Legal Fellowship 2027 - 2028

Position Summary:

Democracy Forward Foundation is seeking to sponsor rising third-year law students and recent law school graduates for public interest fellowship funding. Fellows will start in fall 2027 and should be fewer than three years post-law school graduation at the time their fellowship commences. Fellows should have graduated from law school and taken a bar exam before their fellowship would commence in fall 2027.

This fellowship is full-time and for one year. Consistent with the Fellow’s performance and the needs of the organization, Democracy Forward Foundation will consider extending Fellows an offer for a second year; such a decision would be made after the Fellow has worked at Democracy Forward for at least six months.

Democracy Forward’s office is located in Washington, DC. While this position offers flexibility to work remotely, it requires regular in-office presence eight (8) times per month (averaging 2 times per week) to effectively support the nature of the role. 

Key Responsibilities:

Below are the key areas of responsibility for this role. The specifics of each responsibility may vary based on the needs of the organization and department.

• Partner with other Democracy Forward Foundation lawyers in proceedings in federal and state courts and before federal and state agencies, including helping advise clients on strategy, risks, and objectives. 
• Perform legal research and draft legal documents, including substantive briefs for parties and amici, motions, comments, and/or other court or regulatory filings.
• Assist Democracy Forward Foundation lawyers in preparing for arguments, hearings, and/or other court appearances.
• Monitor and screen cases and provide recommendations for instances where Democracy Forward Foundation should consider getting involved in litigation (either affirmative litigation or as an amicus or intervenor) or engage in regulatory advocacy. 
• Serve as full members of litigation case teams.

Qualifications:

We recognize that strong candidates may not meet 100% of the qualifications listed. If you believe you can contribute meaningfully to our team, we encourage you to apply.

Required:

We recognize that strong candidates may not meet 100% of the qualifications listed. If you believe you can contribute meaningfully to our team, we encourage you to apply.

• Obtained a J.D. from an accredited law school by the time the fellowship begins in September 2027.
• Demonstrated excellence in performing legal research and drafting legal documents (including court filings such as complaints, dispositive motions, and appeals, and/or regulatory filings such as comments and petitions for rulemaking), in a professional and timely manner.
• Demonstrated commitment to democracy and social progress. 
• Excellent attention to detail. 
• Able to manage and prioritize multiple projects and drive forward work under tight deadlines.
• Well-developed collaborative and interpersonal skills including demonstrated self-awareness, commitment to diversity and inclusivity, and ability to work with colleagues and stakeholders across diverse cultures and backgrounds.
• Experience or eagerness to work in a nonprofit, mission-driven, or advocacy organization.

Work Environment & Physical Demands:

• This role will require occasional travel for team retreats, conferences, and partner convenings.
• This role may involve sitting for extended periods and working on a computer. Reasonable accommodations will be provided as needed.

The annual salary for this fellowship will be $80,000, contingent on the receipt of external funding.  Fellows will also have access to Democracy Forward’s generous benefits package, including flexible vacation time and health, dental, and vision benefits. 

If you are interested in Democracy Forward Foundation sponsoring you as a fellowship applicant, please submit a cover letter, resume, and writing sample. We encourage early applications, as they will be reviewed on a rolling basis starting July 6, 2026. 

Democracy Forward Foundation is an equal opportunity employer. We value a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture. We encourage applications from all qualified individuals. We strongly encourage people of color; LGBTQIA+ people; women; people with disabilities; and veterans to apply. Please note that all lawyer positions require a law degree and active membership in the bar of a state or the District of Columbia. 

Not sure you meet all of our qualifications? Research shows that men apply for jobs when they meet an average of 60% of the criteria. Yet women and other people who are systematically marginalized tend to only apply if they meet every requirement.  If you believe that you could excel in this role, we encourage you to apply. We are dedicated to considering a broad array of candidates, including those with diverse workplace experiences and backgrounds. Whether you are new to mission-based legal and policy work, returning to work after a gap in employment, or simply looking to transition or take the next step in your career path, we welcome the opportunity to have you on our radar.  Please include in your cover letter the nature of your interest in legal and policy work promoting democracy and progress and what you hope to bring to our team and the role for which you are applying. 

Democracy Forward is committed to providing equal employment opportunities for all, including those with disabilities. If you require a reasonable accommodation to complete this application, interview, or otherwise participate in the hiring process, please direct your inquiries to recruiting@democracyforward.org or 833-391-4732.