Counsel, Litigation Team

The Policing Project at New York University School of Law seeks a lawyer to join our team as Counsel or Senior Counsel (depending on experience). Our litigation team is pursuing groundbreaking impact litigation strategies to bring greater democratic accountability to policing, and to limit police discretion that gives rise to discrimination. This is an opportunity to join a growing and novel litigation effort. The position can be based out of the Policing Project’s New York City office (located at NYU Law School) or can be full-time remote, with occasional travel to New York City. 

Background on the Policing Project 

The Policing Project is at the forefront of a new approach to addressing the harms of policing. We believe in “front-end accountability”—that there must be public voice and democratic sign off before police act, rather than simply when something goes wrong. The goal is achieving public safety that is equitable, non-discriminatory, and respectful of public values. We pursue this mission by drafting and promoting legislation to regulate policing, and by litigating where these principles are not respected. Our work addresses both street policing and the growing use by police of surveillance technologies and artificial intelligence. Because sending armed officers to deal with a raft of social problems satisfies no one, we also are working hard to reimagine public safety from the ground up, relying on non-police alternative first responders. You can learn more about our work—past and present—at www.PolicingProject.org. 

Job Description & Responsibilities 

Litigation is a critical part of our multi-faceted approach to achieving front-end accountability, transparency, and racial justice in policing. Partnering with community groups and impacted individuals, we develop novel impact litigation suits grounded in basic principles of democratic governance and anti-discrimination. We seek to fundamentally reframe how courts hold police accountable, and to bring structural legal change to policing. Examples of our work include: 

  • A lawsuit on behalf of indigenous rights and environmental justice advocates challenging the Oregon Department of Justice’s TITAN Fusion Center, a domestic spying agency entirely unauthorized by law that has conducted surveillance on a number of civil rights and racial justice organizations.

  • A lawsuit on behalf of actors and comedians Eric André and Clayton English challenging a program of unconstitutional stops on jet bridges at the Atlanta Airport.

  • A lawsuit challenging the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division’s unauthorized operation of a statewide vehicle surveillance program that indiscriminately captures and stores more than one hundred million time- and location-stamped photos of vehicles on South Carolina roads each year. 

The Counsel will be a key member of the Policing Project’s litigation team and will report to the Policing Project’s Litigation Director. Specific responsibilities include: 

  • Litigating an active caseload in federal and state courts around the country, including coordinating and supervising full-time staff, pro bono attorneys, and law school student interns; working with clients; researching, drafting, and editing pleadings and briefs; conducting oral arguments and depositions; participating in and managing discovery; and developing and deploying innovative legal arguments and litigation approaches;

  • Identifying and developing new cases to file; 

  • Collaborating with teams within the Policing Project and with outside organizations and allies to advance the Policing Project’s mission; and

  • Serving as a spokesperson on our legal work.

In addition, staff members interested in future academic work will have the opportunity to have their academic writing reviewed by members of the NYU Law community.

Desired Experience & Qualifications 

We are looking for a Counsel with the experience, talent, energy, creativity, and passion to help us bring democratic accountability to policing, and to eliminate police discretion that invites discrimination. Given the cutting-edge and innovative nature of our work, and the fact that it often occurs around fraught social issues, we are looking for someone who is a problem solver with maturity and excellent judgment. In addition to a legal degree, our ideal candidate will have the following qualifications, although applicants who do not meet all of the following qualifications are still encouraged to apply:

  • At least 2 years of litigation experience in federal and state courts (which can include judicial clerkships); 

  • Familiarity and/or interest in constitutional law, administrative law, criminal procedure, policing, racial justice, and civil rights/civil liberties;

  • Experience in impact litigation and/or representing plaintiffs in civil litigation; 

  • Strong legal research, analysis, and writing skills;

  • Experience working on multi-member/multi-team projects;

  • The personality to build and maintain relationships with legal and non-legal staff, pro bono counsel, plaintiffs, partner organizations, and other stakeholders;

  • A commitment to furthering diversity, equity, and inclusion;

  • A collaborative, collegial, and curious approach to work; 

  • Strong organizational skills and an inclination to be proactive; 

  • Thoroughness and attention to detail.

The Policing Project heartily encourages applicants from diverse backgrounds and perspectives, and is an equal opportunity employer.  

Application Instructions 

To apply, please email a cover letter, resume, (unofficial) law school transcript, and writing sample of no more than 10 pages as one PDF to applications@policingproject.org. Please indicate “Counsel—Litigation Team” in the subject line.  Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled, and you will be contacted if you are selected for an interview.

Salary is commensurate with experience. In compliance with NYC’s Pay Transparency Law, the salary for counsel is in the range of $95,000—$125,000. Compensation also includes excellent benefits, including medical, dental, and vision. After one year, employees are eligible for tuition remission at certain NYU schools and matching retirement contributions. Further information regarding benefits can be found here.

NYU is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to a policy of equal treatment and opportunity in every aspect of its recruitment and hiring process without regard to age, alienage, caregiver status, childbirth, citizenship status, color, creed, disability, domestic violence victim status, ethnicity, familial status, gender and/or gender identity or expression, marital status, military status, national origin, parental status, partnership status, predisposing genetic characteristics, pregnancy, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, unemployment status, veteran status, or any other legally protected basis. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, persons of minority sexual orientation or gender identity, individuals with disabilities, and veterans are encouraged to apply for vacant positions at all levels.