Careers

The North Carolina Justice Center is a progressive research and advocacy organization dedicated to expanding opportunity and protecting the rights of low-income individuals in North Carolina. For almost 30 years, the NC Justice Center has been on the front lines in the courts, at the legislature, in the media, and in communities advocating for positive changes for low-income and working North Carolinians. We hold government agencies, institutions, and other actors accountable to address the root causes of racism. We have produced major research reports that have influenced important public policy change in North Carolina. The NC Justice Center has played a primary role in most of the state’s major policy debates and successfully litigated hundreds of individual cases and class actions.

Policy Analyst

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Upon request, The North Carolina Justice Center will provide reasonable accommodation for all candidates with disabilities.
Position Title: Analyst, Policy
Project/Department: Education & Law, Health Advocacy, Immigrant and Refugee Rights
Reports To: Project Director of Education & Law
Location: Raleigh Hybrid
Union Status: Union
FLSA Status: Exempt
Supervisory Responsibilities: N/A
Hiring Range: $57,057- $67,358

Overview
The North Carolina Justice Center (NCJC) mission is to create lasting, equitable change for people with low incomes and those harmed by systemic oppression across our state. For nearly 30 years, we have partnered with impacted communities and those we represent to pursue justice and prosperity for all through policy advocacy, strategic litigation, research, coalition-building, and support for grassroots action. The North Carolina Justice Center is seeking a Policy Analyst to support the organization’s research, analysis, and advocacy efforts that advance its strategic priorities and policy initiatives. This role provides cross-functional support across Education & Law, Health Advocacy, and Immigrant and Refugee Rights projects, contributing to policy research, data analysis, stakeholder engagement, and strategic initiatives that promote equitable and impactful public policy outcomes.

Key Responsibilities

The Policy Analyst will primarily support the Education and Law Project, while also providing secondary support across the Health Advocacy Project and the Immigrant and Refugee Rights Project.
Research and author policy reports, issue briefs, fact sheets, blog posts, op-eds, legislative updates, and other materials that assess current trends, explain policy developments, and communicate the impact of public policy issues on North Carolinians.
Research and analyze proposed legislation at the General Assembly and local policy proposals with statewide impact.
Research, propose, and advocate for policy reforms that support equitable opportunities and improved outcomes for underserved North Carolinians.
Develop and maintain relationships with journalists, traditional news media, digital media outlets, and communications partners to elevate policy issues affecting North Carolinians.
Serve as a policy resource and present ﬁndings and recommendations to legislators, administrative officials, partner organizations, community leaders, advocacy groups, and the media.
Maintain and expand partnerships with advocacy organizations, community stakeholders, and coalition partners across North Carolina.
Provide technical support, shared messaging, and communications assistance to state and local partners and community-led organizations.
Assist with advocacy campaign activities, public education efforts, and community outreach initiatives at the state and local levels.

Minimum Qualiﬁcations

Bachelor’s degree in public policy or related ﬁeld.
Minimum of three (3) years of progressively responsible professional experience in policy, advocacy, research, or public affairs.
Strong research, analytical, writing, and verbal communication skills.
Demonstrated commitment to racial equity.

Preferred Qualiﬁcations

Advanced degree in public policy or related ﬁeld.
Five or more years of progressively responsible professional experience in policy, advocacy, research, or public affairs.
Work in a non-proﬁt organization.

Physical Requirements

The employee should have the ability to maintain focus and productivity while performing at a workstation for prolonged periods, including working on a computer, managing documents, or engaging in virtual meetings.

Work Environment
Hybrid work environment, including home and office.

Benefits

Six weeks paid time off annually
Paid parental leave and holidays
Employer contributions to a 403(b)-retirement plan
Medical, dental, and vision insurance
Disability and life insurance
Flexible spending and health savings account options
Part of the Bargaining unit

Director, Immigrant and Refugee Rights Project

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Upon request, The North Carolina Justice Center will provide reasonable accommodation for all candidates with disabilities.
Position Title: Director, Immigrant and Refugee Rights
Project/Department: Immigrant and Refugee Rights Project
Reports To: Director of Litigation
Location: Raleigh Hybrid
Union Status: N/A
FLSA Status: Exempt
Supervisory Responsibilities: Staff Attorney & Senior Staff Attorney
Salary Range: $94,000-$106,000

The North Carolina Justice Center is seeking a director, of Immigrant and Refugee Rights Project to lead efforts to work for and with low-income immigrants and refugees in North Carolina. This position oversees legal services, policy advocacy, community engagement, public education, and related programmatic work to advance the rights and wellbeing of immigrant and refugee communities.

