Senior Counsel, Civil Rights Litigation & Racial Justice
Overview
The NAACP Legal Defense Fund (LDF) seeks an experienced attorney to join the Strategic Initiatives Department as Assistant or Senior Counsel. You will lead racial justice litigation for the Justice in Public Safety Project and the Pro Truth Initiative, focusing on public safety, policing, and censorship of truthful history and education. You will integrate litigation with community organizing and policy advocacy, building multidisciplinary teams with LDF attorneys, organizers, and researchers. This role drives impact at scale, shaping federal and state precedent on issues that affect Black communities and democracy itself.
What You'll Do10
- 1Litigate racial justice cases in federal and state courts, targeting public safety, policing, and censorship of Black students' programs and speech, with dockets across trial and appellate stages.
- 2Drive multidimensional advocacy by partnering with LDF's litigation, organizing, policy, and communications teams to develop community-informed strategies from the first 90 days.
- 3Lead complex civil rights impact cases from investigation through trial, including mot ion practice, discovery, and oral arguments in federal and state courts.
- 4Draft petitions for certiorari, merits briefs, and amicus briefs for the U.S. Supreme Court and other appellate courts, shaping precedent on racial justice.
- 5Supervise litigation teams of staff attorneys, cooperating counsel, fellows, and interns, ensuring rigorous case management and professional development.
- 6Serve as a public thought leader, representing LDF in media, conferences, and public venues to counter racial injustice narratives.
- 7Build and sustain partnerships with community organizations, coalitions, and legal allies to amplify advocacy impact.
- 8Develop integrated strategic plans using litigation, organizing, legislation, and public education to dismantle systemic racism.
- 9Produce policy reports, briefing papers, and talking points for internal and external use, distilling complex legal issues for diverse audiences.
- 10Foster a culture of knowledge sharing across LDF, mentoring attorneys and staff in impact litigation and interdisciplinary advocacy.
Requirements10
- 1Juris Doctor degree and admission to the New York, District of Columbia, or Georgia Bar (or eligibility to waive in).
- 27+ years of litigation experience for Assistant Counsel; 10+ years for Senior Counsel, with substantial trial and appellate exposure.
- 3Demonstrated commitment to racial justice and civil rights, with a track record of advancing justice for Black communities.
- 4Outstanding legal research, writing, and oral advocacy skills, evidenced by briefs and arguments in complex cases.
- 5Experience with class action litigation is a plus, but not required.
- 6Proven ability to work with organizers, policy advocates, and non-attorney staff in community-based advocacy.
- 7Federal or state advocacy experience on issues affecting communities of color, including policing, education, and censorship.
- 8Supervisory and case management experience, with a commitment to developing junior attorneys and interns.
- 9Capacity to translate complex legal concepts for wide-ranging audiences, including media, community groups, and the public.
- 10Vision to challenge persistent barriers and design outside-the-box strategies for holistic racial justice advocacy.
Salary Insight
$128 - $192k per year
Location
Required Skills
Similar open positions
Explore active roles that match your skills and interests.
NAACP Legal Defense Education Fund
VerifiedAssistant or Senior Counsel, Strategic Initiatives
The NAACP Legal Defense & Educational Fund, Inc. (LDF) seeks an experienced Attorney to join the Strategic Initiatives Department as Assistant or Senior Counsel. This role will drive litigation within the Justice in Public Safety Project and the Pro Truth Initiative while shaping best practices for integrating litigation with community organizing and policy advocacy. Candidates will collaborate across multidisciplinary teams to address racial justice challenges in public safety, policing, and educational equity.
NAACP Legal Defense Education Fund
VerifiedLitigation Fellow NAACP Legal Defense Education Fund
Rising third-year law students judicial clerks and recent graduates invited to apply for LDF sponsorship for public interest fellowship projects beginning Fall 2027. Sponsorship enables submission of proposals to school-based fellowships. LDF is the nation’s first civil and human rights law organization founded in 1940 by Thurgood Marshall. Mission focuses on achieving racial justice equality and inclusive society through litigation public policy advocacy and public education in criminal justice economic justice education and political participation. Selected candidates must seek own funding and prepare proposals with staff guidance. Fellowship is one- or two-year contingent on school funding. LDF operates hybrid requiring two days in office weekly. Applicants should demonstrate commitment to racial justice strong research writing collaborative independent creative thinking skills.
Alliance Defending Freedom
VerifiedLegal Counsel, Life Litigation & Constitutional Law
Own high-impact litigation defending unborn life and pro-life advocates, in state and federal courts. You'll join the U.S. Legal Team at Alliance Defending Freedom, focusing on the Center for Life. Work alongside senior litigators, allied attorneys, and state partners to shape legal precedent. This role offers direct courtroom experience, including motions and appeals, from day one.
Alliance Defending Freedom
VerifiedLegal Counsel, Life Litigation & Constitutional Law
As Legal Counsel on the U.S. Legal Team, you will own high-impact litigation defending the sanctity of life, free speech, and religious freedom. You will lead civil actions under the First Amendment and 42 U.S.C. § 1983, partnering with states to defend pro-life laws. You will draft trial and appellate filings, argue motions, and represent clients in federal and state courts. This role sits within a national nonprofit law firm, collaborating with allied attorneys and media to shape legal precedent. Your work directly protects unborn babies and their mothers, making an immediate difference in the legal landscape.
Mercor
VerifiedRemote Civil Rights Attorney | Mercor
Mercor seeks a Remote Civil Rights Attorney to lead scenario development and legal analysis for public interest projects. The role involves creating civil rights litigation scenarios and applying constitutional and regulatory frameworks. This position differs by focusing on elite creative and technical talent integration within AI research labs.
LawMates Legal Staffing & Recruiting
VerifiedSenior Civil Litigation Attorney, Constitutional Law & Appeals
You will own a high-stakes civil litigation caseload from filing through trial and appeal, shaping California law through precedent-setting disputes. The firm's practice focuses on constitutional law, property rights, and land use, with cases in state and federal courts across California. You will work closely with firm principals, supervise a junior attorney, and argue before appellate courts, gaining recognition for your work. This role offers a path to leadership in a firm dedicated to advancing legal principles that outlast any single case.