Legal Fellow

Civil Rights Corps•Washington, DC

9d•Hybrid

About The Position

Civil Rights Corps (CRC) is a non-profit organization founded in 2016 that challenges systemic injustice in the U.S. legal system. We have pioneered landmark civil rights litigation that has liberated hundreds of thousands of people from illegal jailing, won tens of millions of dollars for the most vulnerable people in our society, pioneered political education and narrative strategies to change the way our society thinks about mass incarceration and family separation, and set the agenda for innovative solutions to make our communities safer. Our work is guided by a commitment to the people and communities harmed by policing, surveillance, incarceration, discrimination, and the criminalization of poverty. We work with individuals accused of crimes, people currently and formerly incarcerated, their families and communities as well as organizers, policy organizations, and government officials to shift power to social movements fighting for greater equality, freedom, and human flourishing. Learn more at civilrightscorps.org . CRC seeks a law school graduate or licensed attorney to sponsor as an externally funded Legal Fellow, beginning in Fall 2027 for a period of one to two years. Once selected, CRC will work closely with the candidate to submit project proposals to funding organizations. However, the fellowship will not be contingent on successful procurement of external funding. The Fellow will be a fully integrated member of CRC’s case teams as they litigate ongoing—and incubate new—lawsuits and other legal projects in state and federal courts across the country. The Fellow should expect to be responsible for researching and drafting briefs, appearing in court, investigating and gathering evidence, building relationships with clients and witnesses, collaborating with community organizers and other partners, and executing other tasks associated with civil rights litigation.

Requirements

J.D. degree and the ability to be admitted to practice law in the District of Columbia by Fall 2027
Excellent legal research, writing, oral advocacy, and analytical skills
The ability to take initiative, establish priorities, and work independently with minimal supervision
Strong work ethic
Ability to exercise sound judgment, manage workload effectively, and balance competing deadlines
Commitment to the mission, purpose, and values of CRC
Race and identity competency, ability to understand and navigate issues of identity, power, and privilege with clients, partners and colleagues
Experience working with diverse populations, with those directly impacted by the criminal legal and family policing systems, and/or on behalf of low-income clients