Position: Tyron Garner Law Fellow
Department: Legal
Office Location: Dallas, TX*
Type: WFO or WFH
Report To: Senior Counsel
Annual Salary: $60,000
Travel:Up to 15%
FLSA Status: Exempt/Full-Time
* If you are located in a different area and wish to be considered for this role, please apply.
Who We Are
Lambda Legal is a national organization committed to achieving full recognition of the civil rights of lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, transgender people, 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. Clients are not charged for legal representation or advocacy and Lambda Legal receives no government funding. Headquartered in New York City, Lambda Legal 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 or gender identity 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. In light of this reality, we prioritize awareness and proactive commitment to counteracting these biases and their compounding effects.
Tyron Garner Memorial Fellowship for African American LGBTQ Civil Rights
The Tyron Garner 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.
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.
Responsibilities
- 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
- Connect with key African American leaders and organizations to further inform and guide our efforts to serve African American LGBTQ communities
- Participate in case team meetings, internal strategic discussions, and external coalition meetings
Qualifications
- Commit to two full years
- Be a recent law school graduate, completing another fellowship or judicial clerkship, or looking to transition out of another form of law practice
- Willing to become licensed to practice law in Texas
- 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
- Must demonstrate creativity and a willingness to work collaboratively with others toward the most effective strategies and initiatives to advance civil rights - and always do so 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 a plus.
Serving the full breadth of the LGBTQ+ and HIV communities requires cultural competency and a commitment to addressing the multilayered and interlocking forms of discrimination and oppression that exist in our society, including discrimination on the basis of race, national origin, immigration status, disability, religion, education, and class. Any successful candidate must be able to demonstrate their understanding and appreciation of the importance of integrating our commitment to combating these other forms of discrimination into our work to eradicate discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, nonconformity with gender stereotypes, or HIV status.
Benefits
Benefits include Short- and Long-Term Disability, Life Insurance, Medical Insurance (Telemedicine included), Dental Insurance, and an Employee Assistance Program – all at no cost for the employee-only premium. Employees may obtain additional coverage for themselves and/or their families including Vision Insurance at a low cost. They also may enroll in a pre-tax Health Flexible Spending Account (FSA), Dependent Care Account, and Commuter Transit Account. Lambda Legal offers a 403(b)-Retirement Plan with a percentage match from Lambda Legal as outlined in the collective bargaining agreement between Lambda Legal management and the Lambda Unites bargaining unit. Paid time off includes the opportunity to accrue up to 15 days of vacation, 3 personal and 12 sick. Lambda Legal observes 10 holidays per year and is supportive of observance of religious holidays.
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Read more about Lambda Legal's work on our blog, Twitter, 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.