Staff Attorney

Cair-foundation Inc; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 75,000 - 91,000; Full time

Job summary

CAIR seeks a Staff Attorney in Washington, DC, to join the Civil Rights team. The attorney will advance civil rights matters, draft filings, and assist with investigations and trials.

The role requires a J.D. from an ABA-accredited law school and active bar membership, with strong research, writing, and oral advocacy skills. Exempt, full-time position with opportunities for public service impact.

Qualifications

• J.D. from an accredited law school and active bar membership.
• Excellent legal research, writing, and oral advocacy skills.
• Ability to manage multiple assignments and meet deadlines.
• Understanding of civil rights issues and federal practice is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Perform legal research and draft legal documents, including answers, motions and routine filings.
• Draft written work product, including memoranda and other legal documents.
• Draft demand letters and engage in settlement discussions to resolve civil rights cases.
• Represent clients during interviews and in court proceedings as needed.
• Assist trial attorneys with discovery, negotiations, and trial preparation.
• Attend speaking engagements on civil rights issues affecting American Muslims.
• Train CAIR staff and participate in continuing legal education.

Skills

Legal research

Legal writing

Oral advocacy

Multitasking

Federal court practice

Education

J.D. from accredited law school

Bar admission

Job description

Job Title

Staff Attorney

Department

Civil Rights

FLSA

Exempt

Job Reports to

Directly to the Trial Attorneys your cases are assigned to

Location

Washington, DC

Starting Salary

83,100

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) is America’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. CAIR’s mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.

Essential Functions / Duties

• Performing legal research and drafting of legal documents, including answers, motions and other routine court filings
• Drafting written work product, including legal and research memorandums and other legal documents, as requested
• Drafting demand letters and engaging in alternative dispute resolution to resolve civil rights cases outside court intervention
• Representing clients during FBI interrogations
• Assisting trial attorneys with various aspects of litigation, including, but not limited to, client interviews, factual investigation, legal research, discovery, preparation of trial documents, negotiations, trials and appellate work
• Participating in speaking engagements pertaining to civil rights issues facing the American Muslim community
• Training and coaching of CAIR staff as requested
• Attend continuing legal education seminars and keep abreast of changes in the law through reading or other means

Qualifications

• J.D. from an accredited law school and an active member of the bar (any jurisdiction)
• Ability to handle multiple concurrent assignments and meet deadlines; must be able to work well both independently and in a team environment
• Basic knowledge of federal court practice
• Excellent legal research, writing and oral skills
• No disciplinary actions on record or pending
• Ideal candidates have a minimum of 3 years prior associate-level experience in civil rights
• An understanding of civil rights issues relating to American Muslims
• Passion for the mission of the Council on American-Islamic Relations
• Ability to communicate in language other than English is a plus