Temporary Staff Attorney, Litigation at Advancement Project Education Fund – Washington, District of Columbia

Who We Are:

Situated at the forefront of the national stage in the racial justice movement, Advancement Project is a cutting-edge, no-holds-barred national organization dedicated to building local power in communities of color. Centered on a movement lawyering approach, defined as community-centered racial justice lawyering, Advancement Project supports power building in grassroots organizations working to eliminate oppressive structures in our laws and institutions and shift narratives towards transformative change. From ending the school-to-prison pipeline to the fight to expand the right to vote, from calling for a complete overhaul of how we view the police and carceral state, to fighting for immigrant justice, Advancement Project impacts real change from the ground up. Building on more than 25 years, we continue to evolve our strategic thinking and creativity to imagine a more just world in which people of color can thrive, be safe, and free – and we are excited to bring on new talent to forward our vision.

The Advancement Project’s track record of success includes:

• Pioneering the movement to end the school-to-prison pipeline and winning significant victories in several school districts nationwide to reform disciplinary policies and practices and remove police from schools entirely, including building and nurturing a grassroots movement of parents and youth. This work led to federal guidance on racial discrimination in school discipline.
• Launching the National Police Free Schools Campaign with the Alliance for Education Justice, supporting local youth-led campaigns to end policing in their schools, and calling for national demands for change for safety in public schools.
• Serving as legal counsel in a key 2000 presidential election case in Florida, successfully challenging North Carolina’s 2013 voter suppression law, and being a founding member of the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition that won the ballot initiative to strike down the state’s ban on voting for those with felony convictions. AP supported legislative efforts to pass the Virginia Voting Rights Act, the first state voting rights statute of its kind in the South.
• Supporting the Close the Workhouse Campaign in St. Louis, led by Action St, Louis, and securing an agreement with the city to close a jail and reinvest money into the community.
• Working with survivors of Hurricane Katrina from New Orleans to ensure their voices were heard in the process of reconstructing the city.

Position Overview:

We are seeking a creative problem solver, strong advocate, and skilled attorney to temporarily join our Litigation team. This position focuses on a state-based preemption case. Through research, analysis, writing, and cross team collaboration, the staff attorney will provide support to state-based grassroots partners in their litigation goals.

The position reports to the Litigation Director and will be part of our bargaining unit with compensation determined by the bargaining unit’s compensation structure.

This position is a six-month temporary role.

What you’ll do:

• Investigate alleged constitutional violations and related racial justice issues, including through data, anecdotal evidence, and other factual collection and analysis.
• Conduct litigation research, prepare litigation memoranda and briefs, and draft and review other associated litigation documents.
• Assist with investigations and litigation efforts, including discovery and motion writing when appropriate.
• Collaborate with colleagues, internally and externally, while working on state constitutional litigation and racial justice issues.
• Provide guidance to team members and interns on work product.
• Assist with legal and policy work cross-program, as needed.
• Other related duties, as assigned

What you need to be considered:

• Juris Doctor degree is required.
• State bar membership.
• At least 5 years of litigation experience.
• Demonstrated commitment to racial justice.
• Experience in civil rights matters, constitutional civil rights litigation, and criminal justice issues preferred. Trial experience preferred
• Excellent written, verbal, analytical, interpersonal, and organizational skills.
• Interest in working with grassroots organizations.
• Willingness to travel.

Depending on experience, this position pays between $88,700.00 and $106,480.00