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 to assure that animal abusers are held accountable for their crimes, supporting tough animal protection legislation, and fighting legislation harmful to animals, and providing resources and opportunities to law students and professionals to advance the emerging field of animal law.
What you’ll be doing
Clerks will gain experience with and knowledge of animal protection issues, campaigns, and advocacy while improving skills in research, writing, legislative analysis, coalition-building, and lobbying strategies. They will be responsible for assisting the Legislative Affairs Program in developing and implementing resources and strategies to further legislative goals.
Specific duties may include; researching policy issues, develop issue briefs, analyze state legislation or regulation, and assist with administrative work; preparing correspondence and assist with outreach to supporters, coalition partners, and public officials, including elected and appointed officials; attending virtual public hearings, coalition calls, stakeholder meetings, lobby day(s), lobby 101(s), conferences, and other events; as assigned; collaborating with Communications and other departments to propose, draft, proofread, edit, and update content on priority campaigns for the website, including project pages and online action centers, email action alerts, phone banking scripts, etc.; coordinating with other programs, including with the Criminal Justice Program and Litigation Program staff on cases related to legislative campaigns; and preparing and delivering virtual presentations for lobby 101(s) or other advocacy trainings for advocates, professional conferences, fundraising events, etc.
This position also requires the ability to communicate effectively with members, supporters, co-workers, coalition partners, and public officials and to tactfully manage challenging questions or opposing viewpoints from the public or public officials. Experience with legislative advocacy is preferred.
Position Objectives
The Animal Legal Defense Fund summer clerkship program gives law students who demonstrate an interest in animal law the opportunity to work with and be trained by top experts in the field. Clerks are integral members of a program team and work on projects that further the current work of the program and advance the mission and goals of the Animal Legal Defense Fund. Clerks also participate in activities that will allow them to network across the organization with Animal Legal Defense Fund staff and other clerks and engage them in the mission and goals of the organization.
The Animal Legal Defense Fund has several positions for summer 2023 clerks. Summer clerkships are paid full-time employment positions. Although applications for paid summer clerkships will receive priority, we will accept applications from students who would like to structure the position as an unpaid externship or student volunteer position instead of a paid clerkship. (Note: Externships are uncompensated. Students may receive academic credit from their law schools for completing externships, but award of externship credits is determined solely by the school. Applicants who would like to structure summer positions as externships should check their law school’s externship requirements before they apply to ensure Animal Legal Defense Fund externships meet their school’s requirements and the Animal Legal Defense Fund is an approved externship placement. Student volunteer positions include students who can receive pro bono credits for their law schools and students whose schools provide a public interest stipend.) This posting is for summer clerkships in our Legislative Affairs Program. We have hired summer 2023 clerks for our Litigation Program.
Reports to: Strategic Legislative Affairs Manager
You will be responsible for…
Specific responsibilities vary by program and will be further discussed during interviews. All clerks and externs will participate in scheduled networking and engagement activities. Externs may have additional requirements depending on their school’s externship program.
What this position offers
· Remote Position
· Full-Time, temporary (10 weeks, beginning in May or June)
What skills & experience you’ll bring to us
· Rising 3L (or part-time program equivalent) or LLM student at an ABA-accredited law school. Rising 2L students may also apply and will be considered if they demonstrate academic excellence.
· Eligible to work in the United States.
· A sincere interest in animal protection.
· Superior legal research and writing skills, including the ability to tailor voice and style to various audiences.
· Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
· Positive attitude and ability to work cooperatively with others and function well in a mission-driven, team-oriented work environment.
· Willingness to accept a variety of assignments within the expanding field of animal law.
· Excellent organizational, prioritization, and time management skills.
· Ability to work independently and remotely.
· Ability to use discretion, keeping in mind the confidential and emotional aspects of our work.
· Access to a computer with internet and Microsoft Suite.
· Familiarity with animal law is preferred.
Benefits
The Legislative Affairs Clerkship is a non-exempt position. The starting compensation for this position is $20.00 Hourly with paid holidays.
ALDF is committed to maintaining a diverse staff and an inclusive, multicultural environment. We are proud to provide equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants without regard to actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, parenting status (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, uniformed service member status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law.
We are asking all staff to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as defined by the CDC and present acceptable proof of vaccination by the date of hire as a condition of employment. We will consider requests for a reasonable accommodation as required under applicable law.
Want to apply? Get in touch today
To apply, please combine the following materials into one PDF and submit via the Paylocity portal: a current resume including 2-3 professional references, a cover letter, a law school transcript (unofficial okay), and an original writing sample. The application deadline is April 10, 2023. Please only apply for one clerkship position at a time.
Questions may be addressed to Kelly Levenda at klevenda@aldf.org.