Seeking Georgetown student communications assistants and legal research assistants

Eligibility: Must be a currently full-time enrolled student at Georgetown University

The current priority deadline for applications is Tuesday, October 10th at 11:59pm. Please read all the details of the description, including the timeline for decisions and the orientation meeting, on this page. After the priority deadline we will still accept applications, but will be reviewing and hiring less frequently.

Are you interested in issues of privacy, surveillance, civil rights or technology law and policy? Do you enjoy putting together information in pursuit of a larger goal? Digging into research to uncover new information? The Center on Privacy & Technology is searching for both Communications and Legal Research Assistants for the 2023 – 2024 academic year.

We are looking for self-motivated undergraduate, graduate and law students. Research assistants are paid $19.50/hour.

What’s the Center?

The Center on Privacy & Technology is a think tank focused on privacy and surveillance law and policy—and the communities they affect. We believe that privacy is a fundamental right under threat from both government and corporate surveillance, especially for historically marginalized people. Through research and advocacy, we challenge that surveillance and work towards a world where privacy protects everyone. Read about our mission, staff, and our work on our website.

 

What’s the job?

COMMUNICATIONS ASSISTANT 

Potential tasks could include, but are not limited to:

• Keep our communications tools and databases organized, updated, and ready-to-go.
• Monitor the Center’s email accounts for new press contacts and clips.
• Dig into the Center’s archives to re-purpose and share older reports and findings.
• Create and edit graphics for Center publications.
• Assist with updating the Center’s website content as needed using WordPress.
• Assist with updating the Center report websites as needed using Drupal.
• Draft tweets for the Center’s Twitter account. 
• Draft blogs related to topics of privacy and surveillance.
• Assist with planning and promoting events.
• Read newsletters and watch social media accounts to stay up to date with developments in the field, our partner organizations, including other Georgetown Law Centers and Institutes to create content about any relevant job alerts, public events, and major research findings.
• Conducting communications-related research.
• Other administrative and organizational tasks.

 

Who are we looking for?*

Someone who has…

• Fantastic organization skills and an eye for detailed data entry.
• Excellent writing skills or a willingness to practice, incorporate feedback and improve their writing skills.
• Experience managing a successful social media account or a strong desire to learn.
• Experience with WordPress or other website editing software.
• A commitment to civil rights, racial justice, and social justice.

• Video and photo editing experience.

 

LEGAL RESEARCH ASSISTANT

Potential tasks could include, but are not limited to:

• Research legal questions.
• Write memos summarizing legal research findings.
• Draft blogs related to topics of privacy and surveillance.
• Assist with planning and promoting events.
• Draft tweets for the Center’s Twitter account based on substantive research. 
• Other administrative and organizational tasks.

 

Who are we looking for?*

Someone who has…

• Excellent writing skills that include the ability to clearly express and organize information.
• Research skills to include: seeking out primary sources, an ability to plan how to obtain the answer to the research question, and to identify key findings.
• The ability to manage up and make sure projects are completed by the deadline.
• A commitment to civil rights, racial justice, and social justice.

*Even if you don’t possess these skills but are passionate about The Center’s mission and work, we are willing to work with the right candidates to train them. 

In addition to general-purpose legal research assistants, we are also seeking one legal research assistant who will be dedicated to our worker surveillance work. Please complete that part of the Legal Research Assistant application if you’re interested in being considered for that role.

How to apply:

To apply, please complete this Google form applications with the position you are interested in:

• COMMUNICATIONS ASSISTANT
• LEGAL RESEARCH ASSISTANT

 

What’s the timeline?

• For priority consideration, submit your application no later than Tuesday, October 10th, 2023. 
• We hope to begin making offers no later than October 20, 2023.
• If selected as a research assistant, we expect you to be available for a MANDATORY remote orientation on October 23, 2023 at 8:00AM. IF YOU APPLY, PLEASE HOLD THAT TIME ON YOUR CALENDAR.

 

Hours, location, additional information:

This position is hybrid. Some work will be able to be done remotely, but there will also be some in-office expectations to be worked out individually. Our offices are located at 500 1st Street NW, 6th floor. The GUTS shuttle goes between the law center and main campus.

 

Hours are flexible, but will include regular check-ins and some meeting attendance. 

 

These positions will report overall to Katie Evans, Deputy Director, but will work with various staff members on specific projects. Any questions, please contact: privacy@georgetown.edu.