Position: Daniel H. Renberg Law Fellow
Department: Legal
Office Location: Los Angeles, CA*
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 of California 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.
Daniel H. Renberg Fellowship
The Daniel H. Renberg Law Fellow will engage in cutting-edge impact litigation, public policy advocacy, and education furthering Lambda Legal’s mission.
The Daniel H. Renberg Legal Fellowship was endowed by Eugene Kapaloski in honor of his late husband. Daniel H. Renberg was a California businessman, financier, and philanthropist. After serving in the U.S. Army and earning degrees from Northwestern and Harvard, he moved to Los Angeles in 1958. He worked as a stockbroker before establishing Renberg Capital Management in 1964. Mr. Renberg and Mr. Kapaloski are known philanthropists who provided significant support to a number of local and national organizations committed to improving the lives of LGBTQ+ people. In addition, they established the Daniel H. Renberg Fund at Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern, the Daniel H. Renberg Law Fellow position at The Williams Institute, supported the Los Angeles Museum of the Holocaust, and the US Holocaust Museum in Washington, D.C. Mr. Renberg and Mr. Kapaloski were partners for over 53 years.
Responsibilities
- Conduct factual and legal research in support of new and active litigation and other client advocacy
- 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
- 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 California
- 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 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.
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.
________
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.