Three-Year Open Horizon Fellowship

About Tzedek DC

Tzedek DC’s mission is to safeguard the legal rights and financial health of DC residents with low incomes who are dealing with the often-devastating consequences of abusive debt collection practices and other consumer-related problems like inaccurate credit reporting, identity theft, and predatory lending. We carry out that mission with the goal of addressing racial gaps in wealth and equality. We are likewise committed to actively countering bias, prejudice, and racism, and to creating and supporting diversity, equity, and inclusion within our organization.

Tzedek DC provides direct legal and financial counseling services for DC residents with debt issues, advocates for fairer policies nationally and in the District of Columbia, and conducts community-based, bilingual financial empowerment programs. Tzedek DC has been consistently recognized as “one of the best” nonprofits in the Greater Washington region by the Catalogue for Philanthropy.

We strongly encourage applications from people with disabilities, people of color, bilingual and bicultural people, people from immigrant communities, people of all genders, veterans, LGBTQ+ community members, and multi-marginalized community members.

Fellowship Overview

Tzedek DC is now accepting applications for a Fall 2026-Fall 2029 Open Horizon Fellowship. Funded in substantial part by the Open Horizon Foundation, the Fellowship offers a 2026 law school graduate or judicial clerk ending the clerkship in 2026 a unique opportunity designed to prepare the Fellow for future leadership roles. Tzedek DC provides direct legal and financial counseling services for DC residents with debt issues, advocates for fairer policies nationally and in the District of Columbia, and conducts community-based, bilingual financial empowerment programs. Over the course of the three-year Fellowship, the Fellow will develop in-depth experience in direct services, systemic reform, and nonprofit management and leadership, with one year each spent focused on those three areas.

Position Tasks & Duties

The position will include the following tasks and duties, which are expected to include:

Year One

• Representing individuals in debt collection and consumer rights litigation and related matters, both in D.C. courts and, as needed, before federal agencies and courts and other tribunals.
• Advising clients on consumer and debt issues. These issues are broad and include consumer debt, student loan issues, medical debt, scams, fraud and identity theft, lending discrimination, Social Security and other benefit overpayments, nursing facility debt, credit reporting issues, constitutional issues, and more.
• Drafting motions, pleadings, declarations, memoranda, letters, and other legal documents to support clients in litigation or pre-litigation.
• Communicating and negotiating with opposing counsel.
• Providing trauma-informed direct legal services, including performing intakes and handling a caseload.

Year Two

• While maintaining a modest caseload of individual client matters, focusing on supporting the policy team with campaigns that promote positive social change on debt and consumer issues organizing and communicating with stakeholders, including community members directly impacted, organizations, government entities, clients, and others.
• Researching legislation; coordinating the delivery of testimony; attending and advocating in legislative committees, task forces, and working groups; identifying opportunities for broad coalition support of Tzedek DC issues.
• Researching and analyzing legislation and drafting summaries of legislation and giving presentations about policy issues for legislators, community members, and allied organizations.
• Lobbying policy makers.
• Building awareness campaigns related to state, local, and national laws and policies on consumer and debt issues in coordination with the policy team.
• Engaging with coalition organizations/community members.
• Identifying creative campaign opportunities to mobilize and engage community members in work/advocacy.
• Supporting impact litigation efforts.
• Developing and facilitating “know your rights” community education presentations to educate and empower community members about consumer related topics like debt collection, credit reports and credit scores, and fraud, scams, and identity theft.
• Working with interns and law student volunteers – helping with recruitment, selection, and supervision of interns and volunteers.
• Helping with recruitment and selection of the next Open Horizon Fellow, thereby gaining an insider view of the hiring process in a well-managed non-profit organization.

Year Three

• While continuing some direct services and systemic work, changing focus to develop familiarity with the challenges and skills associated with non-profit leadership and management.
• Working closely as an assistant and advisor to the leadership team to gain exposure to all aspects of non-profit management, including program development, strategy and communications challenges, grant reporting and writing, development and refinement of the organization’s policies and procedures, evaluation of vendor agreements, researching emerging legal issues related to the organization, and exposure to issues relating to working with a Board of Directors.
• Working with our Community Strategy Council, a group made up of client-eligible community members.
• Mentoring and assisting in the supervision of the new first-year OH Fellow.

General Duties Throughout

• Collaborating with Tzedek DC’s communications team.
• Partnering with pro bono volunteers.
• Attending coalition group meetings on behalf of Tzedek DC.
• This position will require travel around the District of Columbia. It will require little to no travel outside of DC. Currently, most Tzedek DC staff work a hybrid schedule with three days per week from home and two days per week in the office (either at the University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law or at our Navy Yard, Ward 8 location).

Qualifications

Law students graduating in spring of 2026 or those who will finish a judicial clerkship by

Fall 2026 are eligible for the Fellowship. The ideal candidate will possess the following

qualifications:

• Internship or interest in direct legal services for clients with low incomes. A demonstrated interest in disability justice and/or racial justice
• Diverse backgrounds and experiences are a strength in engaging with Tzedek DC’s client communities. We encourage members of marginalized communities and multi-marginalized individuals to apply for this position, particularly those with lived experience as a disabled person or experience as an ally in racial justice and/or disability justice.
• Spanish language fluency is preferred (though not required).
• A demonstrated commitment to public interest work
• A commitment to serving clients with low incomes
• Strong academic performance, including excellent research and writing skills
• Strong communication, interpersonal, and organizational skills
• An ability to provide client-centered, trauma-informed, and culturally competent legal assistance to clients
• An ability to work collaboratively in a variety of contexts and with multiple organizations to facilitate comprehensive services, but also an ability to work independently
• A combination of organizational, substantive, and relationship-building skills, flexibility, and a sense of humor to thrive in a fluid environment
• Admission or intent to apply for admission to the DC bar

Vaccination Requirement: As a grantee of the DC government per the Mayor's Order 2021-099, we are required to confirm the vaccination status of all employees who might at any point be in person with us or the public. As a potential employee whose role may include contact with the public or other office members, please let us know if you are vaccinated and have received a booster or if you are making an accommodation request to be exempted from the vaccination requirement for a medical reason or sincerely held religious belief.

Prioritizing Access and Inclusion: If you require accommodations or have any access needs that you want to make sure are met during any part of this application and hiring process, please reach out to us at ah@tzedekdc.org.

Statistics frequently show that women, LBTQIA+, BIPOC, and disabled people, as well as people in other marginalized groups, apply to jobs only if they meet 100% of the qualifications. Tzedek DC encourages you to break that statistic and apply anyway. (Note: lived experience managing your own legal concerns related to any of the above counts as experience too.) We look forward to your application.

TZEDEK DC IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER. It is the policy of Tzedek DC that no employee or applicant for employment or services will be discriminated against because of race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, disability, sexual orientation, political affiliation, family responsibilities or family status, veteran’s status, or any other basis prohibited by law, including the D.C. Human Rights Act and Language Access Act.