May 22, 2024

This Position Is Now Filled

Systemic Justice Project Fellow

Systemic Justice Project at Harvard Law School 

Location: Harvard Law School, Cambridge, MA 

Time Status: Full-time 

Expected Start Date and Duration: This is a one-year appointment, with potential for renewal for a second year, subject to funding and department need. Ideally, the Fellow will begin in July 2024.  

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: 

The Systemic Justice Project (SJP) is designed as an alternative to the traditional legal-educational model. It takes a problem-centric, not law-centric approach, and works with organizations, lawyers, law students, organizers, activists, journalists, and artists around the U.S. Through its courses, initiatives, collaborations, and student-created documentaries, podcasts, and publications, SJP provides a unique alternative to the conventional means and ends of legal education. The goal of SJP is to help prepare law students at Harvard and around the U.S. for the challenge of addressing systemic injustices, reimagining and redesigning the legal system, and building new coalitions and organizations to advance justice. SJP-related courses are all designed to create space for law students to learn about and work on systemic injustices they care most about. The curricular component of SJP’s courses teaches students how to analyze the legal, historical, cultural, political, economic, and psychological causes of those problems, emphasizing the common roots of, and intersecting relationships among, those problems, and developing (and helping to implement) theories of change to respond to those problems.

The Systemic Justice Project at Harvard Law School seeks a SJP Fellow to work under the supervision of the SJP Faculty Director to help manage day-to-day operations, plan and support law school and university events, contribute to fundraising efforts and donor relations, manage and support meetings of the Board of Advisors, and work closely with students and collaborators  to execute courses and program initiatives, with special focus a new initiative focused on reparative justice. This position will also assist with all communication including media, content creation of SJP websites, and subscriber updates, will assist with financial transactions and reporting for the Program. The Fellow position offers ample opportunity for professional development through opportunities to enhance research, writing, and oral advocacy, developing expertise in particular issue areas, becoming familiar with a broad range of policy advocacy strategies, educating and mentoring law students, and working closely with outside partners and other leaders in the reparative justice space. SJP advances a systemic,  cross-disciplinary, inclusive, and justice-centered approach to all of its work. 

The Fellow’s work will entail, but is not limited to: 

  • Planning and execute SJP activities, events, conferences, and fundraising initiatives with the Faculty Director. 
  • Interacting with students, faculty, and staff within the Law School and across the University on behalf of SJP.
  • Helping  manage the work of staff and students and interns; develop training plan and onboarding, determine workflow, assess performance.
  • Helping  develop new partnerships with media, policy, and advocacy organizations, and maintain relationships with partners, alumni, and funders.
  • Assisting with preparation and management of SJP budget and expense support.
  • Working with Faculty Director and others at Howard University Law School to imagine, create, develop, and execute curriculum and events for a new initiative on reparative justice. 
  • Assisting with development of teaching materials for the classroom courses offered in conjunction with SJP, including new initiative on reparative justice and new course titled “Systemic Justice Lawyering.” 
  • Delivering talks and trainings at various SJP or SJP-related events. 
  • Coordinating meetings and managing the program’s contact lists and calendar, managing complex schedules.
  • Leading digital communications efforts via Mailchimp, Social Media platforms (Twitter, Instagram) and creating and managing website content (WordPress).
  • Assisting Faculty Director in formulating vision, policies, and procedures to improve overall development of SJp and administration of SJP projects.
  • And performing other duties as assigned. 

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS: 

JD or LLM required, earned within the last few years. 

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS: 

This position is best suited for an individual with strong interpersonal skills who is comfortable collaborating and working in teams. They should demonstrate a commitment to social justice and demonstrate strong writing and editing skills, attention to detail, time management, and creative problem solving. 

EEO STATEMENT: 

We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, gender identity, sexual orientation, pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions, or any other characteristic protected by law. 

SALARY: 

Compensation for the fellowship (which includes salary and benefits) is competitive with other public interest fellowships. Base fellowship salary amount (not including benefits) is $70,000 for the first year. 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: 

  • Some travel may be required. 
  • The SJP fellowship is a one-year appointment from start date, but may extend to two years. The fellowship is expected to start in July or August 2024. 
  • SJP’s office is located on the Harvard Law School campus in Cambridge, MA. The fellowship work is expected to be in-person primarily in the office. There is flexibility for remote work during summers and law school breaks.
  • The SJP may be assigned to a workspace in a shared or partially-open office.

APPLICATION MATERIALS & TIMELINE: 

Applicants should submit their CV, a cover letter, and a writing sample as soon as possible, but no later than June 14, 2024 to justice@law.harvard.edu.

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