John and Lauren Marciano Legal Fellowship

Department:  Public Policy

Position:  John and Lauren Marciano Legal Fellowship

Reporting to:  Senior Legislative Policy Counsel of Public Policy

The Marciano Legal Fellow provides essential legal research and fact gathering concerning a wide range of sexual violence issues. The Marciano Legal Fellow will also be expected to draft materials as needed, including memoranda and one-page summaries, and may be asked to review and analyze legislation, regulations, and other policy documents. The fields of law to which the Marciano Legal Fellow will be most exposed include, but are not limited to; the following: constitutional law, criminal law, criminal procedure, appellate law, family law, and state and federal policy.

General Responsibilities:

•  Support and assist staff in legal and legislative research, with a specific focus on states' sexual violence laws.
•  Provide the policy department with general legal research and relevant facts regarding sexual assault issues.
•  Help drafting memoranda, policy statements, and letters to government officials as needed.
•  Assist with administrative and data input tasks as needed.
•  Assist in updating and establishing tools for disseminating policy resources, including database materials.
•  Liaise with RAINN's pro bono law firm partners on assigned projects.
•  All other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required:

•  Current law student or recent graduate (required qualification)
•  Strong writing, research, analytical and organizational skills
•  Strong interest in policy work
•  Demonstrated interest in the issue of sexual violence
•  Comfortable with legal research tools, including LexisNexis and Westlaw
•  Proficient in Microsoft Office Programs (especially Excel and Word) and Google Workspace (especially Google Docs and Google Sheets)
•  Ability to use remote meeting platforms, such as Zoom, Google Meet, and WebEx
•  Strong interpersonal skills, and a team player attitude

Eligibility Criteria:

•  Available to dedicate 20 hours a week to the Fellowship’s work.
•  Applicant has passed the bar examination, or intends to take the exam within a year
•  Can demonstrate a substantial commitment to or preparation for pursuing a career in public interest law or government service
•  Will endeavor to obtain employment in the public interest or government sector before or immediately following the Fellowship's conclusion.

Other Information:

Candidate selected for the John and Lauren Marciano Legal Fellowship will be granted a nominal fee stipend.

Each year, there are three available Fellowship terms. Each term is 12 weeks, with start and end dates flexible to accommodate school or bar exam schedules.

Term 1: February - April

•  Job Posts: November 1 of the previous year
•  Application Reviews: Begin November 15 of the previous year
•  Application Deadline: Until filled or after receiving 30 applications.

Term 2: June - August

•  Job Posts: March 1 of the current year
•  Application Reviews: Begin March 15 of the current year
•  Application Deadline: Until filled or after receiving 30 applications. 

Term 3: September - November

•  Job Posts: June 1 of the current year
•  Application Reviews: Begin June 15 of the current year
•  Application Deadline: Until filled or after receiving 30 applications. 

To Apply:

Please attach the following materials 

•  Resume
•  Cover Letter
•  Two Writing Samples (each must be between 5-10 pages)

RAINN Office Status: This position is remote. As a remote team member, your primary work location will be outside of our Washington, DC office. This arrangement offers you the flexibility to work from your preferred location while still actively contributing to our collaborative efforts. 

When you work for RAINN, you're joining a team of experts and professionals who stand up for survivors of sexual violence every day. RAINN will not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, gender identity, genetic information, disability, or protected veteran status. RAINN is committed to maximizing the diversity of its organization and depends on a diverse staff to carry out its mission, and encourages all qualified candidates to apply.

The above is intended to describe the general content of and requirements for the performance of this job. It is not to be construed as an exhaustive statement of the essential functions, responsibilities and/or requirements.