Who we are:

The Animal Legal Defense Fund’s mission is to protect the lives and advance the interests of animals through the legal system. The Animal Legal Defense Fund accomplishes this mission by filing high-impact lawsuits to protect animals from harm, providing free legal assistance and training to prosecutors in seeking justice for animal victims and to assure that animal abusers are held accountable for their crimes, supporting tough animal protection legislation and fighting legislation harmful to animals, gathering data about and advocating for effective regulation of animal exploitative industries, and providing resources and opportunities to law students and professionals to advance the emerging field of animal law. 

What you’ll be doing:

Criminal Justice Program Fellowships further the mission of the Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF) to protect the lives and advance the interests of animals through the legal system, by engaging in research and legal writing aimed at improving the systemic handling of crimes against animals and providing members of the criminal justice system with essential legal support on criminal cases with animal victims. 

Criminal Justice Program Fellows are responsible for the day-to-day management of assigned cases and projects, including ensuring the completion of all necessary research and other related tasks. Criminal Justice Fellows are exposed to a wide range of legal issues where the fields of animal law and criminal law intersect, and thus expand the breadth and depth of the knowledge and experience they are able to bring to bear on behalf of animals.

You will report to: Managing Attorney

You will be responsible for:

• Assist prosecutors and courtroom animal advocates on animal cruelty cases at the trial level through strategies for animal cruelty-specific issues, as well as factual and legal analysis of animal cruelty statutes, rules of criminal procedure, and other related laws; draft memoranda, pleadings, motions, and other documents as needed for trial preparation. 
• Assist law enforcement, animal control officers, and veterinarians with animal cruelty investigations, including reviewing affidavits, warrants, expert witness testimony, and veterinary reports. 
• Identify and analyze the viability of potential animal cruelty charges in cases where criminal charges have not been filed, and draft correspondence to relevant law enforcement, prosecutors, and other key stakeholders outlining the viability of a criminal cruelty case where appropriate.
• Communicate efficiently with complainants and advocates by phone and e-mail; gather relevant facts (through eyewitness accounts, media reports, and other sources as needed) for potential criminal cruelty cases; and identify, after thorough legal analysis, those cases warranting further investigation. 
• Assist with drafting, editing, and submission of amicus curiae briefs on behalf of ALDF. 
• Assist with the review, development, and advancement of new legislation relating to animal crimes in all U.S. jurisdictions, including support work for Rankings Report project.
• Coordinate and collaborate with other legal programs such as the Litigation Program staff on cases that have, or could have, both civil and criminal components, and with the Legislative Affairs Program on legislative matters with a criminal component.
• Work with Communications and other departments to answer questions on criminal legal issues and procedures.
• Prepare and deliver presentations for professional conferences, fundraising events, etc. as needed.
• Provide in-house expertise for staff on questions concerning Criminal Justice Program cases, animal cruelty cases in general and criminal procedures and legal strategy.
• Other criminal justice projects (e.g. intersection of animal law and criminal justice reform; effective sentencing models; emergent animal law/criminal law issues; etc.) as requested by Criminal Justice Program Managing Attorney.

We Offer Competitive Compensation with Excellent Benefits, Including: 

• Starting annual salary of $71,509 for most geographic locations.  
• For candidates located within 25 miles of Washington D.C., Cotati, CA, and Los Angeles, starting pay is $75,273. 
• For candidates located within 25 miles of New York City and San Francisco, starting pay is $79,036. 

To ensure salary equity, we do not negotiate salary outside of the published starting rate. Rate is determined by role, using set geographical factors. 

• Comprehensive health care, dental, life and vision benefits (100% employer paid); Flexible Spending Account (FSA) and Dependent Care Account (DCA) are also available. 
• 192 hours of PTO. 
• 19 paid holidays. 
• 1-month paid sabbatical after 5 years of continuous employment.  
• 16 weeks paid parental leave.  
• 401k plan with a maximum 5% employer contribution match after one year of  employment. 
• Alternative work schedules (at manager’s discretion). 
• One time remote work allowance of $750. 
• Annual professional development reimbursement of up to $1,000.

Maintaining a healthy work/life balance is a core value for the Animal Legal Defense  Fund.    

We Are Looking for Candidates With:

• Juris Doctor degree and excellent performance in law school; or successful completion of Master of Studies in Law degree (MSL) at an accredited law school with a relevant focus (e.g. Animal Law, Criminal Law) by the time of Fellowship start.
• Understand and be committed to the mission of the Animal Legal Defense Fund. 
• Excellent organizational and prioritization skills and ability to meet deadlines.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Excellent legal research and writing skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to communicate effectively with colleagues, organizational members and supporters, members of the public, and others.
• Experience with basic software applications, including Outlook, Word, Excel, and internet browsers.
• Commitment to working with integrity.
• A commitment to building and participating in an inclusive workplace.
• The ability to travel periodically for staff meetings and retreats (estimated 1-3 trips annually). 

Additional Information about the role:

• Criminal Justice Program Fellow is a full-time, exempt position, beginning September 1, 2026 and lasting through August 31, 2028. This is a bargaining unit position.
• Remote.
• Work is performed in a home office environment and requires the ability to operate standard office equipment, software, and keyboards. 

This is a U.S. based position. In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire.

The Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF) is an equal opportunity employer and committed to providing an employment environment which is welcoming of persons from diverse backgrounds and free from unlawful discrimination and harassment, and in which all legal rights of our employees are recognized and protected. ALDF conducts all internal and external operations, programs, and employment-related decision making (including hiring decisions) without regard to actual or perceived race, ancestry, color, religion, national origin, citizenship, immigration status, sex or gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions), gender identity or expression, political affiliation, disability or medical condition (including physical, intellectual, or psychiatric), sexual orientation, marital status, military or veteran status, genetic information, age, or other protected category, and in compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local anti-discrimination and anti-harassment laws.

Consistent with the organization’s mission, our offices and events are free of animal products and byproducts.

The application deadline for this position is February 10, 2026.  Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, so we encourage applicants to apply early as we may make a decision before the deadline closes.