Attorney - Civil Rights

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Job location
601 Pennsylvania Ave., NW
South Bldg., Suite 900
Washington, DC 20004
United States
Organization information
Organization name: 
Equal Justice Under Law
Street address: 
601 Pennsylvania Ave., NW South Bldg., Suite 900
City: 
Washington
State: 
District of Columbia
ZIP: 
20004
Job type: 
Legal - Civil
Position Description: 

Organization Summary
Equal Justice Under Law is an innovative, aggressive, and progressive non-profit organization in Washington, D.C., seeking systemic change through litigation across the country. Our mission is to redress inequality and protect the rights of the most underrepresented, impoverished, and marginalized members of our society. Equal Justice Under Law’s cases often attack wealth-based discrimination in the criminal justice system through class action lawsuits.

Founded in 2014, much of our work thus far has focused on civil rights litigation on behalf of indigent criminal defendants, including landmark cases challenging the rise of modern debtors’ prisons, the American money bail system, prosecutorial abuses and mandatory minimum sentencing, and the militarization of police. For a sampling of our current cases and recent successes, see our website: http://equaljusticeunderlaw.org/wp/current-cases/.

Position Summary
Attorneys work closely with the organization’s leadership to develop strategy at the highest levels, to investigate systemic civil rights abuses, to build relationships with community partners, and to craft legal theories and litigation. Working at Equal Justice Under Law is a unique experience and bestows a high degree of responsibility on attorneys. We expect work of the highest quality, and we value passion, creativity, intellectual rigor, and close collaboration on all aspects of our cases.

Equal Justice Under Law makes every effort to ensure that its attorneys receive more substantive experience than attorneys with comparable background receive elsewhere. Under the supervision of experienced lawyers, attorneys can expect to draft and file their own motions and briefs; serve and review discovery; attend court hearings; work with community partners, clients, families, and organizers; and participate in the highest levels of strategizing complex and groundbreaking legal theories. Attorneys should also expect to travel around the country for the purpose of building civil rights cases and conducting investigation and litigation.

Requirements: 

Qualifications
• Minimum one year of post-graduate legal experience required; • Bar admission required;
• Knowledge about criminal justice system preferred;
• Creativity, progressive legal philosophy, and an insistence on social justice;
• Innovative thinking, an unwillingness to accept things as they are, and a strong work ethic; • Desire and ability to self-motivate;
• Demonstrated organization and time-management skills; • Excellent written and oral presentation skills;
• Maturity and the ability to work well in a team environment.
• Demonstrated commitment, passion, and enthusiasm for Equal Justice Under Law’s mission;

To apply: 

Application Instructions
Interested applicants are encouraged to apply by September 30, 2016, and should submit a cover letter, resume, list of references, and relevant writing sample (e.g., brief, motion, etc.). Applications will continue to be accepted until the position is filled, with an anticipated start date in October 2016. All materials should be sent by e-mail to [email protected].

Notes: 
Equal Opportunity Employer Equal Justice Under Law is an equal opportunity employer. We value a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture.
Salary range: 
Compensation will be commensurate with experience. Expected salary range is between $70,000 and $85,000.
Submission deadline: 
Monday, October 10, 2016