Location(s)

Title:  Racial Justice Attorney
Start Date:  September 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 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.  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 position will partly involve litigation of existing cases, including a class action racial profiling lawsuit against the New York City Police Department and an employment discrimination case against the New York City Fire Department. The position will also involve developing new creative litigation projects challenging racial injustice, socioeconomic inequality, mass incarceration, police brutality, racial discrimination, 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 grass roots 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 the Racial Justice Attorney include:
•    Conducting and managing significant litigation in federal and state courts, including trial and appellate court litigation, discovery and motion practice, briefs and arguments and occasional trials.
•    Providing assistance and advice to CCR’s movement allies and cooperating attorneys.
•    Developing strategies for international human rights advocacy.
•    Drafting materials for public education.
•    Engaging in public speaking and responding to press inquiries.
•    Working closely with other activists, advocates and organizations.
•    Supervising fellows and law student interns.
•    Participating in meetings with funders and other development department fundraising efforts as requested.

Qualifications:
•    Minimum of 5 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 New York Bar.  
•    Demonstrated commitment to and experience with racial, gender and economic justice issues and civil rights law and litigation; 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.
•    Must be able to work independently and possess the ability to manage a variety of tasks simultaneously.
•    Must be creative in crafting strategies to advance racial, gender, and economic rights in CCR’s priority areas.
•    Proven ability to work as member of a team.
•    Willingness to travel.

Compensation:
The salary for this position is commensurate with experience and in accordance with CCR’s attorney 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: Racial Justice Search Committee, Center for Constitutional Rights, 666 Broadway, 7th floor, NY, 10012 or e-mail to rjsearch@ccr-ny.org with “Racial Justice 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.