Associate Counsel, Legal Mobilization Project
The Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law (Lawyers' Committee) is seeking a bright, creative, highly organized attorney to serve as Associate Counsel for our Legal Mobilization Project (LMP). In general, Legal Mobilization Projects involve mobilizing large scale pro bono resources across the country to address a pressing civil rights issue, whether voting rights, mortgage rescue scam assistance or education and empowerment of parents advocating on behalf of their children in the education system. The LMP works with the subject matter projects -- Voting Rights, Fair Housing or Education -- within the Lawyers' Committee to effectively organize legal resources by developing overall organizational plans, protocols, volunteer and client materials, management tools, and volunteer recruitment and training. The Associate Counsel for LMP will work with the LMP team and the staff of the subject matter projects working on each Legal Mobilization Project on the above mentioned and, in particular, will work with local Legal Committees to create a structure of support in targeted communities across the country. There will be multiple LMP Associate Counsels, each will have responsibility working with Legal Committees in a few states/metropolitan areas.
For the first year, the Associate Counsel will work primarily on the Lawyers' Committee's Loan Modification Scam Prevention Network being overseen by the Fair Housing Project. In the midst of the recent economic turmoil and associated foreclosure crisis, millions of distressed homeowners have become vulnerable targets for unscrupulous and sometimes criminal third party scams. Minorities and low income people are particularly targeted by bogus companies that seek fees and promise assistance in addressing mortgage arrears, only to refer homeowners to resources they could have accessed for free or, in far too many cases, to provide no services at all. The Loan Modification Scam Prevention Network will mobilize a nationwide network of pro bono legal volunteers to educate distressed homeowners on how to recognize and avoid mortgage scams and their individual rights, work with federal and state authorities on enforcement, and collect a large amount of data on mortgage fraud to put an end to the mortgage rescue scam problem.
In addition, the first year the Associate Counsel will also work on the 2010 Election Protection program, which the Lawyers' Committee leads. Election Protection - the nation's largest non-partisan voter protection coalition - works throughout the year to break down barriers to the ballot box for traditionally disenfranchised voters. In 2008, Election Protection mobilized over 10,000 legal volunteers, received over 240,000 calls to the 1-866-OUR-VOTE hotline, and organized Election Protection Legal Committees in 46 jurisdictions that worked on the ground throughout the election cycle and on Election Day to support traditionally disenfranchised voters. It is overseen by the Voting Rights Project.
The ideal candidate will be able to move between traditional legal responsibilities and organizing responsibilities, covering a range of activities from litigation to organizing and training volunteers. In addition, the ideal candidate will be a licensed attorney with 1-4 years job related experience. The position requires a candidate who can work well under the pressure of a campaign environment, handle significant responsibility and make thoughtful, yet quick, decisions. The Associate Counsel will become proficient in loan modification scam and voting rights issues related to those programs and will lead local pro bono legal networks in addressing these issues at the local level. In addition, the position will be responsible for working with board members, members of the bar, grassroots contacts, and funders. The candidate should be very organized with exceptional attention to detail. The perfect candidate will also be affable, outgoing, and will have a sense of humor. The ability to develop and maintain extensive coalition relationships is a must. Fluency in Spanish is beneficial, but not required. The candidate will travel extensively.
The Associate Counsel will report directly to the Director of Legal Mobilization and Pro Bono, indirectly to the Senior Counsel in the Fair Housing Project and Director of the Voting Rights Project, and perform all other tasks as may be requested by the Executive Director.
To Apply: Please send a letter of interest, resume, and three references to kcoates@lawyerscommittee.org or Kathy Coates, Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, 1401 New York Avenue, Suite 400, Washington, D.C. 20005. The Lawyers' Committee is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We encourage applications from minorities, women, and persons with disabilities. The position will remain open until November 30, 2009, and applications will be reviewed as received. Salary for this position is commensurate with experience. A generous fringe benefits package, including employer-funded health insurance is provided.