Key Responsibilities

Project Leadership & Management

Lead the design, implementation, and evaluation of assigned projects and initiatives.
Develop detailed workplans, timelines, and deliverables, as well as performance metrics.
Provide strategic feedback and insight to executive leadership with respect to the work of the NCJC with immigrants and refugees

Organizational Leadership & Supervision

Supervise project staff, consultants, and interns assigned.
Provide coaching, performance feedback, and professional development support.

Legal Practice & Litigation Leadership

Oversee the provision of quality legal representation for individual clients.
Oversee strategic approach for litigation impact.
Oversee a litigation caseload.
Oversee immigration and civil litigation matters on behalf of immigrant clients.

Policy Advocacy

Manage efforts to advance public policies that improve the wellbeing of immigrants and provide opportunities for economic security.
Oversee community engagement and education initiatives.
Provide support to and manage relationships with immigrant organizations throughout NC.
Lead workgroups and coalition of advocates and community leaders to coordinate advocacy and education initiatives.

Budget & Grant Management

Oversee and manage fundraising efforts for IRRP, including strategic funding plans.
Serve as primary grant writer and manager for IRRP grants in coordination with our development team

Stakeholder Engagement & Strategic Communications

Serve as a primary liaison with community partners, funders, and external stakeholders.
Build and maintain effective partnerships to support project goals

Minimum Qualiﬁcations

Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school.
Active membership in good standing with the North Carolina State Bar.
Five (5) years of experience in immigration law and policy.
Two (2) years of supervisory experience.
Strong understanding and commitment to the rights of immigrants and refugees.
Demonstrated commitment to the mission of eliminating poverty through social, economic, and racial justice.
Advanced legal research, writing, and analytical skills.
Working knowledge of immigration law, policies, and systems affecting low-income immigrant communities.
Ability to communicate complex legal concepts clearly to non-lawyers.
Strategic thinking and solutions-oriented approach.
Strong public speaking and presentation skills, including engagement with policymakers, community members, and stakeholders.
Excellent organizational skills with ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines.
High ethical standards, discretion, and commitment to conﬁdentiality.
Commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, and understanding of racial justice issues.

Preferred Qualiﬁcations

Cultural competency and Spanish ﬂuency preferred.

Physical Requirements

Statewide travel required.

Work Environment
Hybrid work environment, including home and office.

Benefits

Six weeks paid time off annually
Paid parental leave and holidays
Employer contributions to a 403(b)-retirement plan
Medical, dental, and vision insurance
Disability and life insurance
Flexible spending and health savings account options
Part of the Bargaining unit

Immigrants’ Civil Legal Rights Fellowship

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Upon request, The North Carolina Justice Center will provide reasonable accommodation for all candidates with disabilities.
Location: Hybrid (Raleigh, NC)
Project/Department: Workers’ Rights Project
Job Title: Immigrants’ Civil Legal Rights Fellowship
Reports to: Workers’ Rights Director
Group Number: 6
FLSA Status: Exempt
Union Status: Union
Supervises: N/A
Hiring Range Salary: $65,000-$70,132

Overview
The North Carolina Justice Center (NCJC) is a progressive research and advocacy organization dedicated to expanding opportunity and protecting the rights of low-income individuals and communities in North Carolina. For over 29 years NCJC has worked across policy, legal, and community platforms to address poverty and systemic inequities through legislative advocacy, litigation, public education, and coalition building.

