Communications Associate

About the ABF

The American Bar Foundation (ABF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit research institute that expands knowledge and advances justice through rigorous empirical research on law, legal processes, and legal institutions. The ABF’s primary sources of funding are an annual grant from the American Bar Endowment (ABE) and contributions by the Fellows of the ABF—a global honorary society of attorneys, judges, faculty, and scholars whose careers have demonstrated outstanding dedication to the highest principles of the legal profession. The ABF offices are located on Northwestern University’s Chicago campus.

Position Overview

As a member of a three-person Communications team, the Communications Associate is responsible for creating and disseminating content aimed at donors and prospective donors, the academic community, and the general public interested in law and its intersections with society. Reporting to the Communications Manager and working in close cooperation with members of the Communications, Development, and Research staff, the Communications Associate will help tell the story of the ABF and the relevant and timely research we are producing. They will assume writing duties for ABF products, including newsletters, program summaries, and research project descriptions. This professional will help elevate the ABF brand visibility to its stakeholders and to the public. This position will also provide editorial support through October 2025 for the book review section of the peer-reviewed journal Law & Society Review.

Key Responsibilities

Content – 80%

• Lead the writing, editing, and review of the ABF’s Annual Report, ensuring it effectively communicates the real-world impact of our research to donors and prospective donors, while managing the relationship with an external designer.
• Partner with Communications Manager to produce engaging, accessible content for the ABF’s biannual print and digital newsletter, Researching Law, and the web column Featured Researcher.
• Develop and publish content for the ABF website, including researcher bios, project descriptions, program summaries, and news items, optimizing SEO and distributing via Constant Contact as needed.
• Collaborate with Communications Manager to write and publish occasional press releases and media advisories, building and maintaining media lists in Meltwater for circulation.
• Work with Communications Manager and Digital Media Associate to storyboard and develop key talking points for video featuring ABF researchers and research.
• Produce resources for the ABF’s Development and Fellows teams, including brochures, research and program “one-pagers,” reports, and summaries to assist with communicating the ABF’s value to donors and potential donors.

Law & Society Book Review Editorial Coordination (LSR) – 5%

• Collaborate with two in-house editors from ABF’s research faculty to facilitate the book review process.
• Maintain the book review production schedule and coordinate with the publisher, Cambridge University Press, to facilitate the copyediting process.

Other Responsibilities – 15%

• Maintain comprehensive records of affiliated researchers and academics, ensuring accurate internal tracking while supporting the development of a growing ABF alumni network to foster ongoing professional connections and reengage scholars who have participated in our programs.
• Support special events, including faculty book launches, the Fellows Annual Awards Banquet at the ABA Annual Meeting, and ABF alumni events.
• Assist the Communications Manager in overseeing the Summer Communications Intern and fostering the intern’s professional development throughout the summer.

Other communications-related duties may be assigned to this role.

Required Qualifications

• 1–2 years of experience creating communications content
• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills
• Strong editing and proofreading skills
• Ability to quickly comprehend academic writing and research and translate for a general audience
• Strong attention to detail
• Strong contributor in team environments and able to collaborate successfully with faculty and staff
• Commitment to the ABF’s mission and to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite: Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook
• Must reside in Illinois and maintain U.S. work authorization throughout employment

Preferred Qualifications

• Proficiency with mass marketing/communications platforms: Constant Contact, Meltwater, etc.
• Demonstrated interest in academic scholarship and/or prior experience on a newspaper, journal, or other publishing experience

The ABF strives to foster a community that represents many backgrounds and experiences. If you are passionate about sociolegal research that advances justice, we encourage you to apply, even if you do not meet every requirement. Relevant experience can be formal or informal, paid or unpaid. We value diversity of thought and experience and are committed to supporting our team members’ growth and success.

Work Structure and Environment

This is a full-time (35 hours per week), non-exempt position. Close mental and visual attention are required, primarily for using a computer and/or extensive reading. ABF employees are expected to work at the ABF offices at least two days per week and to work within the state of Illinois on the other days. Standard work hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, with a one-hour lunch period. Occasional work outside of these hours is expected in connection with ABF events (e.g., Board meetings). Occasional out-of-state travel may be required for this position.

The American Bar Foundation (ABF) is firmly committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all qualified persons, including providing reasonable accommodations to qualified job applicants. All decisions regarding employment will be made without unlawful discrimination on the basis of age; ancestry; certain arrest or criminal history records; citizenship; color; disability; gender; gender identity; genetic information; housing status; marital status; military status; national origin; order of protection status; parental status; pregnancy; protected activity (e.g., reporting of prohibited discrimination or harassment); race (including traits associated with race such as hair texture or hair styles); religion; reproductive health decisions; sex; sexual orientation; source of income; status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual violence, gender violence, or any other crime of violence or who have family or household members who are victims of such violence; unfavorable discharge from the military; or any other status or classification protected by applicable federal, state, and/or local laws.