[Hiring] Externally Funded Legal Fellow @Local Progress

Role Description

Local Progress Impact Lab is seeking an externally-funded Legal Fellow for the 2027–2028 cycle.

Working as part of a national Legal & Policy team, the Legal Fellow will support growth of legal and policy resources for members on a broad array of issues, including:

• Climate justice
• Affordability
• Local government revenue generation
• Opposing surveillance technology and data centers

The Legal Fellow will also provide research support to elected officials in various geographies, including CA, CO, MI, MN, NC, NY, PA, and TX.

This is an exciting, term-limited opportunity for recent law school graduates who are eager to build the legal and policy capacity of the Local Progress network. The Legal Fellow will:

• Provide timely resources, strategy, and collaboration to Local Progress members.
• Engage with impacted communities to win and defend transformational local policy.
• Address day-to-day questions facing members, such as preemption and drafting ordinances.

The Legal Fellow will work under the supervision of the Deputy Legal Director and closely with the remainder of the Legal and Policy team.

Qualifications

• A juris doctor degree required by start of fellowship 2027
• Excellent analytical skills for legal and policy research
• Strong attention to detail
• Ability to work independently
• Ability to balance multiple projects, anticipate obstacles, and navigate challenges
• Skilled in legal research tools like Westlaw and LexisNexis
• Exhibits comfort and skill in written and verbal communication
• Motivated to dive into new issue areas and synthesize research
• Awareness of issues of power, race, class, gender, and privilege
• Mission alignment and passion for LP’s work
• Commitment to social, racial, and economic justice
• Deep interest in local policy, politics, and government

Requirements

• Familiarity or experience with progressive policy campaigns
• Familiarity or experience with organizing or movement lawyering
• Lived experience navigating issues like wage theft, housing insecurity, and environmental racism
• Familiarity or experience with legislative processes

Benefits

• Salary starting at least $77,700, dependent upon securing external funding
• Included in a union-represented collective bargaining unit
• Four day workweek (Monday through Thursday)
• Generous benefits package including health, dental, and vision insurance
• Four weeks of vacation per year
• 20 sick days per year
• Paid holidays
• Contributions to individuals’ 403(b) plans
• Office closure between December 24 and January 1 annually

How to apply

Applicants interested in working with the Impact Lab starting in 2027 should submit a resume and cover letter via JazzHR as soon as possible. We will review the first round of applications starting July 20 and will work closely with applicants to develop a project and apply to various externally-funded fellowship programs.

Please direct any questions to [email protected] .

Local Progress and the Impact Lab’s Values

• Respect: Valuing people and treating each other with dignity.
• Honesty: Communicating directly and being transparent.
• Groundedness: Being authentic and humble.
• Mutual accountability: Following through on commitments.
• Nuance: Understanding complexity and holding space for multiple viewpoints.
• Impact: Empowering the team to drive their work and focus on results.
• Collaboration: Advancing shared interests across different levels of power.
• Joy: Valuing playfulness, humor, and community connection.

The Impact Lab is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer and actively recruits people of color, womxn, individuals with disabilities, and members of the LGBTIQAA+ community.