Legal Innovation Fellow

Community Economic Defense Project • Denver, CO

5d • $65,000 - $75,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

The Community Economic Defense Project (CEDP) is a Colorado-based nonprofit launched in 2020. Initially formed as the COVID-19 Eviction Defense Project, CEDP has evolved to provide an integrated approach to preventing eviction, foreclosure, and homelessness, focusing on the legal and financial needs of housing-insecure families. The organization now serves over 1,000 people monthly, employing a diverse team of legal, economic, data, policy, organizing, and technology professionals. CEDP has assisted over 68,000 low-income Coloradans across 54 counties, distributing more than $280 million in emergency aid and contributing to significant legislative changes in eviction prevention, economic abuse, and cost reduction for credit and medication. Their model has been recognized by the White House, HUD, and the Urban Institute. Building on its eviction prevention work, CEDP has expanded its services to include disaster response, predatory towing, debt collection, benefit access, long-term rental assistance, and homelessness response, offering a continuum of care that includes navigation, payments, legal support, and advocacy.

The Legal Innovation Fellow will work within CEDP’s Legal Innovation Lab, focusing on developing digital tools and technology-driven solutions to enhance access to justice for low-income Coloradans facing housing instability, consumer debt, and other economic justice issues. This role bridges law, technology, and community, combining practical legal work with tool design and development to create resources that empower individuals to understand and enforce their rights at scale. The fellowship aims to close the gap in legal support and information for tenants, debtors, and low-income consumers through creative, technology-informed legal practice. The fellow will receive mentorship and supervision from the Legal Innovation Lab Director and CED Law supervising attorneys, while also engaging in direct legal practice through CED Law to ensure tools are grounded in client realities. Collaboration with supervisors and technologists will be key in developing and submitting fellowship applications (e.g., Equal Justice Works, Justice Catalyst, Skadden). The fellowship is anticipated to begin in early Fall 2027.

Requirements

• Work collaboratively with CEDP (the host organization) to develop and submit fellowship application(s)
• JD earned in 2026 and currently entering a clerkship position or JD expected to be earned in 2027
• Demonstrated passion for housing justice, economic justice, public interest law, and/or access to justice
• Strong desire to center client and community needs in legal advocacy and tool design
• Excellent interpersonal communication skills and ability to engage with diverse stakeholders
• Strong organizational and project management abilities
• Ability to work in a collaborative, fast-paced, and community-centered environment
• A supportive, client-focused, and solutions-oriented attitude
• Creativity, initiative, and willingness to think outside the box in designing sustainable legal interventions
• Interest in legal technology, access to justice innovation, community lawyering, and partnership-building
• Ability to travel within the Denver metro area and surrounding jurisdictions for community events, meetings, and trainings
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office, Google Suite, and case management systems preferred

Nice To Haves

• Technical skills (coding, UX/product design, data analysis) are a strong plus but are not required for this role
• Other language skills are not required but are a strong plus and may be eligible for an additional language salary differential

Responsibilities

• Communicate with clients in a timely, respectful, empathetic, and trauma-informed manner
• Carry a direct legal practice through CED Law in an issue area connected to your fellowship project, ensuring your tool-building work is grounded in real legal practice
• Collaborate with the Legal Innovation Lab Director, CED Law supervising attorneys, and CEDP’s technologists and data analysts to scope, design, and develop digital tools
• Conduct user research and community engagement to center the voices of clients and community partners in tool design and iteration
• Manage fellowship project goals, timelines, and deliverables in close coordination with supervisors and in accordance with fellowship requirements
• Contribute to data collection and analysis to evaluate tool effectiveness, identify service gaps, and support evidence-based decision-making
• Build and maintain partnerships with community organizations, legal aid providers, courts, or other stakeholders to support tool implementation and adoption
• Develop knowledge of Colorado housing, consumer protection, and economic justice law and apply it across direct services, tool development, and systems-level problem solving
• Sharpen project management, relationship-building, and legal technology skills in a fast-paced, collaborative environment
• Contribute to a practice culture that is equity-centered, community-responsive, and committed to expanding access to justice for low-income Coloradans

Benefits

• competitive pay
• flexible time off
• medical
• dental
• vision
• 401(k)
• technology stipend of $720 per year
• $2,000 salary differential per year for employees who utilize two languages or more at work

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level