Description:

Description:
The Center on Race, Inequality, and the Law at NYU School of Law (https://www.law.nyu.edu/centers/race-inequality-law) confronts and upends the array of American laws, policies, and practices that lead to racial oppression and injustice.

The Center advances its work through interconnected approaches that shape its research, advocacy, and partnerships. Grounded in collaboration with communities, scholars, advocates, and policymakers, the Center translates insight into action through:
Research & Thought Leadership: Challenging dominant narratives and producing original research and analysis that reveal how race shapes the law, contributing scholarship and public commentary that shift the field.

Litigation & Advocacy: Pursuing strategies that disrupt harmful systems and promote justice through litigation, amicus advocacy, policy reform, and coalition work.

Education & Leadership Development: Supporting the next generation of leaders working to transform and challenge the institutions they encounter through legal education, training, and mentorship.

Convenings & Community Engagement: Bringing people together through public programs, dialogues, and partnerships that deepen relationships, strengthen movements, and support collective action.

We are seeking applications for a Graduate Fellowship, a one-year position designed to support the professional development of current third-year law students, recent law school graduates, and early-career attorneys with no more than three years of post-graduate legal experience who are interested in pursuing or continuing a career focused on racial justice.

The fellow will play an integral role in the Center's work, under the supervision of the Center's Faculty Director, Professor Vincent Southerland, and the Center's Executive Director, Patrice Sulton. The fellow will be expected to actively participate in the Center's research, public education, advocacy, organizing, litigation, events, and programming. Fellows have the opportunity to develop and produce research reports on a range of racial justice issues, draft amicus submissions in state and federal courts across the country, and engage in the Center's ongoing advocacy and organizing work with and on behalf of communities of color. The Fellow may also support, coordinate, or supervise the work of law students and other project contributors during the academic year.

The fellow will be appointed for one year, but their term may be renewed for a second year, contingent upon the fellow's satisfactory performance and the availability of funding. The fellowship will begin after the successful candidate has completed law school and, for candidates sitting for a bar examination, after the applicable bar examination period. The fellowship start date is negotiable, based on the Center's priorities and the candidate's availability, although it generally will commence by late August 2027. The fellowship salary is commensurate with experience and includes full benefits.

In compliance with NYC's Pay Transparency Act, the annual base salary for this position is $80,000. New York University considers factors such as (but not limited to) scope and responsibilities of the position, candidate's work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, as well as market and organizational considerations when extending an offer. Compensation includes excellent benefits, including medical, dental, and vision.

To learn more about the Center on Race, Inequality, and the Law, visit http://www.law.nyu.edu/centers/race-inequality-law. Questions may be addressed to law.race.inequality@nyu.edu, with the subject line "CRIL Graduate Fellowship Application Question."

Qualifications:
Eligibility and Qualifications: This fellowship is intended for current third-year law students (3Ls), recent law school graduates, and early-career attorneys. Applicants must have no more than three years of post-graduate legal experience as of the fellowship start date. Candidates should possess, or expect to receive before the fellowship start date, a JD, LLM, or equivalent legal training; distinguished analytical, research, and writing skills; and a demonstrated interest in racial justice.

Application Instructions:
Please apply through Interfolio and submit the materials listed below through Interfolio:

Résumé
Writing sample
Cover letter
Short responses addressing each of the following prompts:

Which focus area is of greatest interest to you, and why? Please select one: Race + Tech; Race + Punishment; Race + Place; or Race + Culture.
If you could instantly add, repeal, or revise one law or policy, what would it be and why?

List of three references, including email addresses

References will not be contacted unless and until an applicant advances to a later stage of the selection process.

The application period will open September 8, 2026, and close at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on January 15, 2027. Please ensure that you include a telephone number and/or an email address where we can contact you.