Policy Fellow

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, public policy advocacy, 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. LDF continues to make an impact in the area of public service and was recognized by Fast Company as one of its 2023 Brands That Matter under its public service category.

The NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. (LDF) seeks a Policy Fellow to advance policy reform initiatives at the federal, state, and local levels, with a focus on ensuring the full and equitable participation of Black communities in a multiracial democracy.

The Fellow is a term-limited two-year fellowship position for an experienced attorney. The fellow works to identify, develop, and implement policy reform strategies at the federal, state, and local levels, with a concentration on LDF's efforts to ensure full, equal, and active participation of Black communities in our multi-racial, multi-ethnic democracy. This may include executing LDF’s affirmative state-level voting rights strategy; contributing to defensive efforts such as fending off anti-voter legislation; protecting and securing Black voter participation; supporting LDF’s federal voting rights agenda through engagement with congressional and executive stakeholders; exploring new policy proposals for building Black political power and strengthening democracy; and targeted work across LDF’s other three areas of focus. The Fellow collaborates with national, state, and local allied partners and travels within the U.S. as needed to advance LDF’s objectives. The Fellow reports to the designated Senior Policy Counsel.

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

• Research and synthesize policy, legal, and regulatory matters, translating findings into clear, actionable recommendations;
• Monitor and respond to developing civil rights issues in proposed federal, state, and local legislation or agency action relating to voting rights law;
• Draft legislation and negotiate verbiage with key stakeholders;
• Draft and deliver legislative testimony at the federal, state, and local levels;
• Develop campaign plans, fact sheets, policy papers, and other supporting materials to drive advocacy efforts;
• Organize and attend briefings with congressional, legislative, and executive branch officials and their staff regarding LDF’s substantive goals;
• Cultivate and participate in high-impact coalitions and task forces at both national and state levels to champion LDF’s mission and goals;
• Assume a leading and strategic role in national, state, or local campaigns consistent with LDF's priorities, including lobbying, communications, and grassroots outreach;
• Work collaboratively on multidisciplinary teams with LDF's attorneys, organizers, communications professionals, and other LDF staff members to advance national, state, and local reforms;
• Perform other duties as assigned within the general scope of the position, which may include any of LDF’s four pillar areas.
  
  

Qualifications

• J.D. degree, with admission to the Bar of the District of Columbia or Georgia Bar based on respective assigned office location;
• Seven (7) to ten (10) years of policy or litigation experience with an emphasis on voting rights, with a minimum of three (3) years in a policy-focused role;
• Advanced analysis and critical thinking skills;
• Strong project management skills;
• Ability to effectively communicate well both verbally and in written form with internal and external stakeholders; and
• Commitment to the racial justice mission of LDF
  
  

Candidates are expected to submit a cover letter, resume, and writing sample for consideration. Writing samples should be a piece of legal writing that you authored yourself. While it may have been reviewed or edited by others, it should primarily reflect your own work and should be at least five (5) pages in length.

The Salary Range For This Position Is

Washington, D.C.: $134,000 - $149,500

Atlanta: $121,500 - $135,500

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.

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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.