Founded in 1979, the National Immigration Law Center (NILC) is a leading non-profit organization (501(c)3) in the U.S. exclusively dedicated to defending and advancing the rights and opportunities of low-income immigrants and their loved ones. NILC’s mission is grounded in the belief that everyone living in the U.S. regardless of race, gender/gender identity, immigration status, or economic status — should have equal access to justice, resources, and educational and economic opportunities that enable them to achieve their full human potential. Together, NILC and the affiliated NILC Immigrant Justice Fund (IJF), a 501(c)4 organization, work to advocate more directly for federal immigration reform policies. NILC is committed to advancing its mission — which intersects race, immigration status, and class — through racial, economic, and gender justice and equity orientation.
Headquartered in Los Angeles with an office in Washington, DC, NILC seeks to achieve just laws and policies that address systemic inequities, create narrative and culture change for an inclusive and equitable society, and build a healthier and more powerful movement. For more information, please visit
www.nilc.org. and
www.immigrantjusticefund.org/
NILC is at an exciting moment in its organizational trajectory, supporting our five-year strategic framework and scaling the organization and its work through influencing systems, policy advocacy at the federal and state levels, engaging in movement and power building, and narrative and culture strategies in addition to continuous improvements to our operational model. We are looking for entrepreneurial, results-driven, relationship builders who are committed to NILC’s mission and values of racial justice & equity, valuing diversity, fostering partnerships & collaboration, encouraging respect & personal well-being, and striving for transparency, integrity, and honesty.
Linton Joaquin Law Fellowship
The Linton Joaquin Law Fellowship recognizes the life and legacy of co-founder of the National Immigration Law Center, Linton Joaquin who throughout his over 40 years of advocacy to defend the rights of immigrants, was widely recognized as one of the premier litigators in the country and served as a trusted advisor and mentor to generations of immigrants’ rights and social justice advocates.
This two-year fellowship is designed for an attorney who has just graduated from law school or who graduated no more than two years before the Fellowship would start, has spent the intervening time either clerking for a judge or in another fellowship or term-limited position, and has a demonstrated commitment to civil rights, immigrants’ rights, and/or racial justice.
The NILC Law Fellowship is an integral part of NILC’s commitment to supporting and developing the next generation of immigrants’ rights advocates and to advancing cutting-edge immigrants’ rights work. The Fellow will primarily assist with our impact litigation and policy advocacy work.
The Fellowship is available for a two-year term from September 2025 through September 2027. Applications will be accepted on a rolling-basis through Friday, November 1st, 2024 at 9pm Pacific.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
- Assist with impact litigation on our docket, including investigation and fact development, legal research, drafting and reviewing filings and correspondence, discovery, motion practice, trial advocacy, and appellate advocacy.
- Provide policy advocacy support in our identified substantive priorities. This work may include drafting of regulations and legislation, meetings with client organizations, representation of groups before administrative and legislative bodies, and technical assistance to policy makers.
- As needed and requested, support movement partners through coalition and campaign work.
- Other duties as assigned.
Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities
- Fellows will be recent graduates (0-2 years) from law school and will have spent any time since graduation in a term-limited position (e.g., judicial clerkship or other fellowship).
- Bar membership or willingness to sit for next state bar required.
- Knowledge of and demonstrated interest in civil rights, immigrants’ rights, and/or racial justice.
- Prior experience working with/ties to low-income immigrant communities, and/or communities of color.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills
- Values working cooperatively with others, both within the organization and in the community
- Proficiency in a foreign language (particularly Spanish, Haitian Creole, Chinese, Vietnamese or Arabic) is desired but not required.
The annual salary is expected to be in the range of $70,000 - $75,000. A competitive benefits package will also be offered.
To Apply:
Please submit cover letter, a resume, three references, and a legal writing sample no longer than 10 pages.
Applications will be accepted on a rolling-basis through Friday, November 1st, 2024 at 9pm Pacific.
NILC is an equal opportunity employer; people of color and individuals from diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply. NILC does not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, citizenship status, ethnic background, religion, political orientation, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, or any other protected class. We consider all qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative.
