Application Guide
How to Apply for Repro Legal Defense Fund Counsel III
at If/When/How: Lawyering for Reproductive Justice
🏢 About If/When/How: Lawyering for Reproductive Justice
If/When/How is a national legal organization uniquely dedicated to reproductive justice through direct legal services, policy advocacy, and movement lawyering. Unlike traditional reproductive rights groups, they center the experiences of marginalized communities and actively combat criminalization of pregnancy outcomes. Working here means joining a mission-driven team that values intersectionality, racial justice, and holistic support for clients facing legal jeopardy.
About This Role
As a Counsel III on the Repro Legal Defense Fund, you will provide critical legal and practical support to individuals criminalized for pregnancy outcomes or self-managed abortions. This role directly counters punitive laws by ensuring clients have access to bail, resources, and trauma-informed representation. Your work will be at the forefront of defending bodily autonomy in an increasingly hostile legal landscape.
💡 A Day in the Life
A typical day might start with reviewing urgent client calls or emails requesting legal support for a self-managed abortion investigation. You could then research local bail laws, contact a bail fund to secure release, and coordinate transportation for a client. Afternoon tasks might include updating practical support resources, meeting with the team to discuss case strategy, and participating in a public education webinar on reproductive justice.
🚀 Application Tools
🎯 Who If/When/How: Lawyering for Reproductive Justice Is Looking For
- A licensed attorney with at least 2 years of direct legal service experience for indigent clients and communities of color, ideally in a nonprofit or public defender setting.
- Deeply committed to reproductive justice, racial justice, and anti-racist principles, with an understanding of how systemic oppression impacts pregnancy outcomes.
- Skilled in trauma-informed client communication and able to handle sensitive, high-stakes cases with discretion and empathy.
- Preferred: Spanish proficiency, experience with bail funds or abortion support, and familiarity with criminal defense or family defense.
📝 Tips for Applying to If/When/How: Lawyering for Reproductive Justice
Highlight any direct experience representing clients in criminal or family defense, especially cases involving pregnancy, parenting, or reproductive health. Use specific examples of client-centered advocacy.
Demonstrate your commitment to reproductive justice beyond the typical 'pro-choice' framing—reference intersectionality, racial justice, and the decriminalization of self-managed abortion.
If you have Spanish proficiency, mention it explicitly in your cover letter and resume, and provide examples of using it in legal settings.
Show familiarity with If/When/How's work by referencing their recent cases, reports, or campaigns (e.g., the Repro Legal Defense Fund's impact, their amicus briefs, or their policy advocacy).
Emphasize any experience with bail funds, practical support (e.g., transportation, lodging), or working with vendors/contractors in a legal aid context.
✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter
["Your specific commitment to reproductive justice and how it aligns with If/When/How's mission of lawyering for reproductive justice, not just abortion rights.", 'Your experience providing direct legal services to indigent clients and communities of color, with concrete examples of trauma-informed, client-centered advocacy.', "Any relevant criminal defense, family defense, or bail fund experience, and how it prepares you for this role's focus on decriminalization.", 'Your ability to work remotely, manage multiple cases, and collaborate across departments in a fast-paced nonprofit environment.']
Generate Cover Letter →🔍 Research Before Applying
To stand out, make sure you've researched:
- → Review If/When/How's recent reports and publications, especially those on the Repro Legal Defense Fund and criminalization of pregnancy outcomes.
- → Read about their current campaigns, such as the #ReproLegalDefense hashtag or their policy work on decriminalizing self-managed abortion.
- → Familiarize yourself with the landscape of abortion criminalization, including recent cases and laws (e.g., trigger bans, fetal personhood).
- → Understand the organization's structure—they have legal, policy, and communications teams—and how this role collaborates across departments.
💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics
Based on this role, you may be asked about:
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Using generic reproductive rights language (e.g., 'pro-life vs. pro-choice') instead of reproductive justice framework; this organization centers marginalized communities, not just abortion access.
- Failing to explicitly address racial justice and anti-racism in your application; this is core to their mission.
- Overlooking the practical support aspect (bail, vendors, resources) and focusing only on legal research; the role is holistic.
📅 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:
Application Review
1-2 weeks
Initial Screening
Phone call or written assessment
Interviews
1-2 rounds, usually virtual
Offer
Congratulations!
Ready to Apply?
Good luck with your application to If/When/How: Lawyering for Reproductive Justice!