2022 Summer Legal Fellow

The Center for WorkLife Law, housed at the University of California, Hastings College of the Law, is hiring a summer legal fellow to support the Center’s efforts on behalf of working families. 

Our Work

The Center for WorkLife Law, housed at the University of California, Hastings Law, is a nonprofit advocacy and research organization that seeks to advance gender and racial equality in the workplace and in education. We advocate for financial security for families through practical research, education, legal advocacy, and direct engagement with a wide range of stakeholders.

The Position

The Summer Legal Fellow position is particularly well-suited for recent law graduates and law students in the class of 2023 with an interest in employment law, workers' rights, and gender and racial equity.

 The Fellow may be involved in all aspects of the Center’s work, including participating in strategy sessions, researching law and policy, and contributing to articles and reports. In particular, the Fellow will work with the Center’s team of FRD attorneys to address the crisis the pandemic has caused for working families, supporting efforts to prevent and respond to discrimination against workers and students who are pregnant or family caregivers. Fellows will gain experience in legal research and writing relating to employment and anti-discrimination law.

 A portion of this role involves working closely with the Center’s Deputy Director and attorneys to staff the Center’s legal helpline. The team provides information and advice to workers nationwide about how to protect their incomes, health benefits, and jobs while taking care of their families and their health. Under close supervision, the Fellow will conduct intake interviews, do legal research, develop plans of action, and follow up with callers about their legal rights. Training will be provided on providing direct legal service and the employment laws relevant to this project.

 WorkLife Law staff is dedicated to providing professional mentorship including by conducting a mock legal job interview and hosting professional development and networking opportunities.

Position Qualifications

This position is open to recent law school graduates (classes of 2021 and 2022) and law students in the class of 2023.

Well-qualified candidates will have:

·      Familiarity with major employment law statutes, including the FMLA and ADA

·      Strong legal research and writing skills

·      Ability to perform duties with a high degree of initiative and professionalism

·      High attention to detail and excellent record-keeping habits

·      Experience working well in group problem-solving situations

·      Keen sense of tact and judgment 

·      Strong oral communication and listening skills

·      Commitment to workers’ rights

·      Familiarity or direct experience with the challenges facing low-income families

·      Reliable access to the internet via a computer

·      Spanish language fluency a plus