Vera seeks an attorney to join the Legal Department on a full-time basis.

Who We Are

The Vera Institute of Justice, founded in 1961, envision a society that respects the dignity of every person and safeguards justice for everyone.

• We study problems that impede human dignity and justice.
• We pilot solutions that are at once transformative and achievable.
• We engage diverse communities in informed debate.
• And we harness the power of evidence to drive effective policy and practice.

We work with others who share our vision to tackle the most pressing injustices of our day—from mass incarceration, racial disparities, and the loss of public trust in law enforcement to the unmet needs of the vulnerable, the marginalized, and those harmed by crime and violence. Vera has offices in New York City, Washington, DC, Los Angeles, and New Orleans. Vera is an equal opportunity employer with a commitment to diversity in the workplace—specifically, we value diverse experiences with regard to educational background and justice system contact. We hire employees that reflect our values: respect, independence, collaboration, commitment, and racial equity.

Vera's Legal Department provides comprehensive in-house legal services to the organization, including each of its administrative departments, centers, programs, and demonstration projects, and to its Board of Trustees.

The Position

This position will be based in Vera’s New York office, in Industry City, Brooklyn. The attorney will report to the General Counsel and will work with the entire Legal Department to provide legal advice and assistance to Vera's Board and staff.

The ideal applicant will have a strong interest in the operations of nonprofit organizations and a broad-based curiosity about potentially unfamiliar legal matters, as the Institute is known for its innovative and entrepreneurial approach. An interest in the substantive areas in which Vera works (including criminal justice, juvenile justice, and immigration), and in non-profit tax issues, employment law, and policy, is a plus. The Associate General Counsel will work with the General Counsel, the Assistant General Counsel, the Clifford Chance Foundation Fellow, the Legal Department Manager, and the Legal Coordinator to provide comprehensive legal advice and assistance to Vera's Board and staff. Tasks will include researching legal and regulatory issues, advising projects on arising matters, ensuring compliance with legal requirements for nonprofits, and fostering Vera’s pro bono program. The entire Legal Department pitches in on the contracting load, so the attorney will also have an ongoing responsibility to draft, review, and negotiate agreements.

About You

You like working with others, and you like to solve problems. You are confident enough in your writing and your command of legal ideas not to fall back on legalese. You have three to five years of relevant experience (whether at another not-for-profit, a law firm, or elsewhere) and are creative, practical, and skilled. You are interested in how not-for-profits work and you want to use your talents for a great cause. Vera’s Legal team works to automate as many of its processes as possible, so you will be adept with technology and keen for new opportunities to use it.

Salary

Commensurate with experience, and competitive benefits.

To Apply

Please submit cover letter and resume.

No phone calls, please. Only applicants selected for interviews will be contacted.

Online submission in PDF format is strongly preferred.

However, if necessary, materials may be mailed or faxed to

ATTN: People and Culture / Legal

Vera Institute of Justice

233 Broadway, 12th Fl.

34 35th Street, Suite 4-2-A

Brooklyn, NY 11232

Fax: (212) 941-9407

Please use only one method of submission (online, mail, or fax).

Vera is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without unlawful discrimination based on race, color, creed, national origin, sex, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, military status, prior record of arrest or conviction, citizenship status, or current employment status.

Vera works to advance justice, particularly racial justice, in an increasingly multicultural country and globally connected world. We value diverse experiences, including with regard to educational background and justice system contact, and depend on a diverse staff to carry out our mission.

For more information about Vera, please visit www.vera.org.