About Washington Lawyers'​ Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs

The Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs (WLC) works to create legal, economic, and social equity through litigation, client and public education, and public policy advocacy with a primary focus on racial justice. For the last 55 years, the Committee has been on the cutting edge of civil rights advocacy in the region bringing precedent setting litigation to address discrimination. Our work focuses on injustices in housing, employment, the criminal legal system, education, public accommodations, and the civil rights of immigrants. We partner with individuals and communities facing discrimination and with the legal community to achieve justice. The Committee’s staff is unionized with the National Organization of Legal Service Workers Local #2320, UAW. For more information on the Washington Lawyers’ Committee, please go to www.washlaw.org.

About the role

The Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs seeks an experienced attorney to develop and conduct systemic and other impact litigation and related advocacy in the prisoners’ rights space.

Responsibilities

The Prisoners’ Rights Team at the Washington Lawyers’ Committee fights to protect the well-being of DC residents, whether they are held locally or in federal prisons across the country.  Above all, the team aims to reduce the harms of incarceration in the DC Department of Corrections (DOC) and the federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) by enforcing the civil rights and civil liberties of those who are incarcerated.  The team aims to create systemic change within DOC and the BOP through targeted litigation and advocacy.  We challenge a variety of unlawful conditions in the DC DOC and the federal BOP including the denial or medical or mental health care, violence perpetuated by correctional staff, failure to protect, discrimination against people with disabilities, solitary confinement, and discrimination against LGBTQI+ individuals.  We also provide free self-help materials to people confined by the DC DOC or the BOP.

The supervising attorney will serve as lead or co-counsel in individual and class action litigation in local and federal courts.  The person selected will be expected to supervise all aspects of litigation including investigation and case development, discovery, motions practice, and trial as part of a team comprised of Committee staff and private bar co-counsel. The person selected will work closely with organizers in impacted communities and advocacy groups to identify issues of most concern to the communities the Committee.

This position also entails personnel and program management duties: supervising attorneys manage attorneys, advocates, and paralegals; are responsible for their professional development and evaluations; lead team meetings and work with other program supervisors; set and execute team priorities; and otherwise participate in the coordination and management of the legal program.

Qualifications

• Seven or more years of experience in civil rights and racial equity work, including bringing or litigating claims under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, the Federal Tort Claims Act, §504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and/or the Americans with Disabilities Act, or a combination of civil rights experience and substantial criminal defense experience;
• Extensive litigation experience, including drafting complaints, managing discovery, taking depositions and/or jury trial work;
• Specific experience with and/or knowledge of prison or jail litigation, the DC criminal legal system, and/or the federal prison system is preferred;
• Experience fostering a collaborative teamwork environment and demonstrated respect for the opinions of non-attorneys;
• Commitment to racial justice and a keen sense of the need for reform of the criminal legal system
• Experience working with community-based organizations and organizers;
• Demonstrated awareness and sensitivity to the needs and concerns of individuals from diverse cultures, backgrounds, and orientations, including those who are incarcerated;
• Ability to contribute to the creation of a diverse, equitable and inclusive culture that encourages and celebrates differences;
• D.C. Bar membership (in good standing), or the ability to waive into the DC Bar (Required).

Applicants with lived experience in communities historically under-resourced and marginalized due to race, class, gender, disability, etc. are encouraged to apply.

In your cover letter detailing your interest and prior litigation experience, please include three references and brief writing sample (as one document).