Staff Attorney (Maryland)

Deen; Maryland; On-site; USD 75,000 - 91,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental & Vision coverage

401(k) with employer match

Paid holidays

Vacation, sick, and personal leave

Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)

Job summary

CAIR National Headquarters in Maryland seeks a Staff Attorney to join its Legal Defense Fund civil rights team. You will conduct civil rights litigation, perform legal research, draft pleadings, and represent clients in administrative and judicial forums.

You will work with leadership and partners to develop cases from inception through trial, and contribute to public education on civil rights issues affecting American Muslims in Maryland.

Qualifications

• J.D. from an accredited law school.
• Ability to manage multiple concurrent assignments and meet deadlines.
• Strong independent and collaborative work skills.
• Excellent legal research, writing, and oral advocacy skills.
• Clean disciplinary record with no pending actions.
• Minimum three years preferred: prior associate-level civil rights work experience.

Responsibilities

• Conduct legal research and draft court filings, motions, answers, and routine pleadings.
• Draft legal memorandums and research work product as assigned.
• Draft demand letters and engage in ADR to resolve civil rights cases without court intervention.
• Represent clients during FBI interrogations and in administrative proceedings.
• Assist trial attorneys with all aspects of civil litigation: client interviews, factual investigation, discovery, trial preparation, negotiations, trials, and appellate work.
• Speak publicly and lead educational sessions on civil rights issues facing American Muslims in Maryland.
• Train and coach CAIR staff on legal and civil rights matters.
• Stay current with changes in the law through continuing legal education.

Skills

Legal Research

Legal Writing

Oral Advocacy

Client Representation

Litigation Support

Education

J.D. from an accredited law school

Job description

# Staff Attorney (Maryland)CAIR National Headquarters (Council on American-Islamic Relations, Legal Defense Fund) · Maryland, USA (CAIR National Headquarters; Maryland residency required)Work mode: On-siteType: Full-timeField: LegalPosted: 2d agoCloses: 18 November 2026Apply on cair.comStaff Attorney – Legal Defense Fund (Civil Rights) CAIR (Council on American-Islamic Relations), the nation's largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization, is seeking a Staff Attorney to join its Legal Defense Fund (LDF) civil rights department. This full-time position, based at CAIR National Headquarters in Maryland, reports to the General Counsel & National Litigation Director. Role Overview You will conduct civil rights litigation and legal advocacy on behalf of CAIR and its clients, focusing on cases affecting the American Muslim community. Working collaboratively with leadership, staff, and community partners, you will handle legal research, document preparation, client representation, and case resolution across administrative and judicial forums. Key Responsibilities Perform legal research and draft legal documents including court filings, motions, answers, and routine pleadings Draft legal memorandums and research work product as assigned Draft demand letters and engage in alternative dispute resolution to resolve civil rights cases without court intervention Represent clients during FBI interrogations and in administrative proceedings Assist trial attorneys with all aspects of civil litigation: client interviews, factual investigation, discovery, trial preparation, negotiations, trials, and appellate work Speak publicly and lead educational sessions on civil rights issues facing American Muslims in Maryland Train and coach CAIR staff on legal and civil rights matters Stay current with changes in the law through continuing legal education Qualifications J.D. from an accredited law school Ability to handle multiple concurrent assignments and meet deadlines Strong independent and collaborative work skills Basic knowledge of federal court practice Excellent legal research, writing, and oral advocacy skills Clean disciplinary record with no pending actions Minimum three years preferred: prior associate-level civil rights work experience Deep understanding of civil rights issues affecting American Muslims Genuine commitment to CAIR's mission of civil liberties advocacy Bonus: Fluency in a language other than English Compensation & Benefits Salary: $83,100 annually (non-negotiable, set for consistency and pay equity) Full benefits package: Health insurance (CAREFIRST; employee cost share up to 20%) Dental and vision coverage (employer-paid, 100%) 401(k) with employer match up to 4% 13 paid holidays Vacation, sick, and personal leave Life, AD&D, and long-term disability coverage Optional FSA and HSA plans Employee Assistance Program Professional development stipend Tuition reimbursement (subject to requirements) Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) certification eligibility Application Requirements Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States and reside in Maryland. Submit cover letter, resume, writing sample, and three professional references as a single PDF/Word document to [e-mail] with subject line \"Staff Attorney/Maryland\". Position open until filled.