Externally Funded Legal Fellowship - 2026 cycle

About Local Progress and Local Progress Impact Lab 

Local Progress and the Local Progress Impact Lab (together known as LP and the Impact Lab) work collectively to advance a racial and economic justice agenda through all levels of government. Local Progress (LP) is a movement of over 1,600 local elected officials who are building power with underrepresented communities, sharing bold ideas and policy among our network and fighting to reshape what is possible in our localities all across the country.  Hand-in-hand with community-based organizations and unions committed to advancing a social justice agenda, the elected officials and staff of Local Progress are building the network to facilitate a genuine “inside/outside” strategy to reforming municipal policy and politics. The Impact Lab brings together local leaders, partners, and experts to build the knowledge, skills, and leadership needed to advance racial and economic justice at the local level.

Position Location: Remote, U.S. 

About the Fellowship:

Working as part of a national program team, legal fellows will support growth of legal and policy resources for members on a broad array of issues, as well as the in-depth work of the organization on climate justice, reimagining public safety, economic justice, immigrant rights, and advancing housing justice for all. Legal fellows  will also provide research support to elected officials in a variety of geographies (LP has state-based staff in CA, CO, MI, MN, NY, PA, and TX, and members in nearly every state). 

This is an exciting, term-limited opportunity for recent law school graduates who are eager to build the legal and policy capacity of the Local Progress network, which is comprised of elected officials serving in cities and counties, and on school boards, as well as closely collaborate with these members in working hand-in-hand with impacted communities to win and defend transformational local policy on some of the most pressing issues facing communities today. Fellows will provide timely resources, strategy, and collaboration to Local Progress members on the forefront of these efforts and will require digging in on questions facing our members day-to-day; for example, on preemption, drafting ordinances, etc. 

Legal fellows will work under the supervision of the Deputy Legal Director, as well as closely with the remainder of the Legal and Policy team. 

Requirements:

• A juris doctor degree; 
• Excellent analytical skills for legal and policy research;
• Strong attention to detail; 
• Skilled in legal research tools like Westlaw and LexisNexis; 
• Exhibits comfort and skill in written and verbal communication skills; 
• Motivated by and has the ability to dive into new issue areas–specifically, the ability to quickly get up to speed on key policy considerations and relevant research and write clear summaries describing and synthesizing the state-of-play; 
• Awareness of and ability to address issues of power, race, class, gender, and other forms of privilege within the internal dynamics and culture of a workplace;
• Mission alignment and a passion, excitement, and eagerness to engage in the substance of LP’s work; and
• A demonstrated commitment to social, racial, and economic justice and a deep interest in local policy, politics, and government.

The Ideal Candidate Will Have:

• Familiarity or experience with progressive policy campaigns;
• Familiarity or experience with organizing, working with organizers, or movement lawyering;
• Lived experience navigating the issues that Local Progress works on (for example, with wage theft, housing insecurity and discrimination, environmental racism, etc.); 
• Familiarity or experience with legislative processes; 
• Ability to balance multiple projects,  anticipate obstacles, and identify ways to navigate said challenges.

The Application Process:

Applicants interested in working with Local Progress starting in 2026 should submit a resume and cover letter via JazzHR as soon as possible. We will review the first round of applications starting September 21 and will work closely with applicants to develop a project and apply to various externally-funded fellowship programs, including, for example, Justice Catalyst and law school-funded fellowships. We may conduct additional rounds of applicant review as needed as deadlines for various external sources of funding vary. Please also direct any questions to [email protected]. 

Salary and benefits:

The fellow’s salary is dependent upon securing external funding. This position is expected to start at step 11 of our salary scale with a starting salary of $77,700. Factors such as years’ experience and advanced degrees will be taken into account. This position is included in a union-represented collective bargaining unit, and specific terms and conditions of employment are subject to the Collective Bargaining Agreement.

We operate on a four day workweek with a default schedule of Monday through Thursday. We have a generous benefits package, including health insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, four weeks of vacation per year, 20 sick days per year, paid holidays, and contributions to individuals’ 403(b) plans. The Local Progress office is closed between December 24 and January 1 annually. 

Local Progress Values

• Respect: We value people and treat each other with dignity. We strive to understand each other as full human beings, and give each other grace and room to grow. 
• Honesty: We communicate directly with each other, are honest about our strengths and our shortcomings, and are transparent about who has what level of information and authority and why. 
• Groundedness: We are authentic, and have high humility and low ego. We ground our work in the day-to-day reality and needs of our members. 
• Mutual accountability: We do what we say we're going to do, follow through on our commitments to each other and to our members, and we hold each other to a high bar. We self-reflect and develop each other’s skills as leaders. 
• Nuance: We understand that our work is complex and hold space for multiple viewpoints, contradictions, and tensions. We can hold many things as true while making decisions that advance our mission. 
• Impact: We empower our team to make decisions to drive their work. We are focused on results, persistent in overcoming obstacles, and adapt to changing external conditions. We take pride in our work. 
• Collaboration: We come together across different levels of power to advance shared interests. We center what’s best for the organization and are team players. 
• Joy: We value playfulness, humor, and joy as ways to create community, connection, and goodwill that sustains us through the challenges inherent in our work. 

Local Progress is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer and actively recruits people of color, womxn, individuals with disabilities, and members of the LGBTIQAA+ community.