Externally Funded Fellowship 2027-2029 – Digital Justice Initiative
Location: Washington, DC, United States
The Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law is one of the nation's leading national racial justice legal organizations. Formed in 1963 at the request of President John F. Kennedy, the Lawyers' Committee uses legal advocacy to achieve racial justice, fighting inside and outside the courts to ensure that Black people and other people of color have the voice, opportunity, and power to make the promises of our democracy real. The organization has litigation, public policy, and advocacy programs in Voting Rights, Election Protection, Digital Justice, Economic Justice, Criminal Justice, Economic Opportunities, and Fair Housing.
About the Role: The Digital Justice Initiative works at the intersection of racial justice, technology, and privacy. Exploitative data practices, discriminatory algorithms, invasions of privacy, disinformation, and online hate disproportionately target and harm communities of color, especially Black Americans, immigrants, women of color, and LGBTQ people of color. Fellows become involved with substantive legal activities, including co-counseled litigation with prominent law firms — client contact, case investigation, discovery, negotiations, amicus briefs, appeals, and trial practice. Non-litigation activities include legal services to community development groups, legislative and public policy advocacy, and public education on civil rights matters.
Fellowship Overview: The project could focus on one of two main areas — surveillance pricing or generative AI. Surveillance pricing practices raise data privacy and discrimination concerns while functioning as a tool to maximize what people pay for goods and services. On the generative AI front, there is an interest in exploring discrimination in generative AI tools, as much of the focus on algorithmic bias has centered on automated decision-making systems.
What You'll be Doing: Conducting fact research on the technology or relevant practices; engaging with communities, scholars, practitioners, and organizations to shape litigation and advocacy; building a case challenging discriminatory practices. To the extent the fellow develops a strategy implementable during the fellowship term, they may participate in putting it into effect.
Minimum Requirements: JD or anticipated JD by May 2027; strong demonstrated commitment to civil rights and racial justice; creative approach to civil rights work and ability to take initiative during project development and implementation; prior experience working with or ties to low-income communities of color; computer science or other tech background preferred; excellent research, writing, and analytical skills; ability to work cooperatively across projects and maintain positive relationships with diverse clients and community organizations; effective written and oral communication in legal and non-legal settings.
Salary and Benefits: The Fellow will be paid by applying for outside fellowship funding; the fellowship will only commence if outside funding is granted. If fellowship funding is lower than the Lawyers' Committee salary scale, the organization will pay an additional amount to bring the fellow up to the appropriate salary. The salary for an attorney receiving their JD in 2027 is $76,000. Benefits include healthcare coverage (medical, dental & vision), parental leave, 403(b) with employer match, voluntary short- and long-term disability, and an employer-paid monthly cell phone stipend. This position is a term role, part of a bargaining unit represented by the Nonprofit Professional Employees Union.
Closing date: 2026-11-05
HOW TO APPLY:
Apply online through the organisation's career portal. Interested candidates should submit a proposal that includes: a Project Description (outline of the proposed project, including objectives, timeline, target populations, and expected outcomes); Resume; Personal Statement of relevant experience and qualifications for the project; and References (contact information for at least two professional or academic references). Applicants must also attach a legal writing sample, an official or unofficial transcript, and a short project proposal — all three documents are required for consideration. For reasonable accommodation during the application or interview process, contact Human Resources at humanresources@lawyerscommittee.org.
https://lawyerscommitteeforcivilrightsunderlaw.applytojob.com/apply/ie1KZwBUQ4/Externally-Funded-Fellowship-20272029-Digital-Justice-Initiative