Description:

About the role:
The Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law is one of the nation's leading national racial justice legal organizations. Formed in 1963 at the request of President John F. Kennedy, the Lawyers' Committee uses legal advocacy to achieve racial justice, fighting inside and outside the courts to ensure that Black people and other people of color have the voice, opportunity, and power to make the promises of our democracy real.

Responsible for providing legal support throughout the organization, including in litigation and internal legal counsel, the Senior Counsel will have ability to address complex civil rights challenges that define the current era, to lead and assist with litigation, and to provide legal advice to Lawyers' Committee leadership and staff.

The Counsel's primary supervisor will be the Acting Co-Chief Counsel. Litigation and other legal matters within the purview of a Project Director may be supervised by the Project Director, at the direction of the Acting Co-Chief Counsel. Much of the Counsel's work will be on investigations and litigation but the Counsel also may work on public education or public policy matters, and on matters requiring internal legal advice.

What You'll Be Doing:
Responsibilities of the Senior Counsel include but are not limited to:

Participate in investigations, litigation and other matters in ways that expand the organization's current capacity by providing support, where needed, to the Lawyers' Committee's various Projects.
Develop investigations into potential legal violations on behalf of the Lawyers' Committee's clients.
Litigate all aspects of matters from inception through conclusion along with Lawyers' Committee staff, firm co-counsel and nonprofit partner co-counsel.
Engage in public education and public policy efforts supporting the Lawyers' Committee work, including making presentations and attending meetings with various stakeholders and drafting written material, such as reports.
Provide legal analysis and advice as requested concerning the Lawyers' Committee's operations, including questions related to compliance with governing laws, such as lobbying requirements and limitations on the activities of 501(c)(3) organizations.
Provide guidance as requested on legal issues applicable to the organization's practice, such as the application of certain legal privileges and rules of confidentiality.
Assist with the development of training and professional development opportunities on legal topics for Lawyers' Committee staff.

Minimum Requirements and Competencies:

At least 4 years of legal experience, including litigation experience, for Counsel position and 9 years of such experience for Senior Counsel position.
Demonstrated commitment to advancing civil rights and racial justice and experience working on civil rights issues.
Experience litigating complex civil cases, including writing legal memoranda and briefs; engaging in written discovery; and taking and defending depositions.
Experience litigating complex civil cases, including writing legal memoranda and briefs. engaging in written discovery; and taking and defending depositions.
Active DC Bar Membership or ability to waive into the DC Bar.
Excellent legal research and writing skills.
Organized and adept at time management.
Ability to manage a varied docket of legal work.
Ability to work constructively with multiple sets of partners and collaborators, including Lawyers' Committee co-counsel and staff, law firm co-counsel, and other civil society organizations.
Ability to develop, maintain and enhance relationships with diverse groups and coalitions.
Excellent writing, interpersonal, communication and presentation skills
Comfort working in a diverse environment.
Ability to travel for litigation, conferences, speaking engagements, and client development.