Project Director/Counsel, Community Development Project
The Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law is a premier national civil rights legal organization seeking a dynamic attorney to serve as Project Director or Counsel in the Community Development Project. The Lawyers' Committee's Community Development Project addresses disinvestment and neglect of minority and low-income communities by marshalling the resources of law firms and corporate legal departments to provide comprehensive pro bono legal assistance to support social change.
Program areas in 2010 include Gulf Coast hurricane recovery, prevention of African-American and Latino land loss, affordable-housing, regional planning, community preservation, and community land trusts. The attorney that fills this position will play a critical role in working on each of these areas and will be expected to develop new programmatic initiatives over time. In coordination with Executive Management, development staff, and project staff, the successful candidate will also work to raise funds for the Community Development Project.
Candidates for this position should have experience and training in community development, affordable housing, real estate law, or a related field. Candidates should also have a working knowledge of current trends in civil-rights and social-justice advocacy. Candidates need to have some managerial experience. The ideal candidate for the position will have experience working as an attorney on transactional matters in or with law firms and/or community-based organizations. Excellent oral and written skills are essential as the Counsel will be writing and speaking frequently. Candidates must also have excellent interpersonal skills because they will need to manage relationships with Lawyers' Committee staff, law firm co-counsel, clients, national and local nonprofit organizations, funders, and government officials. The demonstrated capacity to build and maintain relationships with allies and partner organizations in the field will be a critical quality for the successful candidate. In addition, Counsel will need to be capable in working independently, demonstrating vision, and taking initiative while working as part of a team. A degree or comparable experience in urban planning or related field, Spanish-language proficiency, a background working with minority communities, and experience in fundraising/grant writing would be useful.
Applicants must be willing to travel on a regular basis for client matters, conferences, and other meetings.
The applicant must currently be a member in good standing of a state bar with the ability to waive into the District of Columbia bar. For this posting, we are seeking applicants who have eight or more years of practice. The determination of whether the position is offered at the Project Director or Counsel level for those with eight or more years of experience will depend on the successful applicant's demonstrated ability and length and depth of relevant experience.
The salary range for this position is highly competitive for public-interest law practice. We also provide a competitive benefits package, including 100% employer paid health insurance.
The Counsel will report directly to the Legal Director and will perform all other tasks as may be requested by the Executive Director.
Applications can be sent electronically to kcoates@lawyerscommittee.org and, at a minimum, should include a cover letter, resume, and a writing sample. Applications can also be mailed to: Kathy Coates, Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, 1401 New York Avenue NW, Suite 400, Washington, DC 20005-2124. The deadline for applications is March 8, 2010.
The Lawyers' Committee is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We encourage applications from all qualified persons, including minorities, women, and persons with disabilities. For more information, see our web site at http://www.lawyerscommittee.org.
NOTE -- Applicants who responded to a recent posting for a Counsel in the Community Development Project will also be considered for this position.
