Position Overview

Abolitionist Law Center (ALC) is seeking a Philadelphia-based organizer to lead our Philly jails campaigns and also work with local coalitions on jail issues.

The Philadelphia Jails organizer would be responsible primarily for leading an existing coalition of groups and individuals who monitor Philly’s jails and use a human rights framework to advocate for changes within the jails. The organizer would be one of the lead facilitators of this group, bottom-line its accountability and transparency campaign and advocacy to improve jail conditions and decarcerate the jails, and recruit and engage people directly impacted by jails. The position requires proficiency at organizing with impacted populations as well as leading campaigns and facilitating diverse groups, but we can train and support strong candidates in some of these aspects of the position. Preference for people who are formerly incarcerated. Must live in Philadelphia. 

Secondary responsibilities for the position include representing ALC and prison/jail issues in local coalitions, especially those involving formerly incarcerated groups and city council/city budget matters. The organizer would also help with ALC’s other prison and jail campaigns, including those around solitary confinement and life/extreme sentences, capacity committing.
Organizing responsibilities

• Create relationships with existing members of Philly jails coalition
• Recruit new members for Philly jails coalition, especially those impacted by prison/jails
• Work with ALC team to determine campaigns and goals for the coalition, and bottomline coalitional efforts to carry them out (this may include leading actions, canvasses, advocacy events, and lobbying sessions)
• Work with coalition and community members to attend and testify at Prison Oversight Board meetings; work with Board members to pressure local electeds
• Representing ALC and the jails on existing local coalitions
• Responding to letters and communications from people in the Philadelphia county jails.

Compensation:

This is a two-year, grant-funded position with an annual salary of $55,000 (non-exempt). Benefits include: 

• Employer-sponsored medical, dental and vision insurance options (up to 100% premiums covered by organization)
• 280 hours of PTO per year (plus additional 66 hours of Paid Holiday Time annually)
• Option for traditional 401k (no employer match)
• Option for Medical Flexible Spending Account
• $50/month wellness stipend 

Application Process:

Please send your resume, three professional references, and a detailed cover letter explaining your interest in the position as a single PDF to info@alcenter.org and include “Philly Jails Organizer” in the subject line. 

Equal Opportunity Employer

Abolitionist Law Center is an Equal Opportunity employer. We believe that a diverse staff which is representative of our clients and membership base is essential to fulfilling our mission. Employment and promotional opportunities are based upon individual abilities, qualifications, and the needs of the organization, and without regard to race (including hairstyle/texture), color, national origin, age, religion, disability status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, immigration status, language fluency except as required by job responsibilities, Native American or First Nations tribal membership status, or marital status. Formerly incarcerated folks and folks who have been directly impacted by the criminal punishment system are highly encouraged to apply.

ALC Court Watch accepts applications on a rolling basis for credited and volunteer court watch internships. Interns will receive valuable experience observing and documenting court proceedings and can work towards a culminating project that highlights their particular area of interest.

• Applicants must first participate as ALC Court Watch volunteers for a minimum of three months before reaching out about an internship.
• Internship applicants must also be eligible to receive academic course credit and are responsible for contacting their academic advisor to confirm eligibility and arrange for course credit.

Please send a letter of interest and resume to our volunteer coordinator Airi Tilley at airi@alcenter.org.

ALC Court Watch accepts applications on a rolling basis for credited externships from law students. Externs will pick an area of focus, routinely observe related court proceedings, and write a final paper summarizing their observations, noting any systemic constitutional violations, and proposing de-carceral interventions.

Please send a letter of interest and resume to our project manager Dolly Prabhu at dolly@alcenter.org.

ALC accepts applications from October 1st thru January 31st for our summer legal internship positions.

The 10-week summer internship program is for law students interested in abolition and movement lawyering, who successfully complete their first year of law school and want to work with us in defending the human rights of incarcerated people and their communities in Pennsylvania.

Our casework includes solitary confinement litigation, direct representation of those seeking medical transfer under the state “compassionate release” law, post-conviction criminal representation, prison conditions litigation, and class action litigation against Philadelphia and Allegheny County Jails over their treatment of the incarcerated population.

ALC is accepting three Philadelphia-based interns who will be asked to work in ALC’s Philadelphia office at least two days a week, and up to two interns in Pittsburgh, where a preference will be given for in person interns but remote interns will be considered. Please indicate your location preference in your cover letter.

Statistics show that people from structurally marginalized communities are less likely to apply if they feel they do not meet 100% of the requirements. If you have a strong feeling in your gut about this position, no matter who you are, we strongly encourage your application.

Apply: Applications should be sent in a single email with one PDF attachment including all materials (listed below) with the subject line “Legal Internship Application” to Rupalee Rashatwar, Staff Attorney, at rupalee@alcenter.org.

Applicants are required to submit the following:

• Cover Letter: No more than two pages double-spaced. Include name and contact information; current law school or legal education; whether you are interested in a Philadelphia-based position or a remote position; your interest in prison abolition; why you want to work with the Abolitionist Law Center; and what experiences, skills, or attributes of yours make you suitable to work with ALC.
• Resume: No longer than one page in length to reflect most recent work history. Previous internships and volunteer and organizing experience may also be included.
• Professional References: Please provide three professional references. These can be prior employers, volunteer coordinators, or other people with whom you have worked. These should be from people who can attest to your ability to handle challenging intellectual work, learn new material, work well in a collaborative setting, and communicate effectively.
• Legal Writing Sample: no longer than five single-spaced pages or 10 double-spaced. This can be an excerpt from a longer writing.

Decisions: Decisions will be made on a rolling basis.

Funding: There is no guaranteed funding available from ALC for these positions; students will be required to finance their internship via grants or fellowships.