Research Fellow, Neukom Center for the Rule of Law, Stanford Law School (50% part-time position)

About the Center: Building on Stanford Law School's long history as a leading voice on the rule of law, the Sally B. and William H. Neukom Center for the Rule of Law works on numerous fronts to research key questions related to accountability, just laws, open government, and accessible justice around the world.

Established in 2022, the Neukom Center opens its doors at a critical time, when numerous studies, including from The World Justice Project Rule of Law Index, reveal a decline in the rule of law around the world. The interdisciplinary Center is a home for research, teaching, collaboration, public discourse, and policy labs, all of which share a common goal: to produce trailblazing research on countering global trends toward autocracy and on how to strengthen accessible, impartial justice and open government.

The Center's focus on interdisciplinary projects elevates rule of law issues across Stanford University, including through the University's Center on Democracy, Development and the Rule of Law, as well as academic institutions globally. In particular, the Center collaborates closely with other programs established by the Neukom family, including the World Justice Project and the Wright Center for the Study of Computation and Just Communities at Dartmouth.

With the goal of inspiring a new generation of scholars to strengthen the rule of law within the United States and globally, the Center embraces a multidisciplinary approach to confronting complex, global challenges. While housed at the Law School, the Center looks outward toward a broad range of disciplines. The fundamental goal is collaboration with like-minded initiatives to leverage diverse voices and uncover the most innovative paths forward.

Job Focus:

• This is a hybrid position. We hope to host a Research Fellow from August 1, 2025, until July 31, 2026, with the possibility for renewal as decided by Center leadership. This role involves contributing to the Center's interdisciplinary research on accountability, just laws, open government, and accessible justice globally.
• The Research Fellow will draft original research papers and reports related to the Center's subjects of focus. Research papers are submitted to journals or published as reports open to the public. They will also assist with the Center's other ongoing research projects, participating in data collection on public sources and databases and analysis and contributing to the administrative work of the Center as needed, such as developing lists of guest stakeholders, researching backgrounds, and generating agenda topics for Center events.
• Candidates should have excellent research skills, a background in law or a related field, and a keen interest in rule of law issues. This role offers a unique opportunity to generate and contribute to impactful research in a dynamic academic environment. The Research Fellow reports to Faculty Director Diego Zambrano.

CORE DUTIES:

• Plan and perform research requiring initiative and judgment by applying basic knowledge and understanding of legal theory. General instruction provided by the faculty supervisor as needed.
• Analyze and summarize research results for review with faculty supervisor. Audit the accuracy and validity of data.
• Review and audit legal data, and ensure compliance with research protocols.
• Identify, select, extract and summarize data and structured information. Present summary of findings to faculty supervisor and other Center staff
• Draft original research papers and reports.
• Design and evaluate phases of research projects, (i.e., research papers, reports, educational materials, questionnaires).
• Assist with development, communication and design of research findings to internal and external audiences, which may include web updates, social media, and/or white papers, for use in recruitment of stakeholders, educational, or awareness of Center programs, with guidance from faculty supervisor.
• May orient and train new staff or students.