Application Guide

How to Apply for Network Manager- West Coast- Remote

at Equal Justice Works

🏢 About Equal Justice Works

Equal Justice Works is a national nonprofit that uniquely empowers law students and lawyers to pursue public interest careers through innovative fellowship programs and partnerships. Working here means joining a mission-driven team dedicated to expanding access to justice and fostering a lifelong commitment to public service.

About This Role

As the West Coast Network Manager, you will be the primary relationship-builder with sponsors, host organizations, and law schools across the region, driving roughly $2-3M in fellowship funding. This role is impactful because you directly enable public interest fellowships that place lawyers in underserved communities, addressing critical social justice needs.

💡 A Day in the Life

A typical day might start with a video call with a law school career services director to discuss fellowship opportunities, followed by drafting a sponsorship proposal for a law firm. Afternoon could include a virtual check-in with a current sponsor to report on their fellow’s impact, then analyzing your portfolio to prioritize follow-ups for the quarter.

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🎯 Who Equal Justice Works Is Looking For

  • A JD with legal work experience, ideally in law firm or in-house pro bono, who understands the legal nonprofit landscape and can speak authentically to sponsors about fellowship impact.
  • A seasoned relationship manager with 5+ years in fundraising or sponsorship development, skilled at cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding high-value partnerships (e.g., $50K+ commitments).
  • Deeply knowledgeable about public interest law and social justice issues, with the ability to connect sponsor interests to Equal Justice Works’ mission and programs.
  • Excellent communicator and strategic thinker, capable of developing engagement plans and managing a portfolio of 30-50 sponsors while working independently in a remote setting.

📝 Tips for Applying to Equal Justice Works

1

Tailor your resume to highlight specific fundraising or sponsorship revenue you’ve generated, using dollar amounts (e.g., 'Managed a portfolio of 20 sponsors generating $1.5M annually').

2

In your cover letter, explicitly name 1-2 Equal Justice Works programs (e.g., Design Your Own Legal Fellowship) and explain how your legal background helps you articulate their value to sponsors.

3

Showcase your knowledge of West Coast legal markets by mentioning specific law schools or firms you’ve worked with in California, Oregon, or Washington.

4

Provide concrete examples of how you’ve stewarded multi-year relationships or turned a one-time donor into a repeat sponsor, as retention is key.

5

Emphasize remote work experience—mention tools (e.g., Salesforce, Zoom) and strategies you use to stay connected with stakeholders across time zones.

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

['Your JD and pro bono experience as a foundation for credibility with law firm and corporate sponsors.', 'Specific examples of cultivating and closing six-figure sponsorships or grants, with measurable outcomes.', 'Your passion for public interest law and alignment with Equal Justice Works’ mission of equal justice.', 'Your strategic approach to managing a regional portfolio, including plans for engaging West Coast law schools and legal employers.']

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → Review Equal Justice Works’ current fellowship sponsors and programs (e.g., the Leadership Development Program, Disaster Recovery Legal Corps) to understand funding priorities.
  • → Read their annual report and recent news to see impact metrics and any new initiatives on the West Coast.
  • → Familiarize yourself with key West Coast law schools’ public interest programs (e.g., UCLA, Berkeley, Stanford, UW) to identify potential partners.
  • → Look into the specific social justice issues Equal Justice Works focuses on (e.g., housing, immigration, civil rights) and how fellows address them.
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💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 Walk us through how you would cultivate a new law firm sponsor on the West Coast—from initial outreach to a $100K commitment.
2 Describe a time you retained a sponsor who was considering ending their support. What steps did you take?
3 How do you stay informed about social justice issues and nonprofit trends relevant to our work?
4 Given our remote structure, how would you ensure consistent communication and relationship-building with sponsors and law schools across multiple states?
5 What experience do you have with fellowship programs? How would you promote the Design Your Own Legal Fellowship to potential sponsors?
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⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Applying without a JD or legal experience—this is a firm requirement; don’t apply if you don’t have it.
  • Submitting a generic cover letter that doesn’t reference Equal Justice Works’ mission or programs—personalization is critical.
  • Overlooking the fundraising aspect; this is a revenue-generating role, so avoid focusing only on legal skills without showing business development acumen.

📅 Application Timeline

This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.

Typical hiring timeline:

1

Application Review

1-2 weeks

2

Initial Screening

Phone call or written assessment

3

Interviews

1-2 rounds, usually virtual

✓

Offer

Congratulations!

Ready to Apply?

Good luck with your application to Equal Justice Works!

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