Project Based Fellow - Decriminalization

The Project-Based fellow will design a project focused on decriminalization efforts to keep young people out of the juvenile and criminal legal system. Once selected, Juvenile Law Center will act as the sponsoring organization and work with the selected candidate to design a project to apply for a project-based fellowship through a funding organization, e.g. Skadden, Equal Justice Works, Independence, Stoneleigh. 

The fellow will be an integral part of Juvenile Law Center’s Decriminalization and Collateral Consequences team, collaborating in a highly collegial atmosphere with attorneys, communications, development, and operations staff, and in partnership with colleagues around the state and country. 

The work may include legal and policy research and writing, community organizing, and technical assistance. Juvenile Law Center is committed to equity and inclusion internally and in our work. We value youth voice and the candidate must be able to work alongside youth advocates to further our mission. 

Essential Functions (include, but not limited to): 

• While the exact work of the Project-Based Fellow will be dependent on the project design, Juvenile Law Center’s work is centered on multiple strategies that will be employed by the Fellow. 
• Engage in legal and policy research and analysis, including analyzing statutes and regulations.
• Engage in legal and policy research and writing for amicus briefs, litigation, and national reports as needed.
• Provide public education at conferences, convenings, and meetings.
• Work with community members to identify needs and make recommendations rooted in youth and community voice.

Education: 

J.D. by Spring 2024 

Required Skills:

• Demonstrated commitment to civil rights, racial justice, economic justice, and children’s rights 
• Ability to work independently and engage in project management including a demonstrated ability to prioritize requests, track and manage multiple tasks simultaneously, and meet deadlines, and support team members 
• Excellent judgment, diplomacy, and professionalism including the ability to work well with people from different backgrounds, life experiences and levels of training and formal education 
• Strong legal and policy research and writing, analytical, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills, 
• Curiosity, and eagerness to continue learning new skills, grow professionally, and take an optimistic approach to new challenges 

Note: Juvenile Law Center has a commitment to professional development and will actively support candidates in further developing their skills in these areas.

Responsibility Level: 

The Project-Based Fellow will report to the Staff Attorney and Senior Managing Director on the Decriminalization and Collateral Consequences Team 

Salary: 

Starting salary for this position is $63,000 for an attorney with less than one year experience. 

Juvenile Law Center offers excellent benefits, including employer paid health, dental and vision insurance for employees and their family, short- and long-term disability and life insurance, and employer contributions to 403b retirement plans. Paid time off includes fifteen (15) vacation days, five (5) personal days and twelve (12) sick days. Juvenile Law Center is closed for twelve holidays and for the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day. 

Initial Submission:

Submit your application at hr@jlc.org in a single PDF containing your resume, list of three references and a writing sample. 

Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. 

Priority will be given to applications received before July 21.

Candidates who enter the second round of consideration will be invited to schedule a 45-minute video interview with members of the hiring team, including members of the relevant legal department as well as the Director of HR & DEI or a designee. 

Juvenile Law Center’s mission is to advocate for rights, dignity, equity, and opportunity in the child welfare and justice systems. The diversity of our staff is critical to fulfilling this mission. 

Juvenile Law Center seeks to minimize bias and the impact of structural racism in the fields we work in within our hiring practices. To that end, we focus on relevant skills and experience, and aim to de-prioritize information that can allow for implicit bias. 

Juvenile Law Center is committed to advancing equity both internally and in our advocacy work. We recognize the urgency and necessity of actively building and supporting diverse leadership at Juvenile Law Center and in the field more broadly. We are committed to actively recruiting and hiring from communities most impacted by our work. Applicants working to advance equity and who identify with these impacted communities are strongly encouraged to apply and self-identify during the application process.  

Juvenile Law Center is committed to cultivating an inclusive space that affirms and celebrates the backgrounds, learned and lived expertise, whole identities, and individual perspectives of our staff. We are committed to the diversity of our staff as it pertains to race, color, ethnicity, class, sex, marital or parental status, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, size, disability, religion, national origin, and/or child welfare or juvenile or criminal justice involvement, including prior record of arrest, adjudication, or conviction. Applicants of all backgrounds and experiences are encouraged to self-identify during the application process.

Juvenile Law Center is an equal opportunity employer.

Hybrid Work Model: 

Juvenile Law Center’s physical office in Philadelphia currently runs on a hybrid work model; some of our employees work remotely, and others work in the office on certain days. This position may be remote or in person. Staff members working remotely will be expected to travel to Philadelphia for in-person staff meetings up to once every other month and may be expected to travel for other work requirements such as appearing in court, attending conferences, or joining in-person community meetings. 

COVID-19 Policy: 

At Juvenile Law Center, we believe that we must do all that we can to protect the safety, health, and wellbeing of employees, youth advocates, guests, our communities, and others with whom we interact. All offers of employment are contingent on the candidate showing proof of being fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to pass the pre-employment requirements. Individuals in need of an exemption from this policy due to medical reasons, or because of a sincerely held religious belief may request an exemption from this policy. Accommodations will be granted where they do not cause Juvenile Law Center undue hardship or pose a direct threat to the health and safety of others.