Position Overview

The Abolitionist Law Center is hiring a Policy & Advocacy Associate for its Human Rights Program. This is a fully remote contractor position for three months, with the possibility of an extension based on needs.  

The HRP Policy & Advocacy Associate will support a strategic advocacy effort within HRP focused on strengthening engagement and building meaningful partnerships with international and domestic community stakeholders, partners, and movements. The Associate will help develop and coordinate advocacy and narrative-shifting initiatives that increase visibility, mobilize supporters, and expand impact, in a sensitive and risk-averse manner which prioritizes the safety and security of communities ALC / HRP works with. 

This is a dynamic role holding both advocacy and communications responsibilities, and as such, the Associate will work closely with the legal and communications teams to ensure advocacy efforts are coordinated, accessible, and responsive to community and movement needs. A key priority of this role is helping translate complex legal, policy, and advocacy efforts into clear, digestible, and action-oriented materials that support movement-building and public understanding. 

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement legal, advocacy, and policy strategies aligned with HRP’s programmatic priorities.
• Work closely with the legal and communications teams to ensure advocacy efforts are coordinated, accessible, and responsive to community and movement needs.
• Build and steward relationships with HRP’s movement partners, community organizations, advocates, and key stakeholders.
• Partner with movement allies to lead human rights and risk-competency training for ALC teams working with communities facing targeted harm.
• Translate HRP’s work for community members, journalists, academic and policy institutions, and Congressional offices including by utilizing creative advocacy and educational strategies such as briefing guides, advocacy toolkits, and other public education materials.
• Coordinate HRP’s legal and advocacy campaigns and stakeholder engagement.
• Conduct policy and issue research to support HRP’s advocacy and programmatic priorities.
• Represent HRP in coalitions, community meetings, and advocacy spaces.
• Track advocacy activities, stakeholder engagement, and policy developments. 

Qualifications 

• 3–5 years of experience in legal, advocacy, policy, community engagement, organizing, or related fields specific to the BAMEMSA communities and MENA region.
• Strong understanding of human rights frameworks, equity-centered advocacy, and issues impacting historically marginalized communities.
• Experience working with movements, coalitions, or community-based organizations.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to make complex issues accessible to diverse audiences.
• Excellent organizational skills and ability to manage multiple projects and priorities. 

Preferred Attributes 

• Commitment to mission-driven, movement-led, and community-centered work.
• Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills.
• Collaborative, adaptable, and detail-oriented approach to work.
• Interest in policy advocacy, movement-building, and public engagement.
• J.D. or M.A. in Public Policy.
• Graphic design experience.

Salary and Benefits

The hourly compensation range for this position is between $45/hour – $75/hour. Compensation based on experience. ALC is open to considering project-based rates as well. 

Reports to: Human Rights Program Manager

Application Process

To apply, please send a cover letter, resume, and 2 work samples of your choice to info@alcenter.org. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Deadline to apply is August 24, 2026. 

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.

Position Overview

The Abolitionist Law Center (ALC) is hiring a full-time paralegal for our Philadelphia office. The ALC paralegal works with our legal department in litigation, investigation, and research tasks, communicating with incarcerated clients, managing case files, and managing intake correspondence. This is a full time, in-person, Philadelphia-based position. The paralegal will work with incarcerated clients and their communities and advocates to challenge state violence in all its forms and contribute to building powerful movements for liberation.

Responsibilities

• Working collaboratively with ALC attorneys on litigation-related tasks, including drafting correspondence, organizing, managing, and reviewing discovery; conducting research; managing case files in a database; assisting with filings, preparation for court proceedings, and document requests; assisting with client communication; and a variety of other litigation support tasks.
• Manage large volume of physical mail and email correspondence regarding difficult circumstances of incarcerated people. This includes reading, tracking, scanning, writing, sending, and storing physical mail.
• Conduct visits and calls with clients and potential clients who are incarcerated.
• Assist in investigations of conditions of confinement in jails and prisons in Pennsylvania and support the compassionate release intake process, including developing and maintaining relationships with potential clients, witnesses, organizers, and community partners; preparing and managing record requests.
• Attend weekly staff meetings, providing feedback to leadership and staff to improve organizational effectiveness.
• Assisting with office management responsibilities for legal department, managing and ordering supplies, and other tasks and responsibilities as assigned.
• Some travel within the state of Pennsylvania to jails, prisons, and court proceedings may be required. Having a car or access to a car is preferred but not required.

