Associate Attorney Civil Rights Jobs in Gaithersburg, MD

The SPLC is seeking experienced Civil Rights Senior Fellows who are committed to social justice!

This unique mid-career Equal Justice Works (EJW) Fellowship, based at the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), is a new pilot program designed to address urgent gaps in civil rights enforcement resulting from recent reductions in federal capacity. SPLC's EJW Civil Rights Fellowship will mobilize former government civil rights attorneys in strengthening litigation and advocacy efforts in the nonprofit sector.

Through this Fellowship, Senior Fellows will design and implement a defined, time-bound litigation or advocacy project. The project will align with one or more of SPLC's four impact goals: Protecting Democracy, Combatting Hate and Extremism, Eliminating Poverty, and Ending Unjust Incarceration.  Each Senior Fellow's project is expected to advance systemic civil rights enforcement priorities, respond to pressing unmet needs, and contribute to lasting impact within the broader civil rights ecosystem.

Senior Fellows are responsible for articulating clear objectives, establishing measurable indicators of success, and executing strategic interventions over the course of the Fellowship. In addition to advancing their project within SPLC, Senior Fellows will participate in structured peer engagement, training, and evaluation coordinated by EJW, contributing to collective insight and field-wide impact.

Senior Fellows will collaborate as part of a cohort of EJW Civil Rights Fellows and with SPLC's Advocacy and Litigation Teams (ALITs) to advance this work.

The tentative start date for this fellowship is October 19, 2026.  This is a 2-year fellowship that will end in 2028.

Experienced. Demonstrated experience litigating complex individual, multi-plaintiff, and/or class action cases in federal, state, and administrative courts. Demonstrated experience in litigation based on the U.S. Constitution and federal statutes, including the Immigration and Nationality Act and related immigration laws.

Advocate. Experience working with community organizations, grassroots campaigns, and impacted communities, particularly in the Deep South, aimed at protecting the rights of immigrants and migrants. Experience conducting outreach activities related to litigation and campaigns.

Committed. Demonstrated interest and commitment to community-oriented and movement-supportive lawyering. Dedicated to a non-hierarchical, client-centered approach to advocacy and ability to work on sensitive issues in a compassionate and empathetic manner. Proven commitment to immigrant justice.

Analytical. Ability to synthesize complex legal and policy developments, analyze requests for legal assistance relating to immigration law, and provide technical assistance to immigrant communities and partner organizations.

Researcher. Demonstrated ability to conduct legal research and factual investigations.

Writer. Ability to draft briefs, memos, and other documents in support of litigation, advocacy, and public education with a team and independently.

Creative. Ability to think creatively, be flexible, and take calculated risks around changing priorities and in crafting and executing strategies to move litigation and campaigns forward.

Collaborative. Aptitude for and willingness to be a team player, including with diverse partners and team members. Ability to work with other Advocacy Litigation & Impact Teams (ALITs), external organizations, and stakeholders on multiple cases and campaigns at once.

Communicative. Exceptional communication skills and ability to communicate persuasively to a variety of audiences through writing and speaking. Ability to communicate legal concepts effectively to diverse and multi-lingual audiences, including community groups, coalitions, and individuals. Able and willing to communicate regularly with clients, co-counsel, and partner organizations.

Mission, Vision & Culture Alignment. Demonstrates an understanding of and a commitment to SPLC's mission, vision and values.

Design and implement a defined two-year new national litigation and/or advocacy initiative addressing a critical civil rights enforcement gap.

Research legal and policy issues related to SPLC's impact areas and approved projects.

Draft briefs, motions, memos, written discovery, and other documents in support of litigation and advocacy; conducts depositions; and represents clients in court.

Develop and maintain respectful relationships of trust and mutual aid with members of impacted communities.

Represent SPLC in various fora, including before community groups, legislators, media outlets, federal and state agencies, among others.

Collaborate on litigation and advocacy initiatives with other Legal Department team members, including SPLC's rapid response team.

Attend regular meetings with Directors of Strategic Litigation and Advocacy, Deputy Legal Directors, and other EJW Fellows to discuss current and developing litigation and advocacy.

Participate in EJW Fellowship program activities and structed engagement.

Engage in knowledge-sharing with cohort peers to strengthen coordination and impact across participating Fellows.

Perform other duties as required or assigned which are reasonably within the scope of the duties in this job classification.

Uphold our JEDI principles by seeking diverse collaborators and partners that can deliver genuine, authentic and impactful work while ensuring their contributions are directed towards the shared mission, vision and values of the Center and Legal Department's goals.

We are committed to equitable hiring practices; therefore, you must meet the minimum qualifications to be considered for the role.

• EJW Civil Rights Senior Fellow: At least eight years of litigation experience with at least three years of federal government attorney experience in the field of civil rights and advocacy;
• Membership in good standing of at least one state bar in the United States, preferably Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, or Mississippi; and
• J.D. degree from an ABA-accredited law school - must be at least eight years out of law school.

This is an exempt role, and the minimum starting salary is $117,286.00 annually. Salary is commensurate with experience. 

Click here to view the benefits available to SPLC staff.

This role the following work designations options:

• Local Remote: Will work remotely but is expected to attend work-related activities that occur at the SPLC offices or in the states in which the SPLC operates.
• Telework: Will work at an SPLC office at least three days per week and may work two days per week from an alternative work location.
• This position will report to the Director of Strategic Litigation & Advocacy.

This is a 2-year fellowship and will end 2 years from the start date.  

This job is performed under general office conditions and is not subject to any strenuous physical demands or dangerous conditions.

This position is represented by the Washington-Baltimore News Guild.