On-Campus ACA Variable
US Work Authorization is REQUIRED
Research Assistant — Community Justice Advocate (CJA) Program
Utah State University · Transforming Communities Institute
About the Position
Utah State University’s Transforming Communities Institute (TCI), seeks a law student motivated by access-to-justice or public-interest work to help expand its CJA program. CJAs are trained and certified community members, such as social workers. They deliver free, limited legal help to Utahns in narrow, high-need areas of the law. TCI seeks to expand its program beyond debt collection. We are hiring a paid, remote Research Assistant, supervised by Professor Nathanael Player, to help build the next phase of CJA training curriculum and legal reference materials.
Responsibilities
- Research both substantive and procedural areas of civil law, such as consumer protection, landlord-tenant, wage theft, public benefits, and criminal fines and fees).
- Write memos evaluating whether each area is appropriate for CJA-level practice — assessing procedural and substantive complexity, ancillary legal issues, and risk.
- Turn that research into legal reference materials calibrated to CJA scope that are: clear, accurate, and focused on guidance for operationalizing legal information.
- Assist with curriculum pacing and instructional design for training modules, in coordination with the program’s pedagogical review process.
- Attend periodic remote check-ins to discuss findings, drafts, and open questions.
Qualifications
- Currently enrolled 2L or 3L at an ABA-accredited law school.
- Strong legal research and writing skills, with sound judgment about scope, risk, and audience — the ability to write clearly, concisely, and in plain language without oversimplifying or introducing legal error is essential.
- Demonstrated interest in access to justice, public interest law, or legal services for underserved populations strongly preferred.
- Comfortable working independently in a remote, asynchronous role.
Time Commitment & Compensation
About 10 hours/week, remote. Fall 2026 semester, with the option to continue into Spring 2027. Pay rate is $23/hour.
How to Apply
Submit the following as a single PDF : one-page cover letter describing your interest; a resume; and a writing sample from prior legal research or writing (a memo, brief excerpt, or paper — no need to prepare something new). Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis; apply promptly.
