Fall 2023 Fellowship Sponsorship

Centro de Trabajadores Unidos en la Lucha (CTUL), a Twin Cities worker center, seeks third-year law students or recent graduates as applicants for a sponsored fellowship such as Justice Catalyst, school-specific fellowships, or other public interest fellowships to begin in the fall of 2023. If selected by CTUL, the applicant will then be responsible for applying to the public interest fellowships in order to secure the funding to make the position possible.

About CTUL

CTUL is a worker-led organization where workers organize, educate, and empower each other to fight for a voice in their workplaces and in their communities. We partner with other organizations and leaders to build a movement to win racial, gender and economic justice. We identify the root causes of injustice and work to shift the balance of power between those who have it and those who don’t to improve the lives of our communities for present and future generations. Visit www.ctul.net to learn more.

Responsibilities

If selected and fellowship funding is received, the fellow’s project will focus on our campaign to support construction workers in the Twin Cities. Rather than provide direct representation to clients, the fellow will engage in movement lawyering by supporting CTUL’s organizers and public campaigns. This may include:

• Supporting organizers in dealing with wage theft and misclassification claims and developing legal tools for documentation of violations.
• Helping develop the connection between CTUL and our partners in the Building Trades.
• Assisting the campaign to grow the Building Dignity and Respect program, a human rights program developed on the Worker-Driven Social Responsibility model in order to protect workers throughout the Twin Cities’ construction industry.
• Developing educational tools and programs regarding issues in the construction industry and the Building Dignity and Respect program.
• Assisting with engagement at the local, state, and federal levels to advance worker protections.

The fellowship is a collaboration between CTUL and the North Central States Regional Council of Carpenters, whose general counsel will serve as the supervising attorney for the fellow.

Experience and Qualifications

• J.D. and Bar Admission, or expected by fall of 2023 
• Ability to speak Spanish a plus but not required
• Commitment to social, racial, gender, and economic justice work as part of a multi-racial team
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills
• Commitment to a culture of vulnerability and loving challenge for both personal growth and the growth of the organization
• Capable of working both independently and cooperatively
• Flexibility to attend events outside normal business hours that from time to time may include evenings and weekends as well as extended hours to accomplish requirements of the position
• Ability to deal with ambiguity, cope with change, and comfortably handle risk & uncertainty

Salary & Benefits

CTUL has a tiered salary range set by the Staff and Board based on the principles of economic justice and inclusion.  This is a salaried position currently compensated at $52,530 per year with an annual raise of 3%. This full-time position will normally work 40 hours per week. Benefits include: 3 weeks paid vacation, 12 paid sick days, paid holidays, medical and dental insurance for you and your immediate family at 10% cost, an annual end of year payment of 5% of your annual salary which can be used towards a retirement fund, and others. 

Application Instructions

Interested applicants should submit a cover letter, resume, writing sample, and list of three references to dan@ctul.net using the subject “Legal Fellowship.” Applications will be assessed on a rolling basis. Position open until filled.

If selected by CTUL, the applicant will then be responsible for applying to the public interest fellowships in order to secure the funding to make the position possible.

In your cover letter, please indicate the fellowships you would apply to if selected by CTUL and their respective application deadlines. 

CTUL is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from people of color as well as persons with disabilities, LGBTQ individuals, women, immigrants, folks from working class backgrounds, and formerly incarcerated people.