Requirements

• Commitment to an abolitionist and movement-lawyering approach that promotes decarceration and the elimination of the use of jails and prisons to deal with social problems, and centers the political agency and organizing activity of those individuals and communities most impacted by the criminal legal system.
• Exceptional organizational skills, capable of maintaining voluminous electronic and physical case and correspondence files and a willingness to engage in strategic organizational development with regard to the legal department.
• Proficiency in using or ability to learn Microsoft Word, Excel, and Microsoft Sharepoint, Google Mail, Adobe Acrobat, legal case management software, and other relevant platforms.
• Able to track, organize, and respond to a large amount of correspondence.
• Excellent writing ability, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Interest in conducting legal research and drafting documents.

Compensation

This position will be based in ALC’s Philadelphia office. This is a full-time position with a starting salary of $57,500 per year.

Benefits:

• 100% employer paid medical, dental, vision, life, and accidental death and dismemberment insurance for employee and dependents
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
• 280 hours of paid time off per year
• 4 months of paid parental leave
• 11 paid federal holidays
• Monthly wellness stipend
• Supervision stipend for formerly incarcerated persons with ongoing parole/probation fees

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. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.  

Please note that Abolitionist Law Center has a zero tolerance policy for usage of generative chatbot AI tools to write cover letters. Any applicant found to have used a generative chatbot AI tool to write their cover letter will automatically be disqualified with no rejection notice.

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.

Position Overview

Abolitionist Law Center and its (c)(4) Straight Ahead are seeking a detail-oriented, passionate, and experienced Finance and Operations Director to run the operations, finance functions, and administration of our org from our Philadelphia office.

Position Summary

ALC’s Operations Director oversees all operations, finance, and administrative functions of both organizations including general operations, HR, budget and expense management, and staff supervision. The Finance and Operations Director is a member of ALC’s Senior Leadership Team and will act as a key strategic partner with the Executive Director and Legal Director. This position supervises the Administrative Manager. As we move into the 2026 midterm election season, this position will play a key role in running successful programming on our 501(c)(4).

Responsibilities

Lead Finance functions:

• Oversee day-to-day financial operations, including accounts payable and receivable, reporting to bookkeeper, running payroll, and benefits administration;
• Work with the ED to build and manage ALC and SAO’s budgets;
• Present financial statements with analysis and recommendations to ED and Board;
• Oversee cash flow and advise on if/when transactions between operating and reserve accounts should occur;
• Prepare monthly payroll allocations and cost share reports;
• Oversee financial, project/program, and grants accounting;
• Oversee annual audits and tax filings;
• Support organizations’ fundraising by providing financial content including budget and other financial documents and narratives, financial projections, tracked grant spending, etc. as needed for fundraising efforts including grant applications and reports;
• Collaborate with the Development Director to assess and maximize projected and actual income from individuals and grantmaking institutions;
• Supervise the receipt, recording, depositing, and conveying to Development of income received by check via surface mail;
• Collaborate with Development to reconcile all grant and donation income on a monthly basis.

Lead Operations Department:

• Manage contracts and vendors;
• Oversee management of both Pittsburgh and Philadelphia offices, including negotiation of real estate leases;
• Oversee management of digital infrastructure, including coordinating directly with platform vendors for IT support and setting up accounts on platforms for staff;
• With Executive Director oversee and ensure organizational 501(c)(3)  and 501(c)(4) compliance;
• Manage all aspects of administration of ALC and SAO’s fiscally sponsored projects;
• Manage ALC/SAO state-level fundraising registrations and other fundraising compliance measures;
• Prepare and file all required lobbying and campaign finance reports and other electoral and lobbying-related compliance materials.

Lead HR functions:

• Assist hiring managers in hiring processes, including writing job descriptions for new positions;
• Onboard new staff and offboard exiting staff;
• Work with managers on performance evaluation of staff they supervise;
• Develop and maintain policies that promote equitable and sustainable workplace environment;
• Evaluate and oversee decisions on staff compensation, benefits, and professional development;
• In partnership with the ED develop and implement strategies to strengthen organizational culture and drive initiatives that enhance staff experience, belonging, and equity.

Lead Operations Department:

• Manage the Administrative Manager and consultants, providing guidance, support, and accountability in implementing plans;
• Ensure strong collaboration and coordination with other teams and staff as needed; hold the team accountable to other teams that are depending on them;
• Serve on the Senior Leadership Team, give input on strategic decisions, and build trust, cohesion, and alignment between operations staff/team and the organization’s mission and overall direction;
• Drive annual planning and goal setting for the operations team, in alignment with organizational strategy and direction.

