Litigation 2025 Summer Legal Associate

Title: Litigation 2025 Summer Legal Associate

Department: U.S. Programs, U.S. Litigation

Center Background: The Center for Reproductive Rights is a global human rights organization working to ensure that reproductive rights are protected in law as fundamental human rights worldwide. With offices in New York City, and Washington, D.C.; Nairobi, Kenya; Bogota, Colombia; and Geneva, Switzerland, the Center is a non-profit, non-partisan organization changing law and policy throughout Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, and the United States. Our 230+ diverse professionals are committed to advancing the Center’s human rights mission through game-changing litigation, legal policy, and advocacy work. This has fueled the Center’s exceptional growth to an operating budget of more than $50 million and won the respect of law firms worldwide. Our global pro bono network includes over 2,100 lawyers across 6 continents, 88 countries, and 125 law firms, contributing over $30 million USD in pro bono legal services annually. The Center’s Strategic Plan sets a high mark for impact: By 2030, half of the world’s population will be living under stronger protections for reproductive rights than they were in 2020. The Center has a record of success to back up this ambitious goal. Since our founding in 1992, the Center has transformed how reproductive rights are understood and applied by courts, governments, and human rights bodies worldwide on issues including maternal health, abortion, assisted reproduction, and adolescent sexual and reproductive health and rights. We have won groundbreaking cases before national courts, U.N. Committees, and regional human rights bodies. The Center has also led development of historic, proactive legislation advancing robust protections for reproductive rights. It has built the legal capacity of women’s rights advocates in more than 65 countries and counting. To learn more about the Center, please go to www.reproductiverights.org

The Job: The Center’s U.S. Litigation Program is looking for enthusiastic, resourceful, and highly organized Summer Legal Associates with a commitment to reproductive rights to engage in a variety of litigation projects. Legal Associates will be immersed in the Center’s fast-paced litigation and have an opportunity to hone their legal research and writing skills. The Center’s Summer Associate program also includes opportunities for social events, networking opportunities, and other activities.

The Summer Legal Associate position is full-time from June 2025 to August 2025. This position will be hybrid, based in the New York City or Washington, D.C., office.  COVID-19 vaccination is required for all US-based employees of the Center.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Conducting legal and factual research in connection with active and potential litigation.
• Drafting research and/or strategy memos to develop and carry out the Center’s active and potential litigation. 
• Participating in meetings with Center attorneys, clients, and co-counsel.
• Contributing to the Center’s strategic thinking and approach to impact litigation. 

Qualifications:

• Completed at least one year of law school by June 2025.
• Strong legal research and writing skills. 
• Ability to receive and engage with feedback.
• Demonstrated interest in reproductive health, rights, and justice; gender justice; human rights; and/or other public interest issues.
• Commitment to racial justice.   

Compensation: The summer legal associate is strongly encouraged to seek external funding. A stipend of up to $7,000 will be supplied through a $20 hourly pay rate. If the external funding received is less than $7,000, the Center will make up the difference.

How to Apply: Please complete the application below to apply. A cover letter, resume and one writing sample of no more than 10 pages must be included in your application. Please include these application materials as attachments. 

Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

The Center is committed to inclusive hiring and dedicated to diversity in our work and staff. We strongly encourage people from all communities to apply. If you are excited about this role but unsure about whether your experience aligns with the job description, we encourage you to apply. You may be the right candidate for this or other roles. To learn more about the Center’s commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, please visit Diversity, Equity and Inclusion | Center for Reproductive Rights.

Center policy on visa sponsorship for U.S.-based positions: Applicants for employment in the U.S. must have valid work authorization that does not now and will not in the future require sponsorship of a visa for employment authorization in the U.S. by The Center for Reproductive Rights.

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