Attorney, Thurgood Marshall Civil Rights Center

Background

We seek a skilled attorney with litigation and movement lawyering experience to initiate and implement work at the intersection of civil rights and environmental justice, and train student interns to do the same. This attorney's work will strengthen the capacity of the TMCRC and EJC to undertake important work at the intersection of environmental and racial justice, particularly as it relates to climate change, corporate accountability, and protecting the free speech and association rights of activists challenging environmental abuse and protesting against the fossil fuel and other polluting industries.

The staff attorney will engage in three types of work-research, movement lawyering, and organizing-in order to promote the First Amendment right to dissent in the defense of protest, especially protest related to climate justice. This work would include drafting reports, participating in coalitions, and movement lawyering that might include litigation, political advocacy, and other methods to promote the right to protest in the United States.

What We Need

• An experienced legal professional with a passion and interest in participating in litigation of constitutional magnitude affecting environmental justice as well as civil and human rights.
• An ideal candidate who will help us devise a legal and political strategy for Title VI complaints, defending communities facing environmental injustice and involving the United States Constitution.
• A self-motivated, independent leader who understands the balance between collaboration and inspiration.
• A flexible multitasker who can balance the priorities of both organizations.

Requirements & Compensation

• Requirements: Juris Doctorate (JD) degree; admission to the bar in at least one jurisdiction (preference to admission in the Supreme Court bar); Experience with litigation (preference to environmental justice and civil rights)
• Compensation: A competitive salary offer is commensurate with experience.
• Benefits: Howard University offers benefits to include medical, dental, vision, basic life insurance and FSA (flexible spending accounts). Voluntary benefits include commuter benefits, group legal, etc.

Application Instructions

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Applicants should submit the following:

• Resume & Cover letter: Emphasize your Social Justice and Environmental Justice background. Please also let us know your availability for an interview.
• Two part process:
  • 1) Email a copy of your resume and cover letter to TMCivilRightsCenter@gmail.com and cc: ThurgoodMarshallCenter@howard.edu, we will provide instruction for the next step.
  • 2) Online application: Visit the Howard University Careers Page and create a profile. Once we review your resume via email, we will provide you with a job ID number that you will then use to complete and submit your online application.