About ERA:
Equal Rights Advocates (ERA) is a national civil rights organization dedicated to protecting and expanding economic and educational access and opportunities for women and girls. In pursuit of gender equality, ERA also represents and advocates for the rights of LGBTQI persons at work and at school. Since its founding in 1974, ERA has dedicated itself to advancing gender justice in employment and education through a combination of impact litigation, policy advocacy, public education, and direct legal services. ERA takes an intersectional approach to tackling sexual harassment and violence, pay inequity, and other forms of gender discrimination and inequality, with a focus on centering the experiences and voices of women, girls, and LGBTQI youth of color. Learn more about ERA on our website, www.equalrights.org.
What You Will Do:
Law clerks assist with current litigation and legislative advocacy by conducting research and writing; participating in coalition meetings, internal legal strategy sessions, and co-counsel and litigation consultation meetings; and, whenever possible, attending depositions, mediations, hearings, and other litigation-related events. Under the supervision of ERA attorneys, law clerks also assist the ERA Legal Team in providing direct services to students and employees facing discrimination through our Advice and Counseling Program. Through this Program, clerks interview callers and, under the supervision of ERA attorneys, currently provide advice and counseling regarding sex discrimination, sexual harassment, Title IX enforcement. The program may also provide information and legal services regarding family & medical leave and other employment issues during the coming school year.
Who Should Apply:
Rising 2Ls (the summer after your 1L year), 3Ls, and 4th year students participating in a four-year graduation schedule. Students with bilingual ability, especially Spanish, are strongly encouraged to apply, as are students with diverse lived experiences that inform their interest in exploring public interest law and the experiential learning opportunities ERA provides through its law clerk program.
Qualifications:
Demonstrated interest in and commitment to civil rights, gender equity, and social justice
A record of strong academic interests and participation and excellent legal research and
writing skills
Connection to and familiarity with issues affecting women and girls of color, low-paid
and immigrant workers, LGBTQI+ individuals, and/or others who routinely face discrimination and other systematic deprivation of their civil rights
Coursework and/or experience in employment and/or Title IX, education civil rights law
and policy (2L or 3L years begun or completed, where electives are available)
Strong organizational, project and time management skills, including demonstrated
capacity to manage and prioritize competing projects and deadlines
Hours and Location:
Law clerks who work during the school year and receive academic credit are expected to work a minimum of 12 hours per week. If a student does not receive credit, their time commitment is more flexible. Priority given to applicants that can commit to volunteering during both the fall and spring semesters.
ERA will work with all law clerks/externs to explore technology needs to successfully participate in our program and contribute to our organization’s legal work and overall mission if you arrange for a remote or hybrid position with our organization.
ERA recognizes the intrinsic relationship between diversity and excellence in all of our endeavors. To that end, we maintain a strong commitment to working with ERA volunteer team members to ensure a safe, flexible, and robust experience with our organization.
ERA embraces open and equitable access to opportunities for learning and development as our obligation and goal.
Compensation:
These positions are unpaid. Many of our academic-year clerks earn academic credit. ERA will submit support letters and other documentation to help students obtain external funding. ERA does offer reimbursement for phone usage during remote clerkships and travel to and from the office during in-person clerkships.
ERA is An Equal Opportunity Employer with a Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion:
Equal Rights Advocates (ERA) is an equal opportunity employer that is dedicated to the diversity of our staff and volunteers. Interested persons are invited to apply regardless of sex, gender, gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, race, age, ethnicity, national origin, disability, marital or veteran status, medical condition, or religion. People of color, LGBTQI candidates, DACA recipients, people who identify as having a disability, first-generation law students, and people who have had contact with the criminal justice system are encouraged to apply. Individuals who need assistance or accommodation in order to apply for this posting due to a disability may contact us at lawclerkhiring@equalrights.org.
Questions regarding these positions may be submitted to lawclerkhiring@equalrights.org.
*This is not a Post-Bar position*
