The Committee has an active docket of litigation in cutting edge civil rights cases involving five core areas: housing, education, criminal legal system reform (prisoners’ rights, parole, police misconduct, debtors’ prisons, and collateral consequences of convictions/confinement), employment, and public accommodations. The legal director is responsible to:
• Work with the executive director, deputy legal directors, and other staff to develop a docket of litigation and policy initiatives to advance the Committee’s strategic priorities.
• Supervise cases and projects. The legal director will be expected to directly supervise a portion of the docket and oversee the supervision of the balance of the docket by deputy legal directors.
• Manage all operational aspects of the legal program, including support to for grant proposal drafting and reporting and assisting in budget development.
• Oversee the professional development of junior attorneys.
• Serve as a thought leader within the Committee, and the legal community, on civil rights law and policy.
• Outreach to and recruitment of law firm pro bono resources.
The ideal candidate will possess the following skills and qualifications:
• Passion for civil rights and racial equity advocacy.
• J.D. degree and DC Bar membership or ability to waive in to the DC Bar. Membership in Maryland and/or Virginia Bars a plus.
• Minimum of twelve years of significant litigation experience, including work on complex federal cases, preferably including trial and appellate work, and class actions.
• Minimum of three years’ progressive responsibility supervising/mentoring junior attorneys.
• Minimum of three years’ experience managing programs and staff.
• Effective interpersonal and oral and written communication skills.
• Experience working in/substantial familiarity with non-profit organizations preferred.
• Bilingual ability (professional fluency) preferred but not required.
Please send an email detailing your interest and a resume to: [email protected]. Please place “[your name] – Legal Director” in the subject line.