Local Government Project; LGP) Temporary Research Specialist - Cornell Law School Cornell Jeb E. Brooks School

Law School is a globally recognized institution known for excellence in legal scholarship, teaching, and experiential learning. The school offers JD, LLM, and JSD programs and is home to leading scholars and practitioners engaged in innovative legal research across a wide range of disciplines.

The Cornell Law School First Amendment Clinic's dual mission is to teach students important aspects of the First Amendment and to vigorously defend its clients' First Amendment rights. Through coursework and cutting edge First Amendment litigation, advocacy and research, students gain theoretical and practical skills while achieving the best possible outcomes for their clients. Aside from its free speech litigation work, the Clinic houses the Local Journalism Project, an innovative initiative that provides focus to the Clinic’s work on behalf of local and community news outlets and journalists and the Local Government Project, which examines how democratic values – especially free expression – are functioning at the local government level.

About The Cornell Jeb

E. Brooks School of Public Policy

The Cornell Jeb

E. Brooks School of Public Policy is Cornell University's interdisciplinary public policy school, dedicated to advancing evidence-based solutions to society's most pressing challenges through research, teaching, and public engagement. The school brings together leading scholars, practitioners, and students to address issues including democracy and governance, technology policy, health policy, social inequality, sustainability, and global development. Through its commitment to impactful research and community engagement, the Brooks School prepares future leaders while supporting public institutions and policy innovation at the local, national, and global levels.

Cornell Law School, through its First Amendment Clinic, and the Cornell Brooks School of Public Policy seek a highly motivated, entrepreneurial, and data-driven professional to serve as the Local Government Project (LGP) Temporary Research Specialist. This position supports a collaborative initiative focused on strengthening First Amendment protections and open government practices within New York State school boards.

Working under the supervision of Mark Jackson, Director of the First Amendment Clinic at Cornell Law School, and in collaboration with Paul Eastburg Friesen, Research Associate at the Center for Global Democracy at the Brooks School of Public Policy, the Research Specialist will lead the completion of a statewide pilot project examining school board policies and practices through a First Amendment lens.

The project seeks to identify opportunities for improvement in public participation policies, promote transparency, enhance freedom of expression, and support effective democratic governance at the local level. The successful candidate will work collaboratively with university researchers, students, community stakeholders, advocacy organizations, and school board officials across New York State.

This position is generously funded by the Henry Luce Foundation.

The Local Government Project has been underway for six months and has already collected public participation policies from approximately one-third of New York State school boards. An interim report summarizing initial findings has been completed.

• Completing statewide data collection efforts.
• Managing and supporting undergraduate and graduate student research assistants.
• Examining how school board policies are implemented in practice.
• Identifying trends, challenges, and best practices related to public participation and First Amendment rights.
• Delivering a comprehensive final report with findings and recommendations.

• A…