Senior Civil Rights Attorney

CAIR California San Diego; San Diego (CA); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 115,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

100% employer paid medical and dental insurance

401(k) plan with employer match

12 vacation days, 10 sick days, 12 holidays

Job summary

An American civil rights organization in San Diego is seeking a Senior Civil Rights Attorney to support civil rights legal needs for the American Muslim community. This role involves litigation in federal and state courts, managing individual caseloads, and community engagement. The position demands strong qualifications including a law degree and California State Bar admission, alongside five years of relevant advocacy experience. The organization offers competitive benefits, including comprehensive medical coverage and a hybrid work schedule.

Qualifications

• Minimum five years of full-time experience in areas such as employment law and religious discrimination.
• Access to reliable transportation and a working vehicle for outreach.
• Conversational proficiency in Arabic, Farsi or Urdu preferred.

Responsibilities

• Conduct intakes and investigate legal claims.
• Manage individual caseload and oversee staff work.
• Identify and lead litigation in federal and state courts.
• Assist in grant applications and community education efforts.

Skills

Strong time management skills

Demonstrated problem-solving skills

Excellent oral and written communication skills

Experience working with diverse backgrounds

Education

Law degree from an ABA-accredited school

California State Bar admission

Tools

MS Office

MS Outlook

SharePoint

Lexis Nexis

Job description

Title: Senior Civil Rights Attorney

Work Location: San Diego, CA

Term: Full‑time, Occasional evenings and weekends required.

Status: Exempt

Pay Range: $90,000 - $115,000/year commensurate with skills and experience

Reports to: Executive Director

Requirements: Access to reliable transportation

Generous Benefits: 100% employer paid medical and dental insurance for employees & dependents, 401(k) plan with an employer match, 12 vacation days, 10 sick days, 12 holidays, and hybrid work schedule currently offered.

About Us

Join the largest American Muslim civil rights organization at the frontlines in protecting the rights of free speech, to freely practice one's faith, to pursue employment opportunities without harassment, and to live as an active and engaged American without reprisal. The Council on American-Islamic Relations, California (CAIR-CA) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3), grassroots civil rights and advocacy group. We recognize that our employees are passionate, talented, and are our most valuable resource. With such an important vision to be a leading advocate for justice and mutual understanding, our diverse workforce stands together to demonstrate our values for everyone who chooses to join the efforts.

About the Role

To support the growing and complex civil rights legal needs of the American Muslim community, CAIR San Diego is seeking a Senior Staff Attorney – Civil Rights to join our dedicated legal team. This role offers a meaningful opportunity to lead impactful civil rights work in a grassroots, community‑centered organization committed to justice, dignity, and empowerment.

Focus: Vision & Purpose

The Senior Staff Attorney will play a key role in identifying systemic issues and advancing creative, strategic legal solutions to address civil rights violations affecting American Muslims, including employment discrimination, law enforcement harassment, school bullying, and other areas of concern. This position combines direct legal advocacy, leadership, and community engagement in a collaborative and mission‑driven environment.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

• Conduct intakes and investigate legal claims through effective communication with an incredibly diverse community
• Manage individual caseload and oversee work of staff on civil rights matters
• Identify, develop, and lead litigation in federal and state courts. Prepare pleadings, motions, and briefs; conduct discovery; present oral arguments; and handle appeals
• Assist Executive Director, and development team with research, preparation, and submission of grant applications and reports
• Develop community education materials, co‑create webinars, and provide Know Your Rights (KYR) presentations
• Communicate with outside parties such as attorneys, employers, law enforcement agents, administrative agencies, media contacts, etc.
• Work to educate and empower community members on their rights through community presentations and material distributions
• Travel for outreach including participating in community events and coalition meetings
• Teach and mentor Staff Attorneys, supervise staff, law clerks, legal fellows, and volunteers
• Assist other staff in the production of internal and external reports
• Advance CAIR's administrative and legislative advocacy by providing legal analysis and technical assistance to colleagues in CAIR's other departments; government officials and staff; the media; organizers; and advocates and attorneys nationwide
• All CAIR staff are required to assist in general duties such as answering phones, weekly outreach, fundraising and other office tasks.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Law degree from an American Bar Association‑accredited school
• California State Bar admission
• At minimum five years of full‑time experience advocating for, representing and/or litigating on behalf of clients in areas such as employment law, religious discrimination, public accommodation, denial of benefits by governmental and private actors in courts and administrative agencies
• Strong time management skills with a demonstrated ability for meeting deadlines
• Demonstrated problem‑solving skills with outstanding attention to detail
• Comfort working productively in a fast‑paced, team‑oriented environment
• Excellent oral and written communication skills including public speaking experience
• Experience working with people from diverse cultural and socio‑economic backgrounds
• Access to a working vehicle and the ability to drive throughout the San Diego Area
• High degree of self‑motivation and creativity
• A strong commitment to civil rights and CAIR's mission
• Basic computer proficiency including knowledge of MS Office, and MS Outlook
• Knowledge of cloud applications such as SharePoint, Office365, WestLaw Next, Lexis Nexis and social media applications (preferred)
• Conversational proficiency in Arabic, Farsi or Urdu (preferred)

TO APPLY

Submit a cover letter, resume with writing sample, and 3 professional references.

CAIR-CA is an equal‑opportunity employer and adheres to all federal, state, and local laws prohibiting employment discrimination.