Closing Date: 5th April, 2026

Description:

The Center for Democracy & Technology (CDT) is seeking a recent law school graduate to join the Free Expression team as a full time Legal Fellow. This role is designed for a junior advocate with a demonstrated interest in the First Amendment and protecting free expression online for everyone. The Fellow will help the Free Expression Program defend the legal frameworks that protect online speech, such as intermediary liability protections (e.g. Section 230), and address emerging threats like state-mandated age verification, algorithmic censorship, and attempts to control the outputs of generative AI.

About CDT
CDT is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization fighting to advance civil rights and civil liberties in the digital age. CDT's Free Expression Program works to ensure that the internet and other technologies support open discourse and access to information, focusing on protecting users from government censorship and promoting fair content moderation and safety practices that respect human rights.

You can learn more about the work of CDT's Free Expression Program at https://cdt.org/area-of-focus/free-expression/.

Key Responsibilities:
Working under the supervision of the Director of the Free Expression Program, the Legal Fellow will:

Legal Advocacy: Assist in drafting amicus briefs for high-stakes First Amendment litigation and regulatory comments for agencies such as the FTC on issues like online safety, "harmful" content definitions, kids' safety, and platform transparency.
Policy Analysis: Track, research, and analyze federal and state legislation to evaluate their impact on the free expression rights of adults and minors.
Legal Analysis: Research and prepare written advice on emerging legal topics within free expression to help develop CDT's advocacy positions and legal arguments. Topics might include legal questions related to the scope of Section 230's liability shield, theories of liability for generative AI system outputs, the effect of particular mens rea standards of liability on constitutional analyses, as well as other emerging questions related to intermediary liability, online expression, and generative AI systems.
Global Free Speech: Support CDT's international work by researching how US tech policy influences global human rights standards and assisting in coordination with CDT's colleagues at CDT Europe.
Public Writing: Author blog posts and policy explainers that distill complex legal debates—like the difference between "lawful but awful" content and illegal speech—for the public and policymakers.

Qualifications:

Juris Doctor (JD) degree from an accredited law school (ideally 2024, 2025, or 2026 graduate).
Demonstrated interest in First Amendment law or international freedom of expression standards through law school clinics, internships, or academic research.
Excellent legal research, analytical, and writing skills.
Ability to communicate technical legal concepts clearly to non-lawyers.
Commitment to CDT's mission of protecting civil liberties in the digital space.

Preferred Qualifications:

Familiarity with Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act and the legal principles of content moderation.
Experience or interest in the intersection of free expression and other rights, such as privacy or disability rights.
Prior experience in a policy-oriented environment (e.g., Capitol Hill, a civil society organization, or a regulatory agency).

Compensation and Location
The compensation for this position ranges from $65,000 - $75,000. Compensation is determined on a standardized tiered pay scale based on years of experience and the responsibilities of the role. Candidates may request guidance on where they would fall within the salary range at any time during the interview process. CDT provides a generous benefits package that includes health care and dental coverage for employees and dependents, a retirement plan, paid vacation, sick days, and parental leave.

This position is based in CDT's Washington, D.C. office, which operates on a hybrid schedule with 3 days in office per week (generally Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday). A different hybrid schedule or may be considered in exceptional cases, and is available if needed as a disability accommodation. We may also consider candidates based outside of D.C..

To Apply:
Please send a résumé and a cover letter explaining your interest in the position by clicking the "apply for this position" button below. The cover letter should, at a minimum, explain what skills you have developed in your career so far that would help you be successful in this role. These materials should be compiled into one PDF or document for submission. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact hr@cdt.org.

Apply by: April 5, 2026