DIRECTOR Education Equity Program

National Legal Aid & Defender Association; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 125,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health & dental insurance

403(b) retirement plan

Flexible Spending Accounts

Hybrid work arrangement

Job summary

Chicago Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights seeks an experienced attorney to serve as Director of our Education Equity Program in Illinois. Lead systemic litigation and policy advocacy to address racial and economic inequities in education, while collaborating with coalitions and partner organizations to advance funding and reforms.

The Director will supervise staff, report to the Legal Director, and help expand the practice.

Qualifications

• Experience leading education equity litigation and policy advocacy.
• Experience supervising staff and coordinating multiple projects.
• Commitment to racial equity and community-driven advocacy.
• Ability to collaborate with partners and coalitions.

Responsibilities

• Strategic litigation and policy strategy to advance civil rights in Illinois education.
• Lead policy advocacy, drafting legislation and engaging stakeholders.
• Manage the Education Equity Program, supervising staff and activities.
• Foster partnerships with community-based organizations and law firms.

Skills

Legal advocacy

Team supervision

Project management

Community engagement

Education

J.D. (Law)

Job description

Position Description

The Opportunity

Chicago Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights seeks an experienced attorney to serve as Director of our Education Equity Program at a critical moment for civil rights. This is an opportunity to lead high-impact litigation and policy advocacy addressing racial and economic inequities in Illinois' public education system - work that will shape opportunity and outcomes for students across the state for years to come.

About The Role

The Director position is an exciting opportunity for an experienced attorney who can bring vision, talent, and enthusiasm to the role at a time when protection and advancement of civil rights is needed more than ever. The Director will report to the Legal Director and will directly supervise an attorney, with the opportunity to grow the team as the practice expands.

One of the primary areas of work for this role will be building systemic litigation and policy strategy to challenge exclusionary discipline in Illinois public schools, and to advance student-centered, trauma-informed, and culturally responsive alternatives to suspension and expulsion. The Director will also support PEER Illinois, a statewide coalition advocating for full and equitable funding of Illinois public schools through the Evidence-Based Funding formula.

Candidates should have a strong commitment to community-driven advocacy and be able to share examples of relationship building and collaboration with community-based partners. The Director must demonstrate a passion for racial equity and community empowerment and possess the skills needed to be a successful advocate, as well as an effective manager of people and projects.

The Director will be expected to work as needed with colleagues to advance our work in other core practice areas, including voting rights, equitable community development and housing, and economic justice.

Community-Driven Advocacy: A Core Principle at CLC

A commitment to community-driven advocacy is a core principle of every legal role at Chicago Lawyers' Committee, and it anchors this position in particular. Community-driven advocacy means using legal advocacy to help achieve solutions to community-identified issues in ways that develop local leadership and institutions that can continue to exert power to effect systemic change. In practice, this means:

• Shared Power & Collaboration: working alongside communities to identify local priorities and develop sustainable, community-led solutions, rather than dictating legal strategy
• Focus on Systemic Change: treating communities as partners in reform, using individual cases to advance broader shifts in systemic, structural inequities
• Capacity Building: acting as educators, coalition builders, and advisors who equip communities with the legal knowledge to develop sustainable leadership and resolve future problems independently
• Holistic Problem Solving: viewing legal issues through the broader lens of social, racial, and economic justice, using tools such as litigation, policy advocacy, public education, and strategic communications
• Cross-Cultural Awareness and Competencies: understanding the specific history, demographics, and assets of the communities served, and remaining mindful of how race, gender, age, disability, and socioeconomic status shape client relationships

Duties Include

Strategic Litigation

• Build and lead systemic litigation and policy strategy to challenge exclusionary discipline policies and practices, including through enforcement of SB100 requirements.
• Develop and lead high-impact litigation in state and federal courts challenging systemic barriers to educational opportunity, including racially discriminatory discipline practices, inequitable school funding, and exclusionary policies
• Research and develop legal theories for challenges to discriminatory laws, policies, and procedures affecting historically marginalized groups, including students of color and low-income students
• Support pro bono relationships with member law firms serving as co-counsel - leveraging a network of 600+ volunteer attorneys to take on cases a small team otherwise couldn’t
• 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

Policy Advocacy

• Advance administrative and legislative policy work in support of Senate Bill 100 (Public Act 99-0456) enforcement, including guidance, rulemaking, and accountability mechanisms for school districts
• Draft and analyze legislation and administrative policy affecting educational opportunity
• Partner with colleagues, community organizations, and coalitions on legislative, policy, and administrative advocacy
• Produce publications, fact sheets, know-your-rights materials, and policy briefs
• Conduct presentations to stakeholders including legislators, school boards, advocates, and media
• Support PEER Illinois, a coalition advocating for full and equitable funding of Illinois public schools through the Evidence-Based Funding formula

Team & Practice Management

• Set practice priorities and goals, and develop an annual program workplan and project plans
• Be accountable for the implementation, execution, and outcomes of those plans
• Supervise education equity team staff, including conducting annual performance reviews, providing ongoing support on cases and projects, and supporting professional development opportunities
• Work with the Executive Director and Communications and Development teams to raise the overall profile of Chicago Lawyers' Committee with funders, law firms, community partners, and media

Community Engagement & Partnerships

• Cultivate and maintain partnerships with community-based organizations and coalitions, including from communities most impacted by historic, systemic racism and economic injustice
• Build strong relationships with Chicago Lawyers' Committee member law firms and pro bono counsel through support, training, and co-counseling opportunities on education matters
• Plan and participate in community education and outreach in support of advocacy goals

Salary and Benefits

Salary range is $110,000 - $125,000 per year depending on experience.

Benefits Include

• 15 vacation days per year for years 1-2, increasing to 20 vacation days after two years of continuous service, plus 2 personal days. Vacation and personal time are accrued throughout the year, so the total accrued in your first year will depend on your start date.
• 10 sick days per year
• Health, dental, basic life, short-term disability, long-term disability, and Employee Assistance Program
• Voluntary vision, life, critical illness, and accident insurance
• 403(b) retirement plan
• Healthcare and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts

We offer a flexible hybrid work arrangement, with one day per week in the office on a designated anchor day and the option to work up to 4 days remotely.

About Us

Founded in 1969 as part of the Kennedy-era Lawyers' Committee movement, the Chicago Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights is Chicago’s preeminent nonprofit 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. We mobilize 600+ volunteer attorneys, generating millions of dollars in donated legal services annually.

Our integrated legal team works across four core practice areas: Education Equity, Voting Rights, Equitable Community Development & Housing, and Economic Justice. Our Education Equity Program protects and promotes access to education by addressing the systemic barriers—including exclusionary discipline, inequitable funding, and unresponsive school governance—that disproportionately impact historically disadvantaged communities.