at least every five years.

Completing this form is voluntary, and we hope that you will choose to do so. Your answer is confidential. No one who makes hiring decisions will see it. Your decision to complete the form and your answer will not harm you in any way. If you want to learn more about the law or this form, visit the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) website at www.dol.gov/ofccp.

How do you know if you have a disability?

A disability is a condition that substantially limits one or more of your “major life activities.” If you have or have ever had such a condition, you are a person with a disability. Disabilities include, but are not limited to:

Alcohol or other substance use disorder (not currently using drugs illegally)
Autoimmune disorder, for example, lupus, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, HIV/AIDS
Blind or low vision
Cancer (past or present)
Cardiovascular or heart disease
Celiac disease
Cerebral palsy
Deaf or serious difficulty hearing
Diabetes
Disfigurement, for example, disfigurement caused by burns, wounds, accidents, or congenital disorders
Epilepsy or other seizure disorder
Gastrointestinal disorders, for example, Crohn's Disease, irritable bowel syndrome
Intellectual or developmental disability
Mental health conditions, for example, depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, schizophrenia, PTSD
Missing limbs or partially missing limbs
Mobility impairment, benefiting from the use of a wheelchair, scooter, walker, leg brace(s) and/or other supports
Nervous system condition, for example, migraine headaches, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis (MS)
Neurodivergence, for example, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder, dyslexia, dyspraxia, other learning disabilities
Partial or complete paralysis (any cause)
Pulmonary or respiratory conditions, for example, tuberculosis, asthma, emphysema
Short stature (dwarfism)
Traumatic brain injury

Please check one of the boxes below:

YES, I HAVE A DISABILITY, OR HAVE HAD ONE IN THE PAST NO, I DO NOT HAVE A DISABILITY AND HAVE NOT HAD ONE IN THE PAST I DO NOT WANT TO ANSWER

PUBLIC BURDEN STATEMENT: According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless such collection displays a valid OMB control number. This survey should take about 5 minutes to complete.

You must enter your name and date
Name	Date

Human Check*

Submit Application