Employment

GLAD has always been a frontline responder in the battle for LGBTQ+ rights. Now, we need a trailblazing Executive Director to lead the charge.

As legislative attacks threaten to roll back protections on our community, we seek a dynamic visionary to lead our $5M+ organization and grow our capacity, financial resources, impact, scale, and presence.

As a key public-facing representative of GLAD’s mission, values, and work, the next Executive Director will lead a powerhouse team of 35+ staff and interns, including a Legal Team comprised of some of the nation’s most highly regarded LGBTQ+ and human rights litigators. 

The next Executive Director will join this historic group of leaders and pioneers in defending our hard-won victories, spearheading bold new initiatives, and continuing our relentless pursuit of LGBTQ+ equality at a critical juncture for the movement.

Will you join us at this consequential time in history to protect and advance the rights of LGBTQ+ and HIV+ people across the country?

Learn more about the position and apply today.

This is an extraordinary time in history to advance and protect the rights of LGBTQ+ people and people living with HIV across the country. GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders (GLAD), New England’s premier LGBTQ+ and HIV legal advocacy organization, is seeking a full-time Constitutional Law Fellow to work alongside some of the leading LGBTQ+ attorneys in our movement on cutting edge issues facing our communities. 

This fully funded, one- or two-year fellowship’s primary focus is to advance constitutional rights and to defend those rights when challenged for LGBTQ+ people in a variety of areas, including among others, those related to nondiscrimination law, bodily autonomy, public institutions, marriage equality, and rule of law/democracy issues. The Constitutional Law Fellow may also engage in other matters within GLAD’s core litigation and legislative work.

About GLAD

At GLAD, we don’t just envision change—we make it happen. For over 45 years, both in New England and nationally, GLAD has used strategic litigation, legislative initiatives, regulatory measures, and public education and engagement to create a more just society free of discrimination on the basis of gender identity, HIV status, and sexual orientation. GLAD has secured key movement victories, from establishing HIV protections under the Americans with Disabilities Act to securing transgender rights in groundbreaking legal battles.

In addition to challenging bans on medically-necessary healthcare for transgender adults and youth in Florida and Alabama, GLAD’s policy work encompasses legislation removing barriers to PrEP, shielding healthcare practitioners providing reproductive health care and transgender health care from hostile out-of-state actions, and providing legal protection for LGBTQ+ families across New England and nationally. GLAD litigates and advocates on matters touching our lives throughout the life course. Whether involving students and schools, criminal justice, juvenile justice, child welfare, healthcare, insurance, or employment, housing, and public accommodations, GLAD’s impact work includes addressing systemic discrimination and inequities for LGBTQ+ people and people living with HIV.

GLAD attorneys argued and won in the first, breakthrough marriage case of Goodridge v. Dept. of Public Health in Massachusetts in 2003 and argued again at the Supreme Court in 2015, where marriage equality became the law of the land. The Obergefell ruling reinforced the equality of LGBTQ+ people, expanded our rights to live our lives, and respected that we are the ones to make important life decisions about how we organize our families, raise our children, and what happens in our homes and bedrooms.

GLAD’s ongoing advocacy and partnerships have made the New England states leaders and innovators while also making strategic and pivotal contributions nationally. This includes victory at the U.S. Supreme Court, where Obergefell was won after years of collaboration with movement colleagues and people all around the country. In these extraordinary times of fierce attacks on LGBTQ+ people and the hard-won family, nondiscrimination, gender, health, and constitutional protections for our communities we enjoy today, we continue leading and partnering locally, regionally, and nationally to create a more just society for all LGBTQ+ people and people living with HIV.  

GLAD continues to break through resistance and prejudice to make real progress. We insist on the dignity, inclusion, safety, and well-being of all LGBTQ+ people. This commitment extends to historically marginalized persons who are LGBTQ+ and/or living with HIV—people of color, transgender individuals, people living with disabilities, low-income individuals, youth, and older adults.

As lawyers, we are determined, tenacious, and strive for excellence because the work of our communities demands it.  

Position Summary

The Constitutional Law Fellow will engage in these activities to strengthen GLAD’s litigation and other advocacy to defend and expand our constitutional rights and protections, including as to marriage:

• Legal research and writing, research and writing in history, social sciences, politics, data sets, maintaining and updating trackers, collaborating internally and externally;
• Supporting and engaging in litigation and legislative and policy initiatives to defend and expand existing constitutional protections;
• Supporting and collaborating across departments within GLAD on public education, community engagement, coalition work, and public speaking.

Qualifications

The successful applicant will be dedicated to furthering GLAD’s mission and values. Requirements include strong research, writing, and analytical skills along with the ability to work collaboratively and independently with a diverse and intergenerational workforce. In addition, applicants should be committed to advancing civil rights and liberties. A strategic thinker and contributing team member, the Fellow will participate in developing and effectuating legal and policy solutions on a variety of LGBTQ+ issues along with a focus on constitutional issues. Preference will be given to individuals with a demonstrated interest in constitutional law. Current attorneys, recent judicial law clerks, and graduating law students are all encouraged to apply.

Compensation

3-5 years since JD – $87,500 – $95,000
0-2 years since JD – $75,000 – $85,000

GLAD offers excellent benefits including three weeks of paid vacation, fourteen paid holidays, four floating personal days, fully paid individual health and dental insurance, disability insurance, and 401k with employer contribution.

GLAD provides Constitutional Law Fellows an in-office or hybrid option in consultation with their supervising attorney. Periodic in-person appearances and work travel will be required. 

Application Process and Timing

Please send a resume, cover letter, and writing sample to conlawfellow@glad.org. Emails should contain the subject line “Constitutional Law Fellowship.” Cover letters should be addressed to Mary Bonauto, Senior Director of Civil Rights & Legal Strategies. Please choose a 5-7 page writing sample that amply demonstrates your analytical and writing skills. You may choose a sample that has been edited or influenced by others, but please note that fact and how it influenced the work product in your application. We are now accepting applications. Applications will be considered starting July 1, 2024, and then continuing on a rolling basis until the position is filled. The anticipated start date for this fellowship is late Summer 2024 / Fall 2024.

ONGOING: Interns are hired on an academic schedule — for the entire school year, an individual semester, or the summer.

Both full- and part-time internships are available.

Learn More →