Overview

Research scholars at USALI advance the institute’s mission by informing the law school community and wider audiences about important legal developments in East Asia. They also support East Asian legal scholars and practitioners who visit or partner with USALI. As key members of a small team, they execute the full array of programs and assist with administrative and logistical tasks as needed.

Responsibilities

Monitor significant developments in the legal systems of East Asian jurisdictions that we follow, as well as day-to-day legal news.
Research, draft, edit, and/or proofread news summaries, blog posts, talking points, social media posts, newsletters, and occasional longer analyses on topics related to the legal systems in East Asia.
Organize workshops and activities for USALI’s visiting scholars to help them get the most from their time at NYU and contribute to intellectual life at the institute.
Occasionally translate materials from Chinese or Japanese to English and vice versa.
Assist in event/activity preparation and execution including: suggest speakers and topics, coordinate with speakers or panelists, work on schedules and promotion, prepare background materials, edit video recordings, and draft after-event summaries.
Help supervise research assistants and interns.
Assist in identifying potential funders and grant opportunities, and in drafting grant proposals, donor reports, and fundraising materials.

Key requirements

Relevant work experience at a university, think tank, or non-profit, leading to demonstrated ability to perform the role described above.
Knowledge of law and policy in East Asia.
Law degree, which may be LLB or JD, is strongly preferred.
Working proficiency (speaking and reading) in Chinese or Japanese; native or near-native spoken and written English.
Significant research experience in the field of East Asian law or policy.
Able to write clearly and concisely about complex subjects, and to summarize legal and foreign policy discussions in plain English to reach broad audiences.
Committed to the mission of promoting knowledge exchanges and mutual understanding between the US and East Asia in the field of law.
Sufficient technical proficiency to set up and run virtual or hybrid webinars, make and edit event recordings, co-maintain the institute website in Squarespace, and co-manage our social media accounts.
Willingness to work in person in NYC.
Able to work flexibly as part of a small team in a very large university. Collaborative, creative, curious.
Legally eligible to work in the United States.

Why join USALI?

To foster mutual understanding between legal scholars and professionals in East Asia and the United States, with the potential to positively influence bilateral and regional peaceful cooperation.
To become familiar with the legal systems in East Asia and gain expertise in specific topics of focus such as women’s rights, the legal status of Taiwan, wrongful convictions, and the application of international law in East Asia.
Be part of a dynamic and international intellectual community at NYU School of Law.
Meet East Asian legal professionals and scholars including judges, prosecutors, lawyers, and legal activists.
Develop project-delivery skills.

Salary

Commensurate with experience, ranging between $62,000-67,000. The position comes with excellent benefits, including medical, dental, and vision, as well as the possibility of earning tuition benefits. Further information regarding benefits can be found here:

https://www.nyu.edu/employees/benefit/full-time/professional-research-staff/benefits-guide-2025.html

How to apply

Email usali.nyu@gmail.com, writing “Research Scholar” in the subject line.

Please include: a resume, two short writing samples (each 1500 words or less), contact details for two references (at least one from a current or former work supervisor), and a cover letter that explains your interest in USALI, how your past experience has prepared you for this position, and your available start date.

Applications will be reviewed on an ongoing basis, and you will be contacted if selected for an interview.

About USALI

The U.S.-Asia Law Institute (USALI) is one of America’s preeminent research centers for the study of law in East Asia. It serves as a bridge between East Asia and the United States, fostering mutual understanding on legal issues and using constructive engagement among legal professionals to promote rule of law and human rights everywhere. The institute is funded by grants and gifts to conduct legal exchange programs, hold conferences and speaker programs, publish research and analysis, and teach courses about law in East Asia.

NYU is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to a policy of equal treatment and opportunity in every aspect of its recruitment and hiring process without regard to age, alienage, caregiver status, childbirth, citizenship status, color, creed, disability, domestic violence victim status, ethnicity, familial status, gender and/or gender identity or expression, marital status, military status, national origin, parental status, partnership status, predisposing genetic characteristics, pregnancy, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, unemployment status, veteran status, or any other legally protected basis. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, persons of minority sexual orientation or gender identity, individuals with disabilities, and veterans are encouraged to apply for vacant positions at all levels.