Lead Investigator

ABOUT US

Peoples’ Counsel (PC) is a non-profit civil rights organization based in Houston, Texas. We operate from the core belief that every survivor of police violence deserves an advocate, no matter their identity, immigration status, or criminal history. PC’s mission is to end police abuse by supporting survivors and movement builders in their fight for systemic change. We recognize that abolition and movement lawyering are not just ideas, but practices, and these practices should be reflected in everything that we do.

Since 2022, we have been educating survivors of police violence about their constitutional rights, defending their dignity in court, and connecting them with the resources they need and deserve. Alongside this work, we have been providing technical and legal support to community organizing groups—particularly by Black and Brown people who are most affected by police violence—to achieve systemic change.

We believe that partnership with impacted people is not only a moral imperative, but a strategic necessity, and we’ve seen firsthand that it works. By showing up for movement builders, we have made a measurable impact on municipal policy in Houston--the stronghold of police power. We’re just as effective inside the courtroom. Through sophisticated storytelling and exhaustive doctrinal research, we have convinced courts in Texas time and again to deny qualified immunity to defendant police officers in novel circumstances, and on behalf of people who would have otherwise been silenced. When challenged on appeal, we have won denials of qualified immunity from the notoriously unfavorable Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals.

If you are a self-motivated person who shares our commitment to ending police violence and building the power of the people, please apply.

Learn more about our work at www.peoplescounsel.org and on instagram at @peoples.counsel

JOB DESCRIPTION

PC seeks a Lead Investigator to join our small but mighty start-up team of attorneys, organizers, and investigators. This position is funded through May of 2027. Investigators at PC are expected to support movement builders in their campaigns and coalitions against police violence, provide paralegal and investigative support to ongoing police misconduct Section 1983 cases in federal court, and interface with survivors of police violence who contact us for help.

All PC staff are also expected to contribute to development and fundraising efforts, to the extent their workload allows, by cultivating partnerships with aligned institutions, developing relationships with donors, drafting promotional materials, and serving as ambassadors for PC at community events.

Ideal candidates are flexible, organized, open to feedback, hungry to learn, collaborative, and committed to challenging police power.

JOB DUTIES INCLUDE

• Being an integral member of Section 1983/civil rights case teams, challenging police violence and abuse in federal court.
• Managing a docket of police misconduct investigations, which involve: completing intake; assessing legal claims; submitting public records requests; conducting factual investigations; informing survivors of police abuse of their legal rights; cand supporting them in achieving other forms of accountability.
• Building out investigative tools and project resources; institutionalizing project knowledge; reforming and improving projects in response to survivor feedback and organizational need; leveraging project data to support policy, organizing, and legal goals.
• Leading pre-suit investigations by conducting analyses of facts, records, and data, then working with attorneys and other members of the legal team to integrate this information into case preparation.
• Providing expert case management and litigation support by: drafting and filing pleadings under supervision; assisting with discovery review and production; managing litigation calendars and case files; submitting records requests and reviewing subsequent responses; proofreading and cite-checking briefs; organizing large quantities of documents by creating summaries, charts, or data analysis; and a variety of other case support duties.
• Supporting PC’s storytelling work, including by drafting op-eds, political education materials, survivor narratives, and other written content, as well as tracking relevant media coverage.
• Developing and maintaining healthy, trusting relationships with clients, community partners, organizers, coalition members, and legal allies.
• Contributing to development and fundraising efforts, including by tracking grant opportunities and drafting applications under supervision.

QUALIFICATIONS

We are seeking an investigator, based in Houston, with two to six years of experience in legal support work.

• Resides in Houston, TX or willing to relocate within three months of hiring.
• Experience supporting complex litigation in various stages.
• Demonstrated commitment to the mission, purpose, and values of PC.
• Demonstrated ability to write with clarity, focus, and polish.
• Demonstrated ability to engage in creative and thoughtful problem-solving and analysis when faced with a new hurdle or unfamiliar task.
• Demonstrated ability to speak and advocate in a clear, courteous, accessible, and compelling manner.
• Demonstrated ability to take initiative, establish priorities, work independently, and achieve objectives with minimal supervision.
• Lived experience with systems of oppression and/or experience working with people who are directly impacted by systems of oppression. This may include experience with the criminal legal system, as well as with the policing, child “welfare”, or immigration systems.
• Demonstrated ability to understand, appreciate and compassionately navigate issues of race, identity, power, and privilege with clients, partners and colleagues.
• Commitment to movement-led, multi-modal strategies for challenging police abuse, in which litigation is just one tool of many, along with policy advocacy, storytelling, and community engagement.
• Proficiency with the Google Suite and Microsoft suite of office programs.
• Comfort with information management systems, particularly Everlaw or other e-discovery platforms, is a plus;
• Fluency in verbal and written Spanish is a plus.

SALARY AND BENEFITS

This is a full-time position for candidates based in or willing to relocate to Houston, Texas, but remote candidates will be considered. This position is funded through May of 2027. Salary is determined based on years of experience and, for investigators with 2 to 6 years of legal support experience, will be in the range of $64,000 to $72,000.

Peoples' Counsel offers a generous benefits package, including employer-paid health, vision, and dental benefits; retirement matching; and paid sick, family, and unlimited vacation leave. This position is included within the National Lawyers Guild Staff Union (NOLSW).

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

To apply, please submit a cover letter, resume, writing sample, and three professional references. We are reviewing applications on a rolling basis and will give priority to those submitted by April 17, 2026. The cover letter should discuss what brings you to this work, what has equipped you to be effective in this role, and why you are specifically interested in working at Peoples’ Counsel. Materials should be addressed to jobs@peoplescounsel.org. Please include your name and “Lead Investigator Position” in the subject line.

Peoples’ Counsel is an equal opportunity employer. We greatly value a diverse team and healthy, supportive workplace. Peoples’ Counsel is committed to promoting an environment free of unfair barriers and discriminatory practices for its clients and staff.

• *Peoples’ Counsel is a nonprofit program hosted by the National Police Accountability Project, a 501(c)(3) public charity. Questions regarding the relationship should be directed to Lauren Bonds at

legal.npap@nlg.org.

Peoples' Counsel offers a generous benefits package, including employer-paid health, vision, and dental benefits; retirement matching; and paid sick, family, and unlimited vacation leave. This position is included within the National Lawyers Guild Staff Union (NOLSW).