Position: Tyron Garner Law Fellow
Department: Legal
Office Location: The ideal candidate is located in any of the following states or major metropolitan areas where Lambda Legal has an office: New York, NY (Headquarters); Atlanta, GA (Southern); Dallas, TX (South Central); Chicago, IL (Midwest); Los Angeles, CA (Western); or Washington, D.C.
Work Type Designation: Work from Home
Reports to: Counsel
Union Status and Grade: This is not a union position.
Annual Salary Range: $65,000
Travel: This position requires travel 3 times per year on average.
FLSA Status: Exempt / Full-Time
Supervisory Responsibilities: None
Who We Are
Lambda Legal is a national advocacy organization committed to achieving full recognition of the civil rights for the LGBTQ+ community and everyone living with HIV through impact litigation, education, and public policy work. Since 1973, Lambda Legal has used impact litigation and other advocacy tools to decriminalize same-sex relationships; challenge discrimination against LGBTQ+ people and people living with HIV in the workplace, in the home, in schools, in health care, and in the military; and protect LGBTQ+ families, including by winning and defending marriage equality. Our clients are not charged for legal representation or advocacy and Lambda Legal receives no government funding. Headquartered in New York City, Lambda Legal also has regional offices in Los Angeles, Chicago, Atlanta, Dallas, and Washington, DC.
We believe that serving the full breadth of the LGBTQ+ and HIV communities requires cultural competency and enthusiasm for diversity of all kinds. To be successful, we must approach our work with an understanding that discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, or HIV status is not the only obstacle to achieving full formal and lived equality for LGBTQ+ people and everyone living with HIV; rather, we recognize the intersectional nature of discrimination, specifically including biases based on race, religion, national origin, gender, disability, education, and class. Considering this reality, we prioritize a proactive commitment to counteracting these biases and their compounding effects in the work we do, but also in how we work together as an organization.
Tyron Garner Memorial Fellowship for African American LGBTQ Civil Rights
This fellowship honors the memory of Tyron Garner, one of the men Lambda Legal represented in our groundbreaking Supreme Court victory Lawrence v. Texas (which struck down all remaining state sodomy laws in the country). Mr. Garner passed away in 2006, after his case vindicated the constitutional right to express sexual intimacy in adult relationships.
Through the Garner Fellowship, Lambda Legal seeks to support law graduates dedicated to LGBTQ issues within African American communities in ongoing engagement with civil rights work on behalf of LGBTQ individuals and people living with HIV. The Garner Fellowship contributes to Lambda Legal’s expansion of our current work to serve communities of color and address the intersection of LGBTQ discrimination and racism that affects African American LGBTQ communities.
What you’ll do:
The Tyron Garner Memorial Law Fellow will engage in cutting-edge impact litigation, public policy advocacy, and education furthering Lambda Legal’s mission. This fellowship is focused on serving communities of color and addressing the intersection of LGBTQ discrimination and racism that affects African American LGBTQ communities.
- Conduct factual and legal research in support of new and active litigation and other client advocacy, with particular emphasis on identifying and addressing important LGBTQ and HIV legal issues that affect African American communities, and considering inequities and barriers that disproportionately affect African American LGBTQ communities;
- Draft court documents and parts of briefs for cases in state and federal courts and agencies;
- Analyze and prepare responses to state and federal legislation, regulations, and other executive actions affecting LGBTQ people and people living with HIV;
- Research and draft policy and advocacy materials, such as publications, articles, and fact sheets, with particular emphasis on developing legal resources focused on the specific challenges LGBTQ people of color face in institutional settings such as schools, shelters and criminal legal systems and on the specific challenges of people living with HIV in LGBTQ African American communities;
- Participate in case team meetings, office-wide strategic discussions, and external coalition meetings; and
- Connect with key African American leaders and organizations to further inform and guide our efforts to serve African American LGBTQ communities
Who you are:
With the understanding that no one person will offer every desired skill and characteristic outlined below, compelling candidates will offer much of the following:
- Candidates may be recent law school graduates, completing another fellowship or judicial clerkship, or looking to transition out of another form of law practice
- The fellow will be expected to become admitted to the bar of the state where they will be practicing law
- The fellow must commit to two full years in the position
- The fellow should possess a high level of independence and initiative, good judgment, excellent research and writing skills, and the ability to produce high-caliber legal work under demanding deadlines
- The fellow must demonstrate creativity, and a willingness to work collaboratively with others toward the most effective strategies and initiatives to advance civil rights, and always with respect and collegiality
Successful candidates will welcome the opportunity to work in a racially- and gender-diverse environment and to contribute to a positive and inclusive atmosphere. Working at Lambda Legal requires a demonstrated awareness of and commitment to the concerns of the breadth of the communities that Lambda Legal serves.
Prior work on behalf of the LGBTQ+ community and/or people living with HIV is highly desirable. Experience working with other historically marginalized communities (in a professional or volunteer capacity) is also desirable.
All employees at Lambda Legal are expected to adhere to ethical conduct in all interactions and tasks, ensuring a positive and respectful workplace environment.
Why Work at Lambda Legal?
You get to do meaningful, life-changing work at a national level for LGBTQ+ people and everyone living with HIV. Lambda Legal also proudly offers competitive benefits for our team. We understand that our staff’s dedication and effort are instrumental in achieving our mission. A highlight of the benefits we offer include:
- Medical benefits that begin on your start date
- Dental, Vision, and Life insurance (effective 30 days from your start date)
- Short & Long-Term Disability plans (effective 30 days from your start date)
- Option to contribute to a 403(b) Retirement Plan
- Paid Time Off:
- Paid Vacation (15 Days)
- Sick Leave (12 Days)
- Personal Leave (3 Days)
- Religious Observance Leave (3 Days)
- Bereavement and Bereavement Anniversary Leave
- Floating Holiday (1 Day)
- 12 paid holidays and 5 early office closures
- Flexible Spending Account (FSA/DC FSA) and Commuter Benefits
- Health Reimbursement Account
- $50 monthly mobile phone reimbursement
- Annual professional development fund
- Summer Fridays from Memorial Day to Labor Day
- Premium subscription to the Calm App
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Read more about Lambda Legal's work on our blog and Instagram.
Lambda Legal believes in creating a more equitable playing field for applicants and values the depth of relevant skills built through successful education, work, and life experiences. If your background and skills are a close match for this position, you are strongly encouraged to apply.
Lambda Legal is committed to further building and maintaining a staff that reflects the full range of LGBTQ+, HIV-affected and allied communities, and is an equal opportunity employer. We value a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture. Lambda Legal encourages applications from all qualified individuals without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship or immigration status, disability, veteran status, record of arrest or conviction, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Black people, Indigenous people, people of color, lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer, transgender and gender-diverse people, women, people with abilities in multiple languages, immigrants, people living with disabilities, protected veterans, and formerly incarcerated individuals and individuals living with HIV are all encouraged to apply.
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