The North Carolina Justice Center invites third-year law students and recent law graduates to apply for a two-year Immigrants’ Rights Fellowship. The Fellowship is generously funded by the N.C. Interest on Lawyers Trust Accounts (IOLTA) Program. The fellowship will begin in the Fall of 2026. The Justice Center is North Carolina’s leading private, non-profit anti-poverty organization. Our mission is to alleviate poverty in North Carolina by ensuring that every household has access to the resources, services, and fair treatment it needs to achieve economic security.

In order to improve the ability of low-income families to access opportunity and share in the state’s prosperity, the Justice Center pursues a broad policy agenda around the issues of affordable housing, transportation, workers’ rights, public education, supports for working families, consumer protections, immigrants’ rights, and access to health care. The Justice Center has conducted extensive civil litigation for immigrant clients, including class actions for workers not paid minimum wage or overtime; civil cases for victims of human trafficking, class actions for clients who encountered unfair business practices when purchasing mobile homes; and administrative complaints against state agencies who fail to provide language access to immigrant residents of North Carolina.

Key Responsibilities

The goal of the Immigrants’ Rights Fellowship is to expand access to legal assistance for immigrants, regardless of their immigration status, in civil cases. The Fellow will work in two primary areas of law: housing (including eviction and home purchase cases) and workers’ rights (including wage and hour and discrimination). The fellow will work closely with experienced attorneys at the NC Justice Center to provide advice and representation to callers, file administrative complaints, guide clients through pro se processes, engage in community education events, and, where appropriate, offer full legal representation.

The Fellow will also help run the Justice Center’s Power of Attorney program. This involves recruiting pro-bono volunteers, working with community groups interested in hosting clinics, and training and scheduling volunteers and assisting clients with filling out Power of Attorney paperwork.

The Fellow will develop resources to help immigrants understand their rights and how to navigate court and government complaint processes. Through the fellow’s advice, outreach, and individual representation of immigrant clients, he or she will help identify cases that may be appropriate for more extended representation such as class action litigation or administrative advocacy.

The Fellow will engage in special projects and other duties as assigned with the goal of expanding access to civil justice for immigrants in North Carolina.

Minimum Qualifications:

J.D. or expected to receive a J.D. by the spring of 2026, the Fellow must have passed the North Carolina bar exam and be eligible for admission to the bar by the commencement of the Fellowship.
Strong writing, legal research, and oral advocacy skills.
Professional fluency in written and spoken Spanish and English; ability to interview potential clients and communicate with existing clients in Spanish both verbally and in writing without interpretation assistance.
Interest in and ability to create and conduct community presentations in English and Spanish.
Demonstrated commitment to social justice and ability to recognize the barriers facing immigrant communities.
Self-motivated with the ability to take initiative, manage a variety of tasks, and see projects through to completion.
Demonstrated commitment to racial equity.
Some travel, evening, and weekend work is required.

Physical Requirements
The employee should have the ability to maintain focus and productivity while performing at a workstation for prolonged periods, including working on a computer, managing documents, or engaging in virtual meetings. Some travel, evening, and weekend work is required.

Work Environment
Hybrid work environment, including home and office.

Benefits

Six weeks paid time off annually
Paid parental leave and holidays
Employer contributions to a 403(b)-retirement plan
Medical, dental, and vision insurance
Disability and life insurance
Flexible spending and health savings account options
Part of the Bargaining unit

Equal Opportunity
The NC Justice Center is committed to a policy of equal employment opportunity for all persons without regard to race, color, creed, sex, religion, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, political affiliation, disability, pregnancy, personal appearance, citizenship, military service, genetic information, natural hairstyles, or any protected status. We are a Fair Chance Employer and strive to reduce barriers to employment for individuals with criminal records.

The North Carolina Justice Center is an equal opportunity/ Affirmative Action employer:

The NC Justice Center is committed to a policy of equal employment opportunity for all persons without regard to race, color, creed, sex, religion, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, political affiliation, physical or mental disability, pregnancy, personal appearance, marital or family status, citizenship, past, current, or prospective service in the uniformed services, genetic information, natural hair styles, or other status as protected by State and Federal laws. We are a Fair Chance Employer and work to reduce barriers to employment for individuals with criminal records. It is our intention to promote the full realization of equality in opportunity and employment.