National Security Fellowship at the Center for Democracy & Technology

The Center for Democracy & Technology is seeking a junior lawyer to serve for one year as a National Security Law Fellow working on issues at the intersection of civil liberties, national security and technology in its Washington, DC office. The job offers an exciting opportunity to shape public policy on some of the key issues of our time, as CDT works to develop and promote policies that protect privacy and other civil liberties in programs responding to terrorism and other national security challenges. Key issues include information sharing and data analysis for counterterrorism purposes, cybersecurity, electronic surveillance, and domestic intelligence. For more information about CDT, see http://www.cdt.org.

NATIONAL SECURITY LAW FELLOW POSITION: Working under the supervision of senior CDT attorneys, the responsibilities of the National Security Law Fellow will include:

 Legal, policy and legislative analysis and development of policy recommendations;
 Researching and writing policy papers, testimony, blog posts, comments, legal memoranda, amicus briefs and other filings on legislation, policy proposals and programs;
 Engaging with government agencies, technology companies, public interest groups, academics, and others to promote dialogue and consensus-building;
 Assisting in the coordination of CDT working groups, consultations, and coalitions;
 Supporting CDT’s participation in the Markle Foundation Task Force on National Security in the Information Age;
 Supporting project staff on public education, media and public speaking; and
 Providing policy and technical assistance to policymakers and government agencies.

QUALIFICATIONS: This position is designed for less experienced lawyers or those seeking to enter the field of national security and civil liberties, but more experienced candidates will be considered. An ideal candidate would have –

 A degree in law;
 Coursework or other experience in national security or electronic surveillance law;
 Excellent verbal and written communication skills;
 Experience working in or with Congress or federal agencies;
 Basic knowledge of Internet technologies and an interest in technology policy issues;
 Commitment to CDT’s public interest mission;
 An entrepreneurial and collaborative working style.

This one-year position offers both autonomy and professional development within a supportive team environment. The National Security Law Fellow will be fully integrated into CDT’s staff and will participate in the daily life of the organization, including staff meetings, strategy discussions and working group consultations.

The preferred starting date is October 3, but this date is negotiable.

Please send a cover letter, along with a resume and short writing sample to hr@cdt.org. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled, which will be no earlier than July 31, 2011. Early applicants may have an advantage.