About the Center
Trust in American institutions—government, courts, and even civil society—has steadily eroded and now stands at historic lows. In October 2025, Vanita Gupta launched the Center for Law and Public Trust at NYU School of Law to confront this crisis in confidence and reimagine US institutions so they are more effective and accountable to the American people, more resilient to corruption and abuse, and therefore more deserving of public trust.
The Center works to rebuild trust and advance effectiveness in government and other institutions by: developing issue briefs, roadmaps, and concrete blueprints for institutional reform and reconstruction; designing structures, processes, and policies that are more responsive to community needs, efficient, resilient, and accountable to the public; and training the next generation of lawyers to lead in public service, armed with the skills to deploy the levers of government and leadership, advance justice, and deliver results for the American people.
Position Description
The Center seeks four for-credit Research Assistants for Fall 2026 to support its ongoing projects. RAs will assist with legal research, writing, policy analysis, and proposal development to strengthen our institutions against abuse and corruption and to restore public trust. Research assistants will collaborate closely with faculty and Center staff, gaining exposure to several different projects throughout the semester.
Current Research Areas *subject to slight change:
- Reform Proposals: Compile and analyze published ideas for reforming government operations, structures, and policies.
- Organizational History and Effectiveness: Research the creation and evolution of government agencies, offices, and functions, and assess their impact on institutional trust.
- Accountability: Examine institutional checks and balances and develop strategies for strengthening independence, oversight, and fairness.
Qualifications
- Current 2L, 3L, or LLM NYU Law student eligible to earn academic credit
- Strong research, writing, and analytical skills
- Interest in government reform, institutional design, or public engagement
- Ability to work independently and synthesize complex materials
Application Materials
Please submit the following to CLPT@nyu.edu:
- A brief statement (1 page single-spaced) answering the following questions:
- Why are you interested in working at the Center? (max. 350 words)
- What do you see as the biggest threat to trust in government? OR How do you think the government could do better to deliver for people? (max. 350 words)
- Current résumé
- Unofficial transcript
Deadline
Applications are due by Friday, May 1, 2026, at 5:00 PM ET.
If you have questions or would like to learn more about the position, please reach out to Halley Dunn at hmd307@nyu.edu. We look forward to hearing from you.