Attorney (Litigation Focus)

ATTORNEY POSITION (Litigation Focus)

Chicago Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights, a not-for-profit organization with a long and successful history of civil rights enforcement and advocacy, seeks an attorney to join our legal team and work to address systemic racism and advance economic opportunity, applying creative legal strategies through a community-driven advocacy model. The attorney will serve in the position as a Program Counsel or Senior Counsel depending on years of legal experience.

The attorney will work substantially with our Economic Justice team to support nonprofit organizations, small businesses and social enterprises and advocate for economic investment and resources for communities of color in the Chicagoland area. Through extended legal support, the attorney will represent organizations navigating the impact of recent federal administration actions that threaten the historic work of nonprofits in serving underrepresented communities. The attorney will report to the Legal Director. The attorney will also be expected to work as needed with colleagues to advance our work in other core practice areas, including fair housing, equitable community development, voting rights and education equity.

Founded in 1969, Chicago Lawyers’ Committee is Chicago’s preeminent non-profit civil rights legal organization. Our mission and strategic direction explicitly focus on racial equity, and we collaborate with grassroots organizations and other advocacy groups to implement community-based solutions that advance civil rights. We provide legal representation through in-house staff and long-standing partnerships with over 30 member law firms. Located in downtown Chicago, Chicago Lawyers’ Committee has a 20-member staff and a $3+ million annual budget with a diverse mix of funding sources.

Our economic justice efforts date back to our founding and continue to be a critical component of our civil rights practice by connecting community nonprofit organizations and small businesses in communities of color to the resources of large law firms. Access to expert legal resources, particularly in connection with nonprofit and business law transactional matters, is essential to gaining power in our economic and political system.

The Program Counsel or Senior Counsel position is an exciting opportunity for an experienced attorney who can bring vision, talent, and enthusiasm to the role at a time when defense of nonprofits and investment and economic development in communities of color is needed more than ever. Candidates should have a strong commitment to community lawyering and be able to share examples of relationship building and collaboration with community-based partners. The attorney must demonstrate a passion for racial equity, community empowerment, and economic justice and possess the skills needed to be a successful advocate, as well as an effective manager of projects.

Duties include

• Provide legal representation to nonprofits impacted or at risk of being impacted by federal government actions. Representation may include evaluation of legal risks and liabilities and potential response options, administrative appeals, individual litigation, participation in strategic litigation, and legal representation in defense against enforcement actions.
• Assist with identifying and providing legal content for a resource hub and obtaining supplemental expertise and resources as needed.
• Build strong relationships with Chicago Lawyers’ Committee member law firms and pro bono counsel through support, training and co-counseling opportunities on transactional legal assistance matters.
• Provide support to volunteer attorneys to deliver high quality legal assistance to eligible nonprofits, small businesses, and social enterprises.
• Support client outreach strategies to expand service levels.
• Participate in significant partnerships, forums, speaking engagements and other external activities to increase the organization’s reach and profile on issues of economic justice and as a capacity-building technical assistance provider.
• Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with client groups, communities served, and other strategic Community Partners for client referrals.
• Collaborate with colleagues to identify intersections and develop integrated advocacy approaches that advance racial equity and economic opportunity for the clients and communities we serve.

Qualifications

• Law degree and admission to the Illinois Bar or eligible for admission by motion.
• 5 years + experience of practice as an attorney, including 3 years + litigation experience.
• Excellent writing and public speaking skills.
• High degree of flexibility, ability to multi-task, and significant initiative.
• Strong analytical skills, attention to details and accuracy.
• Excellent people skills, especially the ability to communicate effectively with diverse groups and individuals.
• Cross cultural competencies and self-awareness around issues of power, privilege, and difference.

Additional Preferred Qualifications

• Experience as a supervisor or in a senior attorney role.
• Experience with drafting, reviewing, and negotiating contracts. Experience with government contracts.
• Familiarity with employment law, especially diversity, equity, and inclusion matters.

Familiarity with federal and state laws and procedures impacting tax exempt organizations.

• Experience with advocacy around economic justice, including community investment and economic development as well as experience with transactional matters representing small businesses, social enterprises, or worker cooperatives.
• Experience working with community organizations, community development corporations, and/or economic development organizations.
• Demonstrated ability to develop strategic partnerships and enhance relationships across a wide variety of sectors.
• Bilingual in English and Spanish, including written skills.

Salary and Benefits: Salary range is $70,000 - $90,000 per year depending on experience. Generous benefits include PTO and paid leave; health, dental, and vision plans; employer-provided life and disability insurance; and a retirement savings plan.

Please note that we currently offer a flexible hybrid work arrangement, with a requirement of one day per week in the office on a designated anchor day along with the option to work up to 4 days remotely.

To Apply: Please e-mail a cover letter, resume, writing sample, and 3 references to: Elesha Jackson, Director of Administration, ejackson@clccrul.org, with subject line specifying “Application for Attorney Position (Litigation) – June 23, 2025 Posting”. Please, no telephone inquiries. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. To receive full and timely consideration, candidates are strongly encouraged to submit their applications by July 7, 2025.

Chicago Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We prioritize equity and inclusion in our organizational culture and hiring, and we value candidates with lived experience in the communities we serve. We welcome all applicants regardless of race, color, ancestry, national origin, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability, service in the military, or other identity factors.