Supervising Attorney

CAIR International; Newark (NJ); Hybrid; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental coverage

Vision coverage

Retirement matching

Public holidays and vacation

Personal days

Sick days

Remote work options

Mileage reimbursement

CLE resources access

Mentorship and growth opportunities

Job summary

CAIR-NJ seeks a Supervising Attorney to grow its Legal Department. This role will supervise a small team of staff attorneys, paralegals, and fellows, while leading civil rights litigation and strategy for CAIR-NJ.

The ideal candidate has a J.D. from an ABA-accredited school, admission to the New Jersey Bar, and 3+ years of civil rights or public-interest practice, with excellent litigation and writing skills. The position emphasizes advocacy for Muslim Americans and community impact.

Qualifications

• J.D. from an ABA-accredited law school and New Jersey Bar admission.
• 3+ years of experience practicing law, preferably civil rights or public interest.
• Commitment to advancing rights of low-income and underserved communities.
• Knowledge of Civil Rights Act of 1964, First Amendment issues, EEOC procedures.
• Strong litigation, writing, organizational, and supervisory skills.
• Experience in litigation.
• Self-motivated, organized, and able to work with minimal supervision.
• Bilingual skills in a relevant language.
• Preferred: 6+ years of civil rights experience.

Responsibilities

• Lead litigation matters through all steps of litigation, including interviewing witnesses, pleadings, discovery, briefs, and trial if necessary.
• Manage an active civil rights caseload across federal, state, and administrative settings.
• Direct intake review, investigate facts, identify viable legal claims, and select cases with impact.
• Represent clients in negotiations, mediations, and settlements.
• Collaborate with advocacy, communications, and program teams; contribute to Know Your Rights workshops.
• Answer phones and assist with office tasks as required.

Job description

Areas of Practice:Policing, FBI/CBP, Prisoners’/IncarcereeRights, Employment Discrimination &ReligiousAccommodation, Land Use, School Bullying, University Campus Issues,Freedom of Speech,Denial of Service, Harassment/Intimidation,Hate Crimes/Incidents,and Other Civil Rights Abuses

Reports to:Executive Director
Schedule Type:Full-time (Exempt)salary, At-Will. Occasional evenings and weekendsrequired.
Hybrid:3 days remote, 2 days in-office weekly.
Location:570 Broad St., Suite 703, Newark, New Jersey

Pay Range:$85,000–$110,000 annual salary,commensuratewith experience.

Benefits include:

• Fully paidhealth insurance, dental and vision for employee
• Service schedule to earn coverage for dependents
• Up to 3% retirement matching contribution(sharia compliant)
• 12 paid holidays, 12 vacation days,7 personal days, and5 sick daysAdditionalremote work andflexibleschedule opportunities
• Annual NJ attorney registration reimbursement
• Malpractice insurance,workers compensation andbusiness cards
• Unlimited access to Practicing Law Institute resources for CLEs
• Mileage reimbursementfor business travelat prevailing IRS rate
• Supportive, inclusive environment with opportunities for mentorship and growth through the CAIR Legal Network

About the Organization

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Islamic civil liberties and advocacy group, has approximately 35 offices and chapters nationwide. Our mission is to enhance understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions promoting justice and mutual understanding.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations ofNew Jersey(CAIR-NJ) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3), grassroots civil rights and advocacy group. We recognize that our employees are passionate, talented, and are our most valuableresource.CAIR-NJ has experienced significant growth, with its staffmultiplyingover the last fiveyears. As the demand for civil rights services continues to rise, CAIR-NJ is investing heavily in its legal department—the core service arm of the organization.

Join ahigh-impactteam working on the front lines of defending civil rights for American Muslims, promoting civic engagement, strengthening the image of Islam and Muslims in the media, and building coalitions that advance justice and mutual understanding.

Position Summary

CAIR-NJ seeks a Supervising Attorney to grow its Legal Department. This position will supervise asmallteamwhilerepresentingclients and guiding the organization’s civil rights strategy and impact. Join aninfluential team committed to defending the rights of American Muslims. CAIR-NJ’s work aligns with Islamic values and beliefs.

TheSupervisingAttorney will oversee CAIR-NJ’s statewide civil rights legal practice, supervise legal staff, manage case strategy, and ensure quality legal services for clients. This role combinesalternative dispute resolution,litigation, strategic leadership, team management, andcommunityengagement. The ideal candidate is an experienced civil rights advocate prepared to elevate the organization’s legal impact.

Duties & Responsibilities

Leadership & Management

• Supervisea small team ofstaff attorneys, paralegals, legal fellows, and/orinterns.
• Oversee department workflow, case strategy, and legal priorities.
• Develop and refine systems for legal intake, caseselection, and case management in collaboration with the Operations Director.
• Work closely with the Executive Director and Operations Director on legal department growth and strategy.

Legal Representation & Casework

• Lead litigation matters through all steps of litigation including, but not limited to, interviewing witnesses and potential clients, preparing pleadings, discovery, motions, briefs, oral arguments, settlement, and trial if necessary.
• Manage an active civil rights caseload across federal, state, administrative, and alternative resolution settings.
• Conduct direct intake review, investigate facts,identifyviablelegal claims, and select cases aligned with impact and priorityobjectives.
• Represent clients in negotiations, mediations, administrative proceedings, and settlement discussions.

Interdepartmental Collaboration & Public Engagement

• Work strategically with CAIR-NJ’s advocacy, communications, andprogramsteams.
• Participate in Know Your Rights workshopsand public education events.
• Assistwith the creation of reports, publications, and legal guidance.
• Review and approve legal documents prepared by staff.
• All CAIR staffare required toassistin general duties such as answering phones, occasional outreach, fundraising, and other office tasks asrequired.

External Relations & Partnerships

• Maintain and strengthen relationships with impacted communities, law schools, clinics, law firms, and allied organizations.
• Help develop and sustain partnerships to expand civil rights protections and policy impact.

Required Qualifications

• J.D. from an ABA-accredited law school; admission and good standing with the New Jersey Bar.
• 3+years of experiencepracticing law, preferably in civil rights, employment, constitutional, or public interest law.
• Demonstrated commitment to advancing the rights of low-income and underserved communities.
• Knowledge of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (including Title VII), First Amendment issues,EEOCand relevant administrative procedures.
• Strong litigation, writing, organizational, and supervisory skills.
• Passion for CAIR’s mission and a strong commitment to securing justice and civil rights for Muslim Americans and their families.
• Self-motivated, organized, and able to work with minimal supervision.Ability to work effectively with culturally diverse staff and community members.
• Demonstrated commitment to the cause of social justice, civil liberties, and civil rights.
• Experience in litigation.

Preferred Qualifications

• 6+ years of experiencepracticing law, preferably in civil rights, employment, constitutional, or public interest law.
• Familiarity with the American Muslim community.
• Experience drafting demand letters or civil rights complaints.
• Experience in coalition-building or community organizing.
• Bilingual skills in a relevant language.
• Flexible and adaptive leadership style.