Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs
LEGAL DIRECTOR  
                  
About the Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs
The Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs (“the Committee”) works to create legal, economic, and social equity through litigation, client and public education, and advocacy with a primary focus on racial justice. For more than 50 years, the Committee has been on the cutting edge of civil rights advocacy in the Washington, D.C. region, bringing precedent-setting litigation to address discrimination. Our work focuses on injustices in housing, employment, the criminal legal system, education, public accommodations, and civil rights of immigrants. We partner with individuals and communities facing discrimination and with the legal community to achieve justice. 
                  
The Committee prioritizes systemic reform litigation and advocacy. While it engages in limited direct service, that work is designed to advance its change agenda by identifying high-impact cases, case aggregation strategies, and community education. In addition, the Committee works in partnership with community-based and grassroots organizations that are led by members of impacted communities. 
 
For more information on the Washington Lawyers’ Committee, visit www.washlaw.org.


Position Summary
The Committee seeks an experienced civil rights impact litigation attorney to lead the strategy and selection of our litigation docket and policy initiatives. Collaborating with the Committee’s staff and communities across Washington, D.C., the Legal Director will guide the organization on which cases to pursue and how. The Legal Director will also build relationships with private bar members to leverage their expertise and pro bono support. As a senior leader at the Committee, the Legal Director also will play an essential role in advancing a culture of diversity, equity, inclusiveness, and belonging.

Top candidates will be experienced litigators with demonstrated movement and community lawyering expertise. They will bring an in-depth knowledge of communities across the Washington, D.C. region and will have a proven ability to find common ground with diverse stakeholders and manage individuals and teams with fairness and transparency. They will be emotionally intelligent and highly collaborative, with a high degree of empathy and exceptional listening skills.


Responsibilities

• Collaborate with the Executive Director and senior leadership team to develop and implement a litigation and policy strategy that advances the organization’s mission.

• Provide management, coaching, and mentorship that inspires excellence and promotes a diverse, equitable, and inclusive culture where all staff belongs; oversee the performance and professional development of programmatic staff.

• Supervise cases and projects; this position will 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 for grant proposal drafting and reporting and assisting in budget development. 

• Develop and manage relationships with members of the private bar to provide pro bono resources.

• Serve as a thought leader within the Committee and the broader legal community on civil rights law and policy.
   

Qualifications 

• J.D. and DC Bar membership or ability to waive into the DC Bar. Membership in Maryland and/or Virginia Bars is a plus.  

• Civil rights litigation experience, including work on complex federal cases, trial work, appellate work, and class actions.

• Deep understanding of and commitment to racial justice, social movements, community lawyering and movement lawyering.

• Strong organizational skills and proven ability to manage complex, dynamic projects and deadlines.

• Demonstrated passion for mentoring and coaching staff, including skilled attorneys.

• Exceptional interpersonal communication skills, including active listening, giving and receiving feedback, and conflict resolution. 

• Experience advancing an organization’s diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging work.

• Spanish proficiency preferred, not required.

Compensation
Washington Lawyers’ Committee offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes 403b and 401k retirement plans, medical, dental, and vision insurance, paid annual leave and federal holidays, Bar admission and dues, and professional development funding. The target salary for this position is $174,000.

The Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs is an equal-opportunity employer. Diversity is an essential component of the Committee, and we encourage all qualified persons to apply. Applicants are accorded an equal opportunity for selection without regard to actual or perceived race, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, disability, medical condition, marital status, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, family responsibility, personal appearance, matriculation, or political affiliation.