TakeRoot Justice

New York, NY

This is the 2024 fellowship description for this mentor organization.

TakeRoot Justice, formerly the Community Development Project of the Urban Justice Center, provides legal, participatory research, and policy support to strengthen the work of grassroots and community-based groups in New York City to dismantle racial, economic and social oppression. We represent low-wage workers from workers’ centers against employers for failure to pay minimum wage and overtime, discrimination, sexual harassment, retaliation, unpaid sick leave, labor trafficking and other violations of the labor laws. We also collaborate with community groups to provide legal support to employees involved in a variety of labor-related organizing efforts.

As part of our commitment to dismantle racial, economic, and social oppression, we are a recognized union shop represented by the National Organization of Legal Service Wokers, UAW, Local 2230. TakeRoot Justice has been recognized as a leader in combining legal advocacy, policy and participatory research to advance organizing across New York City. The Workers' Rights Team aspires to engage in community lawyering which involves partnering with worker centers, which are primarily immigrant-worker focused, and recognizing the traumas workers carry from their workplace and other life experiences. We also provide technical support to policy campaigns led by New York City worker centers.

The Peggy Browning Fellow will assist on individual and group cases that include extensive client contact, including cases in front of government agencies and federal courts. Additionally, there will be exposure to activities in the area of public advocacy and community engagement. The Fellow will play an important role in the organization, in particular, by assisting with the following: preparing demand letters; performing damages spreadsheets; submitting Department of Labor claims, drafting court pleadings; policy and advocacy campaigns; assisting attorneys with clinic intakes at worker centers; attending court and agency hearings; and performing cutting-edge legal research. The Fellow will be part of a formal intern program offering robust training opportunities and one-on-one mentorship and feedback. The internship will primarily be remote but there will be opportunities to engage in in-person work at the office.

Our office has developed its own orientation program to train law students on how to work with and not undermine the power of organizers and worker leaders. Our office is also part of the LEAP Coalition as well as the Low Wage Worker Taskforce, which will provide brown bag opportunities as well as trainings throughout the summer.

Candidates with proficiency in a second language, especially Spanish, are strongly preferred.

The total ten-week stipend for this fellowship will be $7,000.

Address cover letter to:

Workers' Rights Team
TakeRoot Justice
123 William Street, 16th Floor
New York, NY 10038

https://takerootjustice.org