Website UCLAReproPolicy The Center on Reproductive Health, Law, and Policy at UCLA Law
The UCLA School of Law is seeking an experienced advocate to serve as Legal and Policy Director for the Center on Reproductive Health, Law, and Policy (CHRLP or “the Center”).
CRHLP is a nationwide think tank and interdisciplinary research center created to meet the current national crisis in access to abortion while working towards long-term solutions to advance reproductive justice. The Center conducts analysis and research for legal, policy, and narrative change and serves as a trusted hub for convening and engaging academics, advocates, health care providers, policy makers, and community members to reimagine the landscape of reproductive health, law, and policy. CRHLP also trains the reproductive law and policy leaders of tomorrow and expands the capacity of the reproductive health and justice movements. The Center’s work and impact is nationwide in scope but leverages its position within California and the UC system to maximize the reach of California’s innovations and leadership status in abortion access, reproductive health, and reproductive justice.
This is an exciting time to join CRHLP. CRHLP, launched in 2022, has already established a strong interdisciplinary team of lawyers, policy advocates, researchers, scholars, communication and events specialists, and support staff. The team is still growing and actively setting its vision, goals, and priorities. The new Legal and Policy Director will play a vital role in building the vision, expanding, managing, and executing the Center’s legal and policy work. This work includes: writing amicus briefs; providing technical assistance, conducting legal analysis, and helping develop new legal theories and policies for advocates, policymakers, and health care providers; convening people for strategic and practical solutions to legal and policy problems; conducting and supporting original research and writing about legal and policy innovation, models, and best practices; and helping enhance strategic connection between researchers and advocates and maximizing impact of research on policy and litigation.
The Legal and Policy Director will also develop opportunities for UCLA law students and UCLA graduate and undergraduate students related to the field. The Legal and Policy Director will help devise and, if desired, help teach and/or supervise students in experiential learning opportunities and courses. Specifically, the Legal Policy Director will help decide whether the Center should have an externship seminar with reproductive health and justice organizations and/or a clinic and, if so, help execute that vision. The Legal and Policy Director will also supervise staff who manage the Southern California Legal Alliance for Reproductive Justice pro bono network and hotline, a network of nearly 50 law firms and advocacy organizations who provide legal representation to those who need assistance related to abortion and reproductive health, as well as staff who manage the nation’s first Medical-Legal Partnership at a Planned Parenthood clinic, a partnership between CRHLP, the Black Health Initiative at Planned Parenthood Inglewood, and the Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles.
The Legal and Policy Director will be supervised by the Center’s Executive Director and coordinate with the Center’s faculty co-Director. The Legal and Policy Director will supervise staff attorneys, fellows, and interns. The Legal and Policy Director will also collaborate closely with the Center’s research and communications staff to ensure that work is effectively connected to influencing legal and policy perspectives. The Legal and Policy Director will build and maintain robust relationships with reproductive health and justice advocates, scholars, providers, and policy makers across the nation. The Legal and Policy Director will also work effectively with the vibrant network of people who are working to advance reproductive health and justice research and policy across UCLA and the UC system, and will maximize the intersectional and interdisciplinary nature of the Center’s goals to collaborate with those working with related movements for LGBTQ justice, criminal legal system reform, racial justice, economic justice, immigrant justice, and democracy reform.
The minimum requirements for this position include: A J.D., at least ten years of relevant experience, and expertise on reproductive health and justice issues.
The successful candidate for the positions will ideally have: significant experience and contacts in the field; membership in a state bar; knowledge of current reproductive health, policy, and justice issues; excellent verbal and written communication skills; excellent project management skills; experience maintaining effective and happy teams and partnerships; experience with public speaking and communications advocacy; budget management skills; and demonstrated management, advocacy, collaboration, and organizational skills.
This is a full-time, year-round, non-tenure track academic position. This appointment is subject to the rules and regulations of the Regents of the University of California, which are mostly embodied in The UCLA CALL and the University of California Academic Personnel Manual. (See https://www.apo.ucla.edu/policies-forms/the-call; and https://www.apo.ucla.edu/policies-forms/apm.)
See UC Salary Table 34 at https://www.ucop.edu/academic-personnel-programs/compensation/2023-24-academic-salary-scales.html for the salary range for this position. A reasonable estimate for this position is $165,000-180,000. The salary and level of appointment will be commensurate with qualifications and experience. The position includes research and travel support.
Please apply online at https://recruit.apo.ucla.edu/JPF07782 by submitting pdf copies of a cover letter discussing your interest, qualifications and/or experience, a resume or curriculum vitae, the names and addresses for at least three professional references, as well as a brief diversity statement. References will not be contacted without first notifying candidates. Finalists will later be expected to supply at least two letters of recommendation during the final vetting process.