Staff Attorney, Justice Project

Who we are:

Situated at the forefront of the national stage in the racial justice movement, Advancement Project is a cutting edge, no-holds-barred national nonprofit whose team members are dedicated to creating free and safe communities for people of color. From ending the school-to-prison pipeline, to the fight to expand the right to vote, from calling for a complete overhaul of how we view the police and carceral state, to fighting for immigrant justice, Advancement Project team members impact real change from the ground up. This moment demands alignment, sharp strategic thinking, and creativity to imagine a more just world in which racism no longer exists and all people of color can be free and safe – and we are excited to bring on new talent to change our world.

Position Overview:

We are seeking a creative problem solver, strong advocate, and skilled attorney in its Washington D.C. office to serve as a Staff Attorney in the Justice Project.  The Justice Project provides support to grassroots racial justice campaigns seeking not simply to reform, but to wholly dismantle systems that criminalize and incarcerate people of color.  We aim to help impacted communities define the terms and control how peace is realized in their streets and neighborhoods and to re-imagine public safety for themselves.

This position will report to the Justice Project Program Director and will be a member of the union with compensation determined by the union compensation structure.

What you’ll do:

The staff attorney focuses on developing relationships with racial justice organizations to support their campaigns and build power in their communities.  This work may include identifying and recommending how to respond to legislative and legal developments, providing legal research, litigation, analysis, and writing.  The staff attorney will provide support to grassroots partners and collaborate with and across teams to do so.

The staff attorney will investigate racial justice issues related to the wholesale transformation of the criminal legal system, including through data, anecdotal, and other factual collection, and analysis in the communities where our partners work.  They will work closely with our partners to support their campaigns and build their base in coordination with our communications and organizing departments.  This role also assists investigations and litigation efforts, including discovery, motion writing, coordinating litigation tasks with co-counsel, and working with our plaintiffs and organizing partners.  The attorney will prepare legal memoranda and draft other associated policy-related and legal documents.  The attorney may also assist with legislative efforts, including analyzing and drafting language for bills.  This role is part of a team of attorneys that researches and analyzes policies, laws, and regulations on assigned issues in support of grassroots partners and Advancement Project’s overall mission.

Additional Functions

• Collaborate with colleagues, internally and externally, in various program areas to develop and implement strategies.
• Cultivate external relationships with national and regional organizations and allies.
• Provide guidance to team members and interns on work product.
• Assist with legal and policy work cross-program, as needed.
• Participate in team meetings and strategic planning sessions, including political education programming.
• Write about areas of the Justice Project’s work interest to you and participate in efforts to broaden the Project’s reach and publicity.
• Use a variety of legal, policy, communications, organizing, and coalition-building strategies to assist our community partners.

What you need to be considered:

• State bar membership (must be willing to become a member of or able to waive into DC Bar).
• Two years of legal experience.
• Demonstrated commitment to racial justice.
• Excellent written, verbal, analytical, interpersonal, and organizational skills.
• Experience working with grassroots organizations or demonstrated commitment to movement lawyering model.
• Interest in working with grassroots organizations.
• and organizational skills.
• Frequent travel required
• Experience in civil rights is preferred.
• Experience in Section 1983 litigation or related civil rights experience is strongly preferred.
• Willingness to work in multiple program areas, as needed.
• Fluency in Spanish, organizing experience, and coalition-building experiences are pluses.

PLEASE SUBMIT 1 WRITING SAMPLE WITH YOUR COVER LETTER

This position pays between $ 88,700 and $106,000 for depending on experience.

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