Senior Counsel, Liberty and National Security Program

The Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law is a nonpartisan law and policy institute that seeks to improve the systems of democracy and justice in the United States. We work to hold our political institutions and laws accountable to the twin American ideals of democracy and equal justice for all. The Brennan Center’s work ranges from voting rights to campaign finance reform, from ending mass incarceration to preserving Constitutional protections in national security policies.

Part think‑tank, part advocacy group, part cutting‑edge communications hub, we start with rigorous research, craft innovative policies, and fight for them – in Congress and the states, in the courts, and in the court of public opinion.

The Brennan Center seeks a skilled attorney to join our Liberty and National Security Program (LNS). The LNS Program works to advance effective national security policies that respect the rule of law and constitutional values. Our current program priorities include ensuring that Congress and the courts serve their constitutional role as a check on executive power in the area of national security;

bolstering First and Fourth Amendment protections in the digital age; ending racial, religious, and ethnic profiling in counter terrorism policies; enhancing transparency, oversight, and accountability for intelligence and law enforcement agencies; ensuring that national security artificial intelligence is deployed only when it is safe, effective, and fair; and reforming emergency powers to strengthen safeguards against abuse.

Note: This position is based at our headquarters in New York City. Candidates located in Washington, D.C. will still be considered. Periodic travel between Brennan Center offices and to other locations for conferences and meetings will be required.

• Spearheading the LNS program’s work reconceiving the future of the Department of Homeland Security to prevent abuse of its broad authorities.
• Developing, drafting, and supervising legal and policy research and analyses.
• Producing written reports and other public educational materials that support policy advocacy, legislative reform, and communications initiatives.
• Writing and speaking for both legal and non‑legal audiences, including speaking with news media, drafting opinion pieces and blog posts, participating in conferences, and other public appearances.
• Consulting with and advocating to lawmakers and other decision makers.
• Conceiving and planning public events and private convenings with experts from different fields.
• Participating in and organizing coalitions.
• Depending on the team’s needs, participating in litigation as amicus or counsel, including supervising research projects and reviewing work product, writing briefs, and developing strategy with team members, allied organizations, and/or pro bono law firm counsel.
• Contributing relevant legal and technical expertise and strategic advice to support the program’s work.
• Mentoring and supervising junior and mid‑level attorneys, legal interns, and program support staff, reviewing and providing feedback on work product.
• Contributing to productive and collegial work within the team and across departments, including participation in recruitment and hiring, administration, communications, and development.

Required. The position requires a J.D. and admission to the bar of the office where the employee is based. If you are admitted to a Bar for a state other than the office where you are located, you must be eligible to practice or apply for admission to that state’s Bar within 6 months of hire.

Ideal. The ideal candidate will have experience with federal law enforcement or immigration authorities (for example at the Departments of Homeland Security or Justice or experience serving as a staffer to an elected member of Congress or a committee covering issues of federal law enforcement, immigration, or homeland security), along with some combination of the following experiences and qualifications.

• A minimum of five to eight years’ relevant experience.
• Demonstrated capacity to drive projects and outcomes.
• Strong ability and interest in writing…