The IRC’s Center for Economic Empowerment (CEO) is a certified community development financial institution (CDFI) and non-controlled subsidiary of the International Rescue Committee (IRC). The Primary Mission of CEO is to unlock access to credit to help create a fair financial system where low-income people can realize their potential to build better lives and communities prosper. CEO specializes in making small-dollar consumer and commercial loans to refugees, immigrants and other low-income individuals using a unique and robust national network of partners. CEO is a borrower-centered organization with a core value to protect and work to the interest of borrowers and to trust their willingness to repay. CEO has made over $40 million in loans to date and is actively working toward expanding scale and scope.

Position Description

The Center for Economic Opportunity (CEO), a nonprofit Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) affiliated with the International Rescue Committee, is seeking assistance with a structured 50-state legal research project.

CEO currently operates lending programs in several states and is preparing for geographic expansion. As part of this work, CEO needs to compile state-by-state research on non-mortgage consumer lending and third-party debt collection licensing requirements, including:

  • Whether a license is required
  • Applicable statutory and regulatory frameworks
  • Licensing triggers and thresholds
  • Exemptions (including nonprofit exemptions, where applicable)
  • High-level application and renewal requirements

A detailed research template has already been created. Volunteers will not be asked to design the framework or make final legal determinations. The work involves completing assigned state templates with accurate citations and flagging ambiguities for review.

All work may be performed remotely from any location.

Supervision

The project will be attorney-supervised by the Executive Director of CEO, a licensed attorney.  Hours may qualify toward New York bar pro bono requirements, and the supervising attorney is able to complete the required affidavits, subject to applicable rules. Eligible for HLS pro bono credit.

Application Instructions

Looking to start by the beginning of March. Please email a resume and brief cover letter to Ariana.Miller@rescue.org with a copy to Lee Mestre in the HLS Clinical and Pro Bono Program (lmestre@law.harvard.edu). In your cover letter, please indicate:

  • the approximate number of hours per week you are able to commit,
  • the anticipated duration of your availability (number of weeks), and
  • whether you are seeking credit toward a pro bono service requirement.