ChangeLab Solutions seeks Legal Fellows for a one-year term, starting during summer or fall of 2016.
About ChangeLab Solutions
ChangeLab Solutions creates innovative laws and policies to ensure everyday health for all, whether that’s providing access to affordable, healthy food and beverages, creating safe opportunities for physical activity, or ensuring the freedom to enjoy smokefree air and clean water. Our solutions address all aspects of a just, vital and thriving community, like food, housing, child care, schools, transportation, public safety, jobs, and the environment.
ChangeLab Solutions is a national nonprofit based in Oakland, California. For more information about how we create healthier communities for all through better laws and policies, see www.changelabsolutions.org.
Position Description
The Legal Fellow will support our dynamic team of planners, policy analysts, attorneys, and public health experts who develop innovative solutions to critical public health challenges. Legal Fellows will work across a range of policy areas including healthy eating, active living, healthy housing, sustainable communities and tobacco control, and will gain experience in a wide range of issues that impact the communities and institutions in which we live, work, play, and learn. Fellows will have opportunities to participate in staff professional development and will be assigned a mentor.
Duties & Responsibilities
Under the direction of staff attorneys, policy analysts, and urban planners, the work of Legal Fellows will include one or more of the following tasks:
Research and writing on a variety of cutting-edge public health legal and policy issues;
Assisting program staff with providing technical assistance to advocates in the field;
Cite checking;
Attending meetings or other events with program staff; and
Other duties as assigned.
Developing written products, including model legislation, easy-to-read fact sheets, technical assistance responses, and other resources for ChangeLab Solutions’ audience;
Contributing to peer-reviewed articles;
Partnering with program staff to expand areas of programmatic focus;
Requirements
JD and licensed to practice (or awaiting bar results) in any state.
If already licensed, must be a member of a state bar in good standing.
Excellent research and writing skills, significant cite-checking experience, and excellent professional judgment.
Well organized and detail oriented.
Ability to translate complex legal doctrines into writing accessible to a lay audience.
Ability to multi-task.
A demonstrated interest in one or more of the following: public health law, municipal law, land use law, public finance, health equity, tobacco control, redevelopment law, housing law, constitutional law, environmental law, climate change, transportation policy, food systems, public policy, and/or social justice.
ChangeLab Solutions has a strong commitment to building a staff that is rich with cultural, social and intellectual diversity. Candidates who can contribute to that goal are encouraged to apply and to identify their strengths and experiences in this area.
Compensation
This is a full-time, yearlong position. Salary is $41,600 – $46,800 per year, commensurate with experience and depending on whether the candidate has passed the bar exam. For yearlong appointments, ChangeLab Solutions offers a generous benefits package including PTO; medical, dental, vision, and long-term disability insurance; life insurance; tax shelter annuity; payment of bar dues in one state; and a flexible benefit plan.
How to apply
To apply for the Legal Fellow position, please email all required information to jobs@changelabsolutions.org. Please include “2016 Legal Fellow” in the subject line. The following are required to be considered a complete application packet: cover letter, resume, writing sample (up to 10 pages – excerpts are fine, if possible please submit a writing sample in a relevant substantive area), and a list of three references (include name, organization, email address, and phone number).
The application deadline is December 22, 2015. Phone screening will begin January 5, 2016. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE