Department: Law Legal Clinic
Salary/Grade: RES/

Job Summary:

The Children and Family Justice Center (the CFJC) advocates for youth in conflict with the law, advances policy reform to our criminal and juvenile systems that are humane, effective, cost-efficient, and supported by social science research.  For example, some of the CFJC’s current reform projects include:

• Designing a public health approach to preventing gun violence;
• Re-imagining Illinois approach to diversion and deflection; and
• Developing an alternative to youth incarceration and closing Illinois youth prisons.
• To move its policy work forward, CFJC has secured external funding for additional project support.

Specific Responsibilities:

Research & Analysis:

• Conduct in-depth social science literature reviews - analyze, synthesize, apply, and write about the research.
• Review and analyze publicly available state, county and city data on gun violence, policing, incarceration, etc.
• Seek out, using the Freedom of Information Act or other means, data that is not publicly available and analyze it.
• Analyze alternative models around the country - either through publicly available data or via interviews and on the ground research.
• Conduct interviews with government officials, system stakeholders, community agencies, and people impacted by the system.

Communication:

• Draft and release research reports to be included in the CFJC’s Community Safety and the Future of Illinois Youth Prisons series or, dependent on the topic, to be disseminated independently or collaboratively with CFJC partners.

Collaboration:

• Collaborate as appropriate with social science researchers, justice advocates, and community-based providers on various research efforts.

Miscellaneous:

• Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or the equivalent combination of experience, education and training from which comparable skills can be acquired.
• Ability to analyze, synthesize, apply social science research.
• Ability to analyze basic data sets.

Minimum Competencies: (Skills, knowledge, and abilities.)

• Excellent writing skills.
• Ability to work with a minimum of supervision, project a professional demeanor, and be proactive about identifying potential problems and discrepancies and working to find solutions.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Doctorate or master’s degree in a relevant subject area or law degree.
• Excellent communication skills, including written, verbal, and interpersonal.
• Ability to work independently.

Excellent organizational skills.

Preferred Competencies: (Skills, knowledge, and abilities)

• Ability to research case law and review statutes.
• Able to multi-task.
• Excellent attention to detail.
• Familiar with youth development and legal system issues

Northwestern University is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action Employer of all protected classes, including veterans and individuals with disabilities. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, individuals with disabilities, and veterans are encouraged to apply. Hiring is contingent upon eligibility to work in the United States.