The State Democracy Research Initiative (SDRI) at the University of Wisconsin Law School seeks fixed-term one-year Fellows to join our growing team this summer or early fall. In this role, you will advance our multi-faceted, nonpartisan efforts to foster research and dialogue on pressing questions of public law and democracy in states across the nation.
The Fellow’s precise portfolio can be tailored to their interests and experience. Likely responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:
The Initiative’s work is rooted in the idea that to preserve democracy, we must first understand it. Currently, scholarly and popular discourse on U.S. democracy focuses disproportionately on federal laws and institutions. States often get short shrift, even though they are central to our democratic system. Accordingly, the Initiative aims to foster knowledge of and engagement with state-level institutions throughout the country, including exploring avenues for states to check federal overreach.
The Fellow will divide their time between legal research and writing on the Initiative’s research projects; research and drafting parts of amicus briefs on behalf of scholars in relevant cases across the country; analyzing the legal dimensions of current events for varied audiences; and conducting educational programming for both the public and our students.
Because the Initiative has a national focus, the Fellowship positions are not limited to candidates who practice law in or reside in Wisconsin. We also seek applications from candidates with strong ties to other states. For candidates based in Wisconsin, we envision an in-person working arrangement with the potential for hybrid work. For candidates based elsewhere, we can accommodate fully remote work. Remote work requires an approved remote work agreement (RWA) agreement. An RWA requires successful candidates to possess their own high-speed internet and phone to perform the work on a university provided computer.
The ideal candidate will be a new lawyer with interest in state-level democracy, state constitutions, and state institutions; an excellent writer with comfort writing not just briefs, but also white papers, academic essays, blog posts, or op-eds; and a team player with enthusiasm for working with peers and students alike. We encourage and welcome applications from candidates with varied backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives.
This is a one-year appointment with no intention of extension. Position is eligible for health benefits. The official payroll title of the position will be Research Associate (PD012), but the business title is SDRI Fellow.
Fulltime salary for one-year appointment set at $63,000.
To apply, please submit a cover letter, resume, and writing sample to the SDRI email at: sdri@law.wisc.edu by the full consideration date of May 14, 2026. Applications may be accepted until the positions are filled.
Contact SDRI Executive Director Bree Grossi Wilde with questions at bgwilde@wisc.edu.