Technology & Racial Justice Collaborative Fellow at NYU School of Law

Background

The Center on Race, Inequality, & the Law at NYU School of Law engages in research and advocacy to disrupt and transform laws, policies, and practices that oppress and marginalize people of color. By documenting the history of racism in America and rigorously applying a racial justice lens to analyze unremitting disparities, we identify actionable, forward-looking solutions to address the injustices caused by racism and inequality.  The Center accomplishes its mission through litigation and policy advocacy, coalition-building, research, and narrative change.  

About the Role

With the support of planning partners, the Center recently launched the Technology & Racial Justice Collaborative to help cultivate a network of policy advocates, public interest lawyers, academic researchers, and technologists whose work addresses threats to racial justice, civil rights, and civil  liberties arising from the use of AI-driven technology in the criminal legal system.  At its core, the Collaborative aims to serve communities most impacted by law enforcement technology. The Collaborative will focus on three strategies: 

• Cultivating Community – building relationships and strengthening coordination, collaboration, and collective problem-solving among advocacy and research partners to address emergent threats;

• Developing Capacity-Building Resources – providing a set of customized capacity-building resources that strengthen strategic approaches to work; and

• Developing Customized Trainings – providing customized trainings that meet the needs of members (e.g. strategic communications/messaging).

The Fellow will ensure the continued development of the Collaborative’s initiatives.

Responsibilities  

The Technology   Racial Justice Collaborative Fellow will serve as a key expert and advisor for the Center’s evolving work focused on the impact and implications of law enforcement technology on racial justice, civil rights, and civil liberties.The Fellow will bring legal, policy, and domain expertise on emerging issues related to AI-driven technology in the criminal legal system (e.g. biometric surveillance, machine learning, predictive tools, algorithmic accountability) including the impact of these advanced technologies on communities of color. Accordingly, the Fellow will:

• Collaborate with advocacy, legal, and research movement partners to conceptualize, design, and develop meetings, workshops, and events advancing TRJC’s vision.

• Conduct policy and legal research to home in on key areas where law enforcement technology threatens racial justice priorities.

• Develop a series of  policy legal briefs investigating the impact of a  police technology disproportionately impacting  communities of color.

• Manage and continue to develop TRJC’s Justice and Technology Legislative Bill Tracker including managing consultants, students with expertise in data science and computer science; provide regular legislative updates to TRJC’s partners.

• Manage the research and development stage of TRJC’s police technology litigation tracker with relevant partner organizations.

• Collaborate with key partner organizations to develop customized trainings for TRJC’s stakeholders (e.g. strategic communications, messaging).

• Manage the development and evaluate the impact of TRJC’s online community engagement platform designed to promote connectivity and break down silos among partner organizations; grow subscriber base and evaluate impact.

• Manage the production of TRJC’s quarterly newsletter, including soliciting content and ensuring the integrity of the design aesthetic; grow newsletter subscriber base.

• Collaborate and deepen connections with TRJC’s advisory team and facilitate quarterly meetings.

• Manage design consultants, data scientists, computer scientists, and law students to develop TRJC’s projects.

• Develop systems to evaluate the impact of TRJC’s projects.

Reports To

This position reports to the Center’s Executive Director and Faculty Director.

Compensation & Benefits

The salary range for the Technology & Racial Justice Collaborative Fellow is $105,000- $115,000.  The Center on Race, Inequality & the Law offers a highly competitive benefits package that includes health care, dental, and vision coverage.

Location

This is a position based in New York City.

• J.D. or equivalent combination of education and experience informed by an in-depth understanding of the racial justice, civil rights, and civil liberties issues related to the deployment of AI-driven technology in the criminal legal system

• At least three  years of professional experience as a policy/ legal advocate or researcher working to investigate and disrupt the threats to racial justice, civil rights, and civil liberties from technologies deployed by law enforcement agencies

• Strong command of the AI policy and ecosystem of key organizations and advocates working to investigate and disrupt the harms of AI-driven technology in the criminal legal system

• Knowledge of emerging trends in the use of law enforcement technology and implications for directly impacted communities and for civil rights and civil liberties

• Superior policy research skills, including demonstrated experience analyzing statutes and proposed legislation

• Ability to conduct legal research

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills including editing documents and articles

• Ability to translate technical concepts into language accessible to others who lack technical expertise

• Ability to engage with TRJC’s advisory team and facilitate quarterly meetings

• Effective organizational and time management skills and ability to manage multiple projects

• Demonstrated ability to work independently yet embrace the spirit of collaboration and collegiality to fully embrace TRJC’s aim to break down silos and support collaboration among partner organizations

• Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to manage relationships in complex organizational settings

How to Apply

Please submit a cover letter, resume, and writing sample under 1,500 words at http://apply.interfolio.com/151002