Attorney

About the role

The Program Counsel 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 Program Counsel will report to the Illinois-based Senior Counsel of the Midwest Voting Rights Program. Working in collaboration with the Senior Counsel and other team members of the Midwest Voting Rights Program, you will help shape strategy and build on our track record of impact.

• Successful resolution of Illinois's flawed automatic voter registration implementation
• Federal court challenges to Indiana's restrictive voting laws
• Expansion of access to voting for incarcerated individuals
• Leadership of legislative efforts to expand voting rights in Illinois

Responsibilities

Duties Include:

• Strategic Litigation
• Research and develop legal theories for challenges to discriminatory laws, policies, and procedures
• Support pro bono relationships with major 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
• Draft and analyze legislation
• Partner with colleagues, community organizations and coalitions on legislative, policy, and administrative advocacy
• Produce publications, know-your-rights materials, fact sheets, and policy briefs
• Conduct presentations to stakeholders including legislators, advocates, and media
• Community Engagement & Election Protection
• Cultivate and maintain partnerships with organizations and coalitions from communities impacted by systemic racism
• Provide brief advice and legal opinions to community partners in Illinois and Indiana
• Plan and participate in community education and outreach in support of advocacy goals
• Aid in Election Protection initiatives including volunteer attorney recruitment, training, and deployment, as well as advocacy to election authorities
• Aid in jail voting initiatives and partnerships with incarcerated and returning community members

Qualifications

• Available to be in the Chicago office once a week and available for in-person work in Chicago and surrounding areas
• J.D. and admission to the Illinois Bar (or admission in another state with requirement to obtain Illinois licensure within one year)
• Preferred 5+ years of combined experience in civil rights litigation, policy advocacy, and/or experience advancing voting rights
• Litigation experience, preferably including federal court practice
• Experience working with community organizations and coalitions
• Deep commitment to racial justice and community-driven advocacy
• Experience supervising fellows, program staff, or summer interns
• Excellent legal research, writing, and oral advocacy skills
• High degree of flexibility, ability to multi-task, and significant initiative
• Strong analytical skills, including attention to details and accuracy
• Excellent people skills, especially the ability to communicate effectively with a diversity of groups and individuals
• Cross-cultural competencies and self-awareness around issues of power, privilege, and difference

Skills

• Strategic thinking
• Collaboration and teamwork
• Legal research and writing
• Policy analysis and advocacy
• Community engagement and outreach
• Election protection and administration

Benefits

• 15 vacation days per year for years 1-2, increasing to 20 vacation days after two years of continuous service, plus 2 personal days
• 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
• 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

Pay

Salary range is $70,000 – $89,500 per year depending on experience.

Schedule

One day per week in the office on a designated anchor day and the option to work up to 4 days remotely.