Law Fellow

Department: Office of the General Counsel

Location: Washington, D.C.

Salary Range: $85,000

Posting Date: October 09, 2024

AFSCME is one of the largest, most diverse unions in the country, with 1.4 million members devoted to public service. We are a leader in social and economic justice within the labor movement and beyond. The Office of the General Counsel is integral to advancing AFSCME’s mission and is looking for an exceptional law school graduate to join us in our fight to improve and expand workers’ rights. The one-year law fellowship starts in late summer or early fall of 2025.

Our department provides legal representation and advice to the officers and staff of the International Union and to AFSCME councils and locals throughout the nation. We support AFSCME leaders and staff to address a variety of legal issues, which include complex questions arising under state and federal laws; provide legal support to organizing campaigns; support political action and legislative programs; provide advice and assistance on internal governance matters and union democracy; and support litigation ranging from defending against hostile lawsuits to filing offensive impact litigation. Emphasis is directed at legal issues involving organizing the unorganized and other subjects of nationwide concern to AFSCME and its members.

AFSCME’s Law Fellow program is a one-year fellowship that provides new law school graduates, who have a passion for workers’ rights, with an introduction to our union and a foundation in the practice of labor law. The Law Fellow works directly with our experienced attorneys on a variety of projects involving legal support for organizing campaigns, state and federal constitutional litigation, state and federal legislative and regulatory development, and internal union governance. The goal of this program is to buttress the existing resources and contribute to the work of the Office of the General Counsel, while providing the Law Fellow with the necessary experience, professional development and mentorship to embark on a successful union-side labor law career.

The Duties of the Law Fellow include: 

• Supporting AFSCME attorneys in assisting AFSCME affiliates, officers and staff to advance programs and policies of AFSCME;
• Supporting litigation in state and federal courts and state and federal administrative agencies, often in collaboration with outside counsel;
• Supporting organizing and other strategic campaigns of AFSCME and its affiliates;
• Supporting and helping to develop legislative initiatives for AFSCME and its affiliates;
• Partnering with AFSCME attorneys on internal union governance matters;

by performing the following tasks:

• Legal research and analysis;
• preparing legal briefs and memoranda;
• Analyzing, interpreting and evaluating legislation and regulations;
• Contributing to strategic assessments and decision-making;
• Developing internal and external communications and guidance;
• Other duties as assigned by the General Counsel, Deputy General Counsel and Associate General Counsels.

Requirements:

Education and Experience:

• Graduation from an accredited law school; admission or pending admission to a bar (must have sat for the bar exam, but need not have passed yet);
• Demonstrated commitment to serving working people;
• Proficiency in working with Westlaw (or other legal research database software) and applicable Microsoft Office applications; and
• Demonstrated experience productively interacting with diverse groups of people and promoting institutional equity.

Travel and work hours:

• Occasional travel and extended work hours may be required.

Compensation:

• Annual salary of $85,000.
• Health insurance benefits.

To be considered: Send letter of interest, resume, writing sample and references by email to: recruiting@afscme.org.

AFSCME is an equal opportunity employer, and, as such, does not discriminate against an employee or applicant on the basis of race, creed, color, age, sex, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, religious affiliation, disability, or any other classification protected from discrimination under applicable law.