Job Description

The NAACP Legal Defense & Educational Fund, Inc. (LDF) is the country’s first and foremost civil and human rights law organization. Founded in 1940 under the leadership of Thurgood Marshall, who subsequently became the first Black U.S. Supreme Court Justice, LDF was launched at a time when the nation’s aspirations for equality and due process of law were stifled by widespread state-sponsored racial inequality. From that era to the present, LDF’s mission has been transformative—to achieve racial justice, equality, and an inclusive society.

LDF’s litigation, policy advocacy, organizing, and public education programs in the substantive areas of criminal justice, economic justice, education and political participation seek to ensure the fundamental and basic human rights of all people to quality education, economic opportunity, the right to vote and fully participate in democracy, and the right to a fair and just judicial system.

The Strategic Initiatives Department at LDF intentionally and strategically advances integrated advocacy that utilizes the multiple tools available to the organization, including litigation, policy, communications, organizing, and research.

The Justice in Public Safety Project. The Justice in Public Safety Project (“the Project” or “JPP”), integrates litigation, policy, organizing, communications, and research to: (1) dramatically reduce Black people’s contact with law enforcement by empowering Black communities to implement community-based, public safety solutions that do not involve police, (2) protect Black and allied people from authoritarian practices, such as suppression of First Amendment activities and widespread surveillance, and (3) deter racially discriminatory law enforcement practices, including discriminatory stops and law enforcement’s misuse of advanced technologies.

The Project seeks a Justice in Public Safety Project Counsel to implement legislative and policy reform solutions, as part of a holistic inter-disciplinary strategy, at the local, state, and/or federal levels to advance the Project’s priority goals. Particular emphasis is sought in expertise or experience with community-based, public safety solutions, law enforcement practices, police technology, and First Amendment rights. However, expertise or prior experience in any of the Project’s priorities is welcome and the selected candidate will be expected to work in any and all areas of the Project as needed.

To be considered for this role, applicants must submit a resume, cover letter, and writing sample.

The writing sample should consist of legal writing that you personally authored. While the document may have been reviewed or edited by others, it should primarily reflect your own analysis, reasoning, and writing.

Please submit a writing sample of at least 10 pages, preferably excerpted from a legal brief, motion, or similar legal filing.

Additionally, submissions should not contain, and should not materially rely upon, AI-generated content.

LDF operates in a hybrid work environment where employees are expected to be in the office a minimum of two days per week, unless otherwise indicated.

Responsibilities:

• Lead and participate in multidisciplinary teams in a collaborative and inclusive manner with LDF’s litigators, organizers, policy staff, communications specialists, and researchers to develop integrated strategies that advance the Project’s priorities in close partnership with community stakeholders;
• Develop and implement impactful legislative and policy reform strategies, as part of a multi-disciplinary advocacy approach, at the local, state, and/or federal levels that expand community-based public safety solutions and other substantive priorities of the Project in collaboration with LDF’s Policy Department and other departments;
• Conduct legal and factual research concerning the Project’s priorities, including strategies to advance novel public safety solutions, deter racially biased surveillance, reform law enforcement policies and practices, and address other public safety or criminal justice issues;
• Develop and maintain LDF’s strategic role in local, state, and/or national coalitions, partnerships, and task forces to advance community safety with a racial justice lens that prioritizes directly-impacted communities;
• Lead the drafting, publication, and wide dissemination of public testimony, research and issue briefs, fact sheets, talking points, infographics, reports, and other documents to educate multiple audiences, including government officials, community partners, and the general public;
• Serve as a public thought leader on policing, public safety, and criminal justice issues confronted by Black communities in America;
• Represent LDF in the media, at conferences, and in other public venues;
• Other duties as assigned by the Project Director of the Justice in Public Safety Project, the Director or Deputy Director of Strategic Initiatives, and/or other members of LDF’s Senior Leadership Team.

Qualifications:

The ideal candidate will possess the following:

• Juris Doctor degree;
• Admission to the New York, District of Columbia, or Georgia Bar pursuant to office location (or eligibility to waive in);
• Four or more years of experience in legislative or policy advocacy at the federal, state, or local level related to policing or public safety, with particular emphasis on racial justice;
• Experience with community-based, public safety solutions preferred;
• Experience working with multiple and diverse stakeholders within both formal and informal coalition structures;
• Outstanding legal and policy research, writing, and oral advocacy skills;
• Proactive self-starter with ability to work independently and on teams with people of diverse skills to advance holistic and integrated strategies;
• Flexible and problem-solving, with an ability to thrive in fast-changing environments, adapt to legislative and political shifts and emerging threats;
• Ability to stay organized and balance high-volume workload with multiple high-priority goals and competing demands across different jurisdictions;
• Respect for impacted people and the expertise and insight they bring to racial justice advocacy;
• A demonstrated passion for and commitment to civil rights and racial justice; and
• Ability to travel regularly.

The salary range for this position is (4 - 9 years post-law school graduate):

New York: $126,000 - $159,000

Washington, D.C.: $121,000 - $152,000

Atlanta: $109,500 - $138,000

This is not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, skills, efforts, requirements, or working conditions associated with the job. While this is intended to be an accurate reflection of the current job, management reserves the right to revise the job or to require that other or different tasks be performed as assigned. This description does not constitute a contract of employment, and LDF may exercise its employment-at-will rights at any time.

LDF offers all eligible employees a generous benefits package. To learn more, click the following link: 2026 Benefits Overview.

The NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to you without regard to race, creed, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy, marital status, age, veteran status, medical condition or disability, genetic information, gender identity, or any other protected status under federal, state, or local law.