Experience and Qualifications

• 5-7 years of operations experience at a nonprofit organization, which has both a 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4);
• 1-2 years of supervision experience;
• Experience at an organization which offers direct services like legal or healthcare services;
• Experience working with formerly incarcerated folks;
• Extensive finance and compliance experience including at organizations with registered lobbyists and which do electoral work;
• Experience with budget tracking in Sheets or Excel;
• Experience with an expense tracking system;
• Experience with a grant tracking system and experience at an organization with many different funding sources (including grants, major and grassroots donors, and/or fees for service).

Skills and Abilities

• Equity and inclusion commitment and skills: Motivated by ALC/SAO’s mission and racial and economic justice. Ability to connect with our staff, partners, and community members across lines of difference, and be relentlessly positive in order to provide them with the support they need. Centers those most impacted by these issues; actively works to maximize equity in decisions, policies, and processes.
• People-centered culture builder: Demonstrated track record of developing and implementing people-centered systems and practices at the organizational level. Deep experience in at least one or more of the following functional areas: equity, inclusion, and belonging; organizational risk management; organizational change management; organizational and individual performance management; recruiting and hiring; training and coaching.
• Operations & systems expertise: Demonstrated track record of designing, implementing, and maintaining strong team or organization-wide systems to maximize efficiency, transparency, equity, and usability. Experience with budget and expense management. General understanding of nonprofit compliance regulations, with an interest in gaining experience in this area.
• Effective people & project management: Practices equitable, sustainable, and results-driven management. Coordinates and collaborates effectively across a complex and multifaceted state organization. Ability to lead a team in developing goals and plans, adhering to deadlines, and prioritizing tasks.
• Highly organized, detail-oriented problem-solver: Manages a high volume of work with efficiency. Holds the big picture while managing the details; juggles competing priorities and makes smart judgements on where to invest resources. Strong discernment to identify practical solutions to complex problems and challenges.

Salary and Benefits

Salary: $90,000 base salary; room for negotiation depending on experience

Location: Philadelphia, PA / Hybrid

Benefits:

• 100% employer paid medical, dental, vision, life, and accidental death and dismemberment insurance for employee and dependents
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
• 280 hours of paid time off per year
• 4 months of paid parental leave
• 11 paid federal holidays
• Monthly wellness stipend
• Supervision stipend for formerly incarcerated persons with ongoing parole/probation fees

The work schedule can at times be greater than 40 hours per week and includes evening and weekend meetings and events, as necessary. It is not a strictly 9am-5pm position.
Application Instructions
Please submit a resume and cover letter using the form on this page. Please keep your cover letter to one page and answer the following questions:

1. How has your experience, both professional and lived, prepared you to work at an organization taking on something as powerful and harmful as the criminal punishment and mass incarceration system? Why is doing so important to you?
2. What role do you see yourself playing in fighting for justice in this particular political moment?
3. ALC and SAO are led by our Executive Director who was directly impacted by mass incarceration. Do you have experience being part of an organization led by a formerly incarcerated person or person directly affected by mass incarceration, or experience working directly with formerly incarcerated people?

Please note that Abolitionist Law Center has a zero tolerance policy for usage of generative chatbot AI tools to write cover letters. Any applicant found to have used a generative chatbot AI tool to write their cover letter will automatically be disqualified with no rejection notice. If you require accommodations for this application, please email alina.sa.consulting@gmail.com

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.

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.

The Abolitionist Law Center is interested in sponsoring rising third-year law students and recent law graduates for an attorney fellowship to begin in the Fall of 2027. This includes fellowships such as law school-funded fellowships, Equal Justice Works, Skadden, or others as they are available.  We are seeking a fellow to support our work in the wake of Commonwealth v. Lee, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court case that found mandatory life without parole for felony murder to be an unconstitutional punishment, which ALC litigated.

The fellow will work with ALC staff attorneys and partners to coordinate a statewide defense response to support those serving unconstitutional sentences, develop and implement litigation strategies related to felony-murder sentencing, and assist with tracking the progress of anticipated resentencing proceedings and developments of felony murder sentencing jurisprudence. Our staff will work with selected candidates to develop their proposals to external funders for submission.

We will review applications on a rolling basis. Interested applicants should email a cover letter, resume, three professional references, and a five-page legal writing sample (excerpts acceptable) to qcozzens@alcenter.org. Please indicate in your cover letter if you have a preference for a fellowship funder.

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.

Court watch interns will get direct experience seeing how county courts operate and handle criminal and civil cases at multiple levels, be instrumental in spotting inequities and other weak spots in the system, and work with our team to strategize about how to research, advocate, and expose systemic injustice.

Learn more at alccourtwatch.org/get-involved/

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.