Lawyers for Civil Rights Senior Litigator

SENIOR LITIGATOR

ORGANIZATIONAL MISSION

Lawyers for Civil Rights (LCR) fights discrimination and fosters equity through creative and courageous legal advocacy, education, and economic empowerment. With law firms and community allies, we provide free, life-changing legal support to individuals, families, and small businesses. Our work is organized around nine impact areas, which represent critical battlegrounds for civil rights, and address the many ways our clients and communities experience discrimination. These include education, employment, health equity, housing justice, voting rights, immigrant rights, police accountability, economic justice, and climate justice.

JOB DESCRIPTION

The vibe at LCR is bold, courageous, creative, and relentless. We are a rapid-response team that quickly mobilizes to tackle pressing problems, ensuring that those in need receive immediate and impactful legal assistance. We also believe in the power of partnership, working with organizations that share our commitment to justice. Embracing our unique approach, we are passionate about empowering individuals and communities through the law.

LCR has filed and won dozens of life-changing and law-changing cases. The Senior Litigator will build on this highly successful work to maintain a constant stream of litigation in one or more of our impact areas. The Senior Litigator’s areas of focus will be determined based on relevant experience and interest, as well as organizational need.

The Senior Litigator will actively develop litigation and will also support strategic policy advocacy, community outreach, and communication efforts to ensure the organization’s visibility across diverse communities and social justice movements.

The Senior Litigator will report to LCR’s Litigation Director.

This position is full-time (40 hours/week) and will require flexibility to work evenings and weekends as needed. We currently employ a hybrid work environment, with staff coming into our office in downtown Boston at least once a week for staff meetings on Mondays. The Senior Litigator should have the ability to travel statewide, and to a lesser degree nationwide, as needed for court proceedings and other events.

SUMMARY OF KEY RESPONSIBILITIES (% of time spent)

Case Development and Litigation (80%)

Develop and maintain significant caseload of civil rights matters in federal and state court. Actively engage in litigation, through the following activities:

• Devise legal theory and strategy;

• Evaluate and investigate potential claims;

• Identify plaintiffs;

• Handle intakes;

• Work with pro bono law firms;

• Conduct all aspects of legal research;

• Draft pleadings, motions, and briefs;

• Conduct depositions and written discovery;

• Engage in trial and appellate work;

• Negotiate and monitor settlement agreements;

• Pursue attorney fee awards; and

• Coordinate amicus briefs.

The Senior Litigator will ensure the development of a consistent pipeline of new cases that will be co-counseled with pro bono law firms. The Senior Litigator will also ensure the measurable quarterly growth of the litigation docket, and participate in weekly supervision meetings to assess work and quarterly productivity meetings to assess the volume of cases. Tracking work and “billable” hours is required for quarterly reports.

While developing and litigating cases, the Senior Litigator will ensure that all internal and external work is aligned with the organization’s brand, policies, procedures, and protocols.

Policy Advocacy, Community Outreach, and Organizational Visibility (10%)

Participate in community outreach, policy advocacy, legislative advocacy, and community meetings that are strategically aligned with the development of impact litigation and policy reform in targeted areas. Leverage policy advocacy and community outreach to ensure that our organization remains highly visible across diverse communities and social justice movements.

Represent the organization in meetings with stakeholder and constituent groups. Participate in traditional media appearances (newspaper, TV, radio); social media activities; and other communication efforts, including drafting community education materials, press releases, and newsletters. Support fundraising efforts.

Leadership and Supervision (10%):

Serve as a resource for attorneys at pro bono law firms working on LCR cases. Provide leadership and supervision for fellows, interns, and administrative staff. Actively develop expertise in substantive areas of civil rights law and legal practice. Participate in the development of long-term strategic goals and objectives for the organization.

PERFORMANCE BENCHMARKS

1. QUARTERLY METRICS AND OUTCOMES

We will review your progress quarterly, focusing on the number of cases you file as well as those you are developing and managing. Your growth will be measured by steady, incremental progress, which will help ensure continued success in your role.

2. SUCCESSFULLY FILING AND LITIGATING CASES:

Your ability to develop and maintain a substantial litigation caseload in state and federal court, typically in collaboration with pro bono law firms, will ensure continued success and growth in this role. We will also assess how you apply technical knowledge, analyze problems, and calculate risks to achieve strong outcomes.

3. SUCCESSFULLY ENGAGING IN POLICY ADVOCACY AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH TO ADVANCE LCR’S MISSION AND ENHANCE LCR’S VISIBILITY:

Your role in advancing our mission through policy advocacy and community outreach is critical. Success in this area will be evaluated based on your ability to align policy and community outreach with our complex litigation and policy reform work, as well as your capacity to build and expand strategic relationships that further our mission.

4. SUCCESSFULLY EXERCISING LEADERSHIP DUTIES:

We will assess your leadership in supporting and strengthening key aspects of our organization, including litigation protocols, office management, social media, communications, and fundraising efforts. Your contribution in these areas is essential to strengthening our overall impact and operations.

QUALIFICATIONS

Applicants must be extremely hard-working, highly self-motivated, well organized, community-oriented, creative, analytical, and passionate about civil rights, racial justice, and social change.

Applicants must also be fully committed to measuring their effectiveness and impact on a quarterly basis.

Applicants must have:

• JD and at least seven (7) years of litigation experience.

• A demonstrated track record of successfully bringing and litigating cases in federal and state courts, preferably in one or more of LCR’s impact areas.

• An active membership in the Massachusetts bar in good standing, or ability to waive in.

• Excellent writing and analytical skills.

• Outstanding interpersonal, organizational, and leadership skills.

• The ability to work productively and efficiently with minimal supervision.

• A demonstrated commitment to racial justice and civil rights.

Language skills are a plus, particularly the ability to communicate fluently in a language relevant to immigrant communities (including, but not limited to, Mandarin, Haitian Creole or Spanish).

Don’t meet every single requirement? If you are excited about this role, but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly, we still encourage you to apply! You may be the right candidate for this or other roles at our organization.

COMPENSATION

LCR’s salary range for this position is highly competitive. For transparency, we are envisioning at least $130,000. The exact compensation will be based on years of litigation experience. Salary will also take into account the number of successful cases in federal and state courts, and familiarity with complex impact litigation and class actions.

LCR provides a fully comprehensive benefits package that places us at the top tier of comparable organizations locally and nationally, including generous vacation/holiday/leave policies; professional development opportunities; a sabbatical policy; employer-paid health benefits; and a flexible workplace that allows remote and in-person work.

Snapshot of LCR’s benefits:

• 3 weeks (15 days) of paid vacation annually.

• 2 weeks (10 days) of paid sick time annually.

• We close the office for the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day.

• We close the office for all local, state, and federal holidays (17 holidays).

• LCR covers 100% of health insurance, dental insurance, and vision insurance premiums for employees (and approximately 50% of costs for dependents).

• 401K retirement plan with organizational match.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Applicants must submit a resume; cover letter highlighting relevant experience (including, a description of state and federal cases litigated and your role in them) along with salary requirements; and a writing sample/brief (not to exceed 10 pages).