Associate I, Civil Legal System Modernization (Hybrid)

The Government Performance Portfolio within Program

Pew's government performance work identifies and advances effective approaches to help solve complex challenges at all levels of government in the United States.

The portfolio's work can be traced back to our founders' early efforts to improve the lives of Americans by supporting efforts that promoted health, civic engagement, and democratic ideals. Today, we conduct research on emerging topics, develop data-driven reports, and highlight innovative approaches in addressing complex problems at the federal, state, and local levels. Current initiatives focus on health and human services, government management and budget, family economic stability, and safety and justice.

Our teams explore and advance effective policy reforms using credible, timely, and accessible research, assessing public support for change, identifying approaches that have proved successful elsewhere, and bringing together diverse perspectives to find common ground. In addition, our teams use strategic outreach and dissemination to ensure that good information is widely communicated to decision-makers, media, influential stakeholders, and the public.

Project Description

The civil legal system modernization project was launched in 2018 as an initiative of The Pew Charitable Trusts. The project works to make the nation's civil legal system more accessible and affordable to the public by implementing the most promising technologies and tools to assist self-represented litigants and improve state court efficiency. For more information about this project, visit www.pewtrusts.org/modernlegal.

Specifically, the project will:

• Elevate the importance of reforming the civil legal system in the eyes of judicial and political leadership.
• Conduct research and evaluation to identify important improvements in policy, practice, and technology that enhance the adjudication of civil cases, starting with debt claims.
• Improve legal assistance portals and access to legal information online
• Work with state, city, and county court systems to support the adoption of one or more technology, policy, and process improvements designed to improve the adjudication of civil court cases.
• Work with state and national partners to develop best practices for court operations and adjudication of debt collection lawsuits.
• Establish performance measures that court systems employ for understanding how to measure progress toward modernization, i.e., toward becoming more open, efficient, and equitable.

Position Overview

The associate I supports the civil legal system modernization project's efforts to advance state action to improve court policies, processes, and technology innovations. Under the direction of the manager, the associate I analyzes promising technology innovations; contributes to policy scans in the areas of eviction, debt claims, and guardianship of children; contributes to the planning and execution of stakeholder meetings and outreach; supports the development and execution of grants and contracts; and assists with programmatic priorities.

The position is based in Pew's Washington, DC office and is eligible for up to 60% telework

Responsibilities

• Support development and execution of the project's strategy to enhance state efforts to improve the adjudication of debt collection and eviction lawsuits by:
  
  
  
  • Tracking and analyzing legislation, court rules, and other information relevant to courts and the justice system to inform the project's state engagements;
  • Conducting jurisdiction-based policy research and summarizing details to update and inform state engagement plans and toolkits; and
  • Building team expertise by sharing learnings.
  
  
• Help develop and implement a model for court technology innovation. Contribute at every stage of the project, including:
  
  
  
  • Developing written materials about court technology adoption focusing on technology projects that improve the user experience of court participants;
  • Supporting team efforts to develop tools that identify priorities for technology adoption and measure state partners' technology maturity; and
  • Identifying and collaborating with external partners and advisors on promoting adoption of promising technology innovations.
  
  
• Help develop and execute programming and logistics for in-person and online convenings of policymakers and other key audiences; prepare talking points and presentations for senior staff; and draft presentation materials.
• Support team efforts to manage grants and contracts. This includes project management, collaborating with team members and internal departments, interacting with potential grantees and contractors, ensuring needed information is correct, and monitoring invoices and payments.
• Foster a work environment that is inclusive, equitable, diverse, and in line with Pew and the project's related goals.
• Identify and evaluate opportunities to contribute to and collaborate on policy and technical assistance projects within the government performance portfolio.
• Participate in activities that support program and Pew-wide objectives.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience.
• At least one year of applicable experience.
• Strong written and oral communications skills. Experience producing thorough, clear, compelling, analytical narratives accessible to a range of audiences.
• Demonstrated time- and project-management skills, including an ability to meet multiple deadlines, set priorities, remain flexible and adjust to changing circumstances when needed, and able to identify resources.
• Experience working on complex projects and achieving measurable results.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, and ability to organize time and focus on detail.
• Acute political awareness and non-partisan perspective and approach.
• Strong systems skills including demonstrated proficiency with Microsoft Office suite products.

Key attributes and preferred experience

• Ability to develop and manage productive and collaborative relationships, and experience working as a member of a team and individually to meet goals.
• Ability to be flexible, creative, and consistent.
• Experience with public speaking preferred.
• Experience with database and online policy research applications preferred.

Travel

This position requires occasional domestic travel to meetings and conferences.

Total Rewards

We offer a competitive salary and benefit program, including: comprehensive, affordable health care through medical, dental, and vision coverage; financial security with life and disability insurance; opportunities to save using health savings and flexible spending accounts; retirement benefits to help prepare for the future; and work/life benefits to maintain a good balance.

The Pew Charitable Trusts is an equal opportunity employer, committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace. Pew considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to age, sex, ethnicity, religion, disability, marital status, sexual orientation or gender identity, military/veteran status, or any other basis prohibited by applicable law.