The Texas Civil Rights Project (“TCRP”) seeks a senior or experienced attorney for its Criminal Justice Reform Program. This position will focus on impact litigation and will be based in our Houston, Texas office. To apply, please see instructions located here: https://texascivilrightsproject.org/employment. For consideration, application materials must be submitted no later than March 29, 2019. The anticipated start date is April 2, 2019.
About TCRP and our Criminal Justice Reform Program
At TCRP, we are Texas lawyers for Texas communities. We use legal advocacy and litigation to empower Texas communities and create change. Our three programs are focused on litigating on behalf of Texas communities to defend voting rights, reform systems of criminal justice, and fight institutional discrimination in pursuit of racial and economic justice. Our efforts have helped countless low-income and otherwise marginalized Texans and have widely advanced equality and justice. Today — with dozens of high-caliber attorneys and professionals around the state and an extensive network of pro bono counsel and community allies —TCRP is among the most influential civil rights organizations in Texas. We are proud of our work, welcome innovative thinkers, and offer flexibility to different people’s styles and strengths. Learn more at www.texascivilrightsproject.org.
Our Criminal Justice Reform program promotes social justice, dignity, and humanization in our criminal justice system. It prioritizes efforts that decriminalize and de-carcerate, improve conditions for convicted and incarcerated persons and their families, decrease barriers to meaningful reentry, and that fight the discrimination and racism that pervades every aspect of criminal justice in the state of Texas. Recent successes have included litigating a debtors prison case to the settlement, forcing TDCJ to provide air conditioning to thousands of elderly and medically vulnerable prisoners to protect them from dangerous Texas heat, and working with a coalition to end racist juvenile curfew laws in Dallas.
Overview of Responsibilities
Our senior Criminal Justice Reform attorney will work closely with the Program Director to implement the criminal justice programmatic priorities for 2019 and beyond. The attorney will carry an active caseload and will spend most of his/her/their time developing and litigating criminal justice related civil rights cases in state and federal court and pursuing related investigations. The attorney will develop expertise in areas of criminal justice reform and will become the leading voice in defining meaningful reform. The attorney will also mentor younger attorneys in the program as they learn to develop and litigate civil rights cases.
Compensation
Salary will be based on years of experience and any additional job responsibilities, with a starting salary rate of $65,260 for an attorney with at least five years’ experience. TCRP also offers excellent benefits, professional development opportunities and a deep commitment to a meaningful work-life balance. Benefits include: employer-paid health, dental, and vision insurance, four weeks paid vacation, six weeks paid family leave (with opportunities to extend leave to 12 weeks in total), a $500 professional development budget annually, and extensive holidays, including a two-week winter break between December 19th and New Year’s Day.
Inclusion & Non-Discrimination
TCRP values a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture — women, people of color, individuals with disabilities, veterans, and people from other underrepresented communities are strongly encouraged to apply for this position.
We do not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, national origin, age, creed, religion, physical ability, gender, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, sexual orientation, previous incarceration, veteran status, union membership or activism, or any other characteristic protected by local, state or federal law.
Qualifications
● J.D. from an American Bar Association accredited law school
● Five years of post-J.D. experience, preferably with significant civil litigation experience with Federal Court experience
● Licensed to practice in Texas (or eligible to waive in or sit for the next available Texas bar exam)
● Proven ability to take the initiative in developing litigation and investigations
● Experience in state or federal civil litigation, including drafting pleadings, motions, taking and defending depositions, arguing in court and other litigation proceedings
● Excellent research and writing skills
● Excellent organizational skills and ability to multi-task
● Commitment to civil rights
● Ability to work independently
● Ability to travel frequently for litigation, investigations, and community outreach
● Creativity and willingness to explore a wide range of avenues of relief for our clients
● Experience mentoring younger attorneys or law students
● Ability to successfully work with community groups
● Track record of working collaboratively with diverse groups of individuals
● Ability to work some weekends
● A team player
● Strong ties to Texas are a plus and lives in Houston or willingness to relocate near start date
● Ability to speak other languages a plus
● And, finally, the desire to be a badass TCRP attorney!
To apply, please see instructions located here: https://texascivilrightsproject.org/employment.