Pro Bono Scholars Spring 2025
The National Center for Law and Economic Justice (NCLEJ) seeks energetic, motivated Pro Bono Scholars with a record of commitment to racial and social justice and excellent writing, legal research, and communication skills.
NCLEJ advances the cause of economic justice for low-income families, individuals, and communities across the country, using ground-breaking impact litigation, policy advocacy, and support for grassroots organizing. NCLEJ works to build systems that provide economic security and full participation in society to all. Our current advocacy focuses on 1) preserving and maintaining access to government benefits; 2) advancing the rights of lower wage workers; 3) combatting abusive debt collection and wealth extraction; and 4) advocating for disability justice.
Placement Description: The Pro Bono Scholars Program (PBSP) was created under special rules of the New York Court of Appeals to allow law students to take the New York Bar Exam in February of their 3L year if they commit to spending the last semester of law school working full time on pro bono legal work through the law school for credit. Students who are interested in a Pro Bono Scholars placement at NCLEJ should visit http://ww2.nycourts.gov/attorneys/probonoscholars/index.shtml for more information about the Pro Bono Scholar Program.
Students will work with staff attorneys to support ongoing impact litigation and class actions, policy analysis, and advocacy. Students have had the opportunity to assist with fact development and research for new litigation; discovery matters in pending litigation; legal and policy research on a variety of issues relating to federal court litigation; and collaborations with grassroots and community-based organizations. Examples of current NCLEJ advocacy include lawsuits challenging gross delays in fair hearing scheduling, racially discriminatory policing in Buffalo, failure to provide timely SNAP benefits in Missouri or adequate mental health services for children in Louisiana, legislative advocacy to improve unemployment insurance, and partnering with grassroots groups to end 24-hour shifts for homecare workers.
Qualifications: Candidates must be approved to participate in the Pro Bono Scholars Program by their law school, and meet all program requirements, including availability to work full time from February 28, 2025, through May 20, 2025. Excellent writing and research skills are essential. Students must have experience and/or a demonstrated commitment to social justice.
NCLEJ is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer. We value a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture. We strongly encourage people of color, people with disabilities, LGBTQ+ people, and people from other historically disenfranchised communities to apply. NCLEJ does not discriminate because of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, marital or parental status, citizenship, disability, veteran status, record of arrest or conviction, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.
NCLEJ makes every effort to ensure that its recruitment and employment provide all qualified individuals, including individuals with disabilities, with full opportunities in all positions.
How to apply: Send a cover letter, resume, list of references, and short writing sample to student@nclej.org. Due to the high volume of applications, we are not able to respond to every email. We will contact you if we wish to schedule an interview.
NCLEJ is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If you are a qualified individual with a disability and need assistance applying, please contact Leah Lotto at 212-633-6967 or lotto@nclej.org. If you are selected for an interview, you will receive additional information regarding how to request an accommodation for the interview process.
