Location(s)

Title:  Government Misconduct Staff Attorney
Start Date:  September 1, 2008
Location:  New York City
Reports to:  Legal Director

Address:  
Center for Constitutional Rights
666 Broadway, 7th Floor
New York, NY  10012

Description:
The Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR) is a non-profit legal and educational organization dedicated to advancing and protecting the rights guaranteed by the United States Constitution and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.  The Center grew out of the civil rights struggle in the South and is committed to the creative use of law as a positive force for social change.  For over 40 years, CCR has fought segregation and racial profiling, made important contributions to the battle for abortion rights and the rights of victims of domestic violence, held oil companies and other corporations accountable for human rights abuses overseas, and led key challenges to the government's detention and interrogation policies in the wake of 9/11, at home, in Guantánamo, and throughout the world.

This staff attorney position involves litigation of existing cases and development of new creative litigation projects in areas such as: addressing the government’s criminalization of dissent; social, racial and economic justice; mass incarceration; gender equality, LGBTQ rights, and reproductive justice; police brutality; and novel oppressive domestic programs stemming from the so-called “Global War on Terror.”  In all our litigation, CCR seeks to incorporate international law strategies alongside domestic federal and state law claims.

In addition to their litigation responsibilities, all attorneys at CCR are expected to research and draft materials for use in public education; to engage in public speaking including outreach to community and grassroots movements and to progressive lawyers and legal groups; to interact with the news media in the service of our programmatic work; and to participate in fundraising.

Responsibilities of this position include:

•    Developing and leading significant litigation in federal and state trial and appellate courts, including discovery, motion practice, briefs, correspondence, preparation of witnesses, depositions and trials.  
•    Providing assistance and advice to CCR’s movement allies, cooperating attorneys, activists, advocates and other organizations..
•    Engaging in public speaking and writing on subjects related to the docket area.
•    Participating in meetings with funders and other development department fundraising efforts as requested.
•    Developing new cases and litigation strategies relating to government misconduct and racial, gender, social and economic justice issues.
•    Supervising fellows and law student interns.

Qualifications:

•    Minimum of 8-10 years of practice as an attorney, preferably in constitutional and civil rights. Admission to the New York Bar preferred; if hired, must become admitted to the New York Bar.
•    Demonstrated commitment to and experience with civil rights law and litigation, including racial, gender, social and economic justice issues.
•    Some experience with international human rights advocacy strategies is a plus.
•    Excellent research and writing skills.
•    Demonstrated ability to effectively undertake complex legal analytical work.
•    Ability to work independently and possess the ability to manage a variety of tasks simultaneously.
•    Creativity in crafting strategies to advance racial, gender and economic rights in CCR’s priority areas.
•    Experience representing clients at hearings, at trial and on appeal.
•    Experience with case management and supervision of attorneys.
•    Proven ability to work as member of a team.
•    Willingness to travel.

Compensation:

Salary is commensurate with experience and in accordance with CCR’s collectively bargained salary scale.  Benefits include pension plan, escalating vacation beginning with three weeks, sick leave, holidays, and 100% organization paid health benefits for employees including medical, dental, life and long-term disability insurance.

Contact:

Qualified candidates should mail a cover letter with salary requirements, resume, writing sample, and three references to: Government Misconduct Attorney Committee, Center for Constitutional Rights, 666 Broadway, 7th floor, NY, 10012 or e-mail to gmsearch@ccrjustice.org with “Government Misconduct Attorney Search” in the subject line.   E-mail applications are preferred.    Applications will be considered on a rolling basis and strong consideration will be given to early applications.  

NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE.  

CCR IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY/AFFIRMATIVE ACTION EMPLOYER AND ACTIVELY RECRUITS WOMEN, PEOPLE OF COLOR, PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES, AND PERSONS WITH DIVERSE GENDER AND SEXUAL IDENTITIES.