2025 Legal Fellow (Law School-Sponsored)

National Center for Youth Law 

The National Center for Youth Law (NCYL) works to amplify youth power, dismantle racism and other structural inequities, and build just policies, practices, and culture in support of young people. Our efforts advance justice through research, community collaboration, impact litigation, and policy advocacy that fundamentally transforms our nation's approach to education, health, immigration, foster care, and youth justice. Our vision is a world in which every young person thrives and has a full and fair opportunity to achieve the future they envision for themselves.

Position 

NCYL seeks applicants for law school-sponsored fellowships to work on impact litigation addressing the harms of federal policies and actions, with a focus on students’ civil rights, the rights of LGBTQ+ youth, and youth healthcare access.

Candidates need not have a specific fellowship project in mind, although we welcome candidates with a specific fellowship idea. We will work with fellowship candidates to develop appropriate applications/project proposals for fellowships sponsored by their school.

Essential Functions 

• Develop a fellowship project in partnership with NCYL staff 
• Apply to law school-sponsored public interest fellowship 
• Once a fellowship is awarded, join NCYL as a fellow in September 2025 
• Implement the fellowship project under the supervision of NCYL staff 
• Attend organizational and team meetings and retreats 

Qualifications

• Graduating from law school in Spring 2025 or have been clerking since graduating from law school in a prior year. 
• Eligible for school-sponsored fellowship from the Applicant’s law school. 
• Interest in impact litigation. 
• Commitment to advancing justice by protecting the rights of children and youth and improving the systems that impact their lives. 
• Commitment to fostering, cultivating, and preserving a culture of equity, diversity, and inclusion. 
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team. 

Physical Requirements

Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer. This position requires the ability to work remotely and requires some travel.

Salary, Benefits and Location 

This is a full-time, exempt position with a competitive salary of $78,221.00 annually. A geographic salary differential may be applied if the candidate resides somewhere other than the Oakland, CA, Los Angeles, CA, New York City, Boston, or Washington, DC metro areas. This means that the salary would be reduced if the candidate resides in an area where the cost of labor is less than that of the San Francisco Bay Area. 

NCYL requires that the applicant obtain a minimum of $35,000.00 from their law school for this fellowship.

NCYL provides a robust benefits package including health, dental, vision, and life insurances, generous vacation and sick benefits, paid family leave, flexible spending account, employer contribution to a retirement plan, paid sabbatical, and short-term and long-term disability insurance.

NCYL is registered to do business in the following 13 locations: Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New York, Oregon, Virginia, Washington, DC, and Wisconsin. If a candidate is hired but lives in a state where NCYL is not currently registered to do business, their start date may need to be delayed until registration can be completed in the new state. This process may take as much as three months to complete.

It is anticipated but not guaranteed that NCYL’s remote work approach will be in place through 2026. If this policy is revoked prior to 2026, staff will be given at least one year's notice before being recalled to a NCYL office.

How to Apply 

Please submit a cover letter, resume, writing sample, and law school transcript at the link below. (You will need to click on “Upload Additional Files” to submit the writing sample and transcript.)

Please, no emails or calls.

Applicants who meet the above criteria with lived experience in any of our practice areas are strongly encouraged to apply.