Legal Fellow, Local Tax Policy

Children's Funding Project • Washington, DC

5d • $80,000 • Remote

About The Position

Children’s Funding Project seeks a mission-driven attorney to serve as Legal Fellow, Local Tax Policy and support the organization’s work on local taxing authority research, technical assistance, and capacity-building. The Legal Fellow will contribute to research and analysis related to the authority of local governments—counties, cities, and school districts—to raise revenue through tax mechanisms. Working closely with the Director of Tax Policy and other team members, the Fellow will conduct 50-state legal and policy research; monitor trends, threats, and opportunities affecting local taxing authority; and help translate complex legal structures into practical tools, guidance, and technical assistance for communities, advocates, and policymakers.This role offers a unique opportunity to deepen expertise in state and local tax law in a mission-driven, applied policy environment. The Fellow will support client projects, cohort programming, and knowledge management efforts while gaining hands-on experience in legal research, policy analysis, and field-facing technical assistance. This position reports to the Director of Tax Policy and collaborates across teams. This is a one-year, full-time, exempt position with the possibility of renewal.

Requirements

• JD from an accredited law school and license to practice law in at least one U.S. state.
• Significant experience conducting advanced legal research, including statutory and constitutional analysis.
• Excellent writing and communication skills, with the ability to translate complex legal issues for non-legal audiences.
• Strong organizational and project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deliver high-quality work.
• Ability to collaborate effectively across teams and with external partners.
• Commitment to advancing equitable opportunities for children and youth.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in a public policy context, particularly related to children, youth, education, early childhood, health, or human services.
• Interest or experience in fiscal policy, public finance, or state and local taxation.
• Experience providing technical assistance, coaching, or developing applied policy tools.
• Comfort using AI-powered tools and emerging technologies to support legal research, policy analysis, drafting, and knowledge management, with sound professional judgment regarding accuracy, confidentiality, and ethical considerations.
• Familiarity with ballot measures, local governance, or state/local legislative processes.

Responsibilities

• Conduct advanced legal research on the authority of local governments (counties, cities, and school districts) to raise public revenue through tax mechanisms.
• Analyze state constitutional and statutory provisions governing local taxing authority, including tax authorization structures, voter approval requirements, ballot access rules, revenue dedication limitations, and state preemption constraints.
• Translate complex legal frameworks into clear, actionable guidance for internal staff and external partners through written memos, summaries, tools, and frameworks.
• Monitor and analyze state and local tax policy developments nationwide, including expansions or restrictions on local taxing authority, state preemption threats, and local revenue initiatives.
• Track trends related to the dedication of local public funds for children and youth initiatives.
• Develop and maintain a 50-state local taxing authority database, ensuring research is standardized, accessible, and usable.
• Create templates, research protocols, and knowledge-sharing tools.
• Provide legal research, coaching, and strategic technical assistance to Children’s Funding Coordinators and cohort participants to support selection of viable local revenue options.
• Develop and deliver training content and support materials, including curriculum modules, office hours, and written guidance to strengthen local capacity in strategic public financing.
• Provide timely legal guidance on ballot access and revenue option availability to screen community eligibility for participation in the Children’s Funding Institute and Voter-Approved Children’s Fund (VACF) cohort.
• Support contract and grant management for the local taxing authority portfolio, including deliverable tracking and funder reporting.
• Contribute to planning and workload forecasting related to research and technical assistance.
• Collaborate across teams to inform community strategy and project delivery.
• Represent the organization in meetings, webinars, and convenings as needed.
• Other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Children’s Funding Project also offers a generous benefits package, a great (and growing!) team, and a working environment that emphasizes professional development and growth.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree