Senior Counsel 

The Policing Project at New York University School of Law seeks an experienced litigator  to join our team as Senior Counsel. 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 offices (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 discriminatory stops on jet bridges at the Atlanta  Airport under the Fourth Amendment and the Equal Protection Clause. 

  • 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 Senior Counsel will be a key member of the Policing Project’s litigation team. The  Senior Counsel will work closely with other members of the 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 Senior 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 6 years litigation experience in federal and state courts (which can  include judicial clerkships);

  • Strong 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 analytical, brief-writing, and written communication skills; • Experience managing 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 work style; and 

  • Strong organizational skills and an inclination to be proactive.  

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 “Senior Counsel” in the subject  line. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled, and you  will be contacted if selected for an interview. 

In compliance with NYC's Pay Transparency Act, the annual base salary range for this  position is $115,000-$155,000. New York University considers factors such as (but not  limited to) scope and responsibilities of the position, candidate's work experience,  education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, as well as, market and organizational  considerations when extending an offer. This pay range represents base pay only and  excludes any additional items such as incentives, bonuses, clinical compensation, or  other items. Compensation also includes excellent benefits, including medical, dental,  and vision. Further information regarding benefits can be found at  https://www.nyu.edu/employees/benefit/full-time/professional-research-staff/benefits-guide-2025.html.  

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