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Civil Rights Attorney Jobs in Washington, DC (NOW HIRING)

Washington Lawyers' Committee

Paralegal

Washington, DC · On-site

$53K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

  • PTO

About Washington Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs The Washington Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs (WLC) works to create legal, economic, and social equity ...

MELEHY AND ASSOCIATES LLC

Associate Attorney

Silver Spring, MD · On-site

$75K - $120K/yr

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Paid time off Small, dynamic, collegial and fast-growing Plaintiffs' civil rights firm in Silver Spring, Maryland seeks ambitious Associate Attorney with 0 to 4 years of experience to work on federal ...

Equal Rights Advocates

Advocacy Manager

Washington, DC

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Monitor and respond to developing gender justice, economic security, and civil rights issues in ... Collaborate with ERA's attorneys and staff members to align policy advocacy with litigation ...

Equal Rights Advocates

Advocacy Manager

Washington, DC · On-site

$90K - $120K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Monitor and respond to developing gender justice, economic security, and civil rights issues in ... Collaborate with ERA's attorneys and staff members to align policy advocacy with litigation ...

DC Government Careers

TRIAL ATTORNEY

Washington, DC · On-site

$165K - $211K/yr

Finally, in rare instances the attorney may work on other types of matters handled by PAD, including but not limited to consumer protection, environmental, workers' and civil rights, and fraud ...

Department of Justice

Attorney

Washington, DC · On-site

$121K/yr

The Civil Rights Division seeks experienced attorneys to work on a variety of significant and complex issues to enforce federal statutes and executive orders that prohibit unlawful discrimination ...

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Civil Rights Attorney information

See Washington, DC salary details

$66.8K

$127.9K

$181.7K

How much do civil rights attorney jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 15, 2026, the average yearly pay for civil rights attorney in Washington, DC is $127,925.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $100,800.00 and $150,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are some typical challenges faced by civil rights attorneys in their daily work?

Civil Rights Attorneys often encounter complex cases that require extensive legal research, detailed documentation, and persistent advocacy, sometimes over prolonged periods. They may face challenging circumstances such as representing clients with sensitive backgrounds or taking on cases against powerful institutions, which can be emotionally and professionally demanding. Collaboration with nonprofit organizations, government agencies, and other attorneys is important to build strong cases and support clients effectively. Staying current on evolving legal precedents and legislation is also essential to succeed in this dynamic field.

What does a civil rights attorney do?

A Civil Rights Attorney advocates for individuals whose rights have been violated under laws protecting freedoms such as speech, equality, and due process. They handle cases involving discrimination, wrongful arrests, voting rights, and other constitutional issues. Their work includes legal research, filing lawsuits, negotiating settlements, and representing clients in court to ensure justice and uphold civil liberties.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a civil rights attorney?

To excel as a Civil Rights Attorney, you need a Juris Doctor (JD) degree, bar admission, and strong expertise in constitutional and civil rights law. Familiarity with legal research databases like Westlaw or LexisNexis, as well as case management software, is commonly required. Outstanding advocacy, negotiation, and interpersonal skills are essential for connecting with clients and effectively presenting cases. These abilities are crucial for advancing clients' rights, navigating complex legal challenges, and achieving meaningful outcomes through litigation or negotiation.

What are popular job titles related to Civil Rights Attorney jobs in Washington, DC?

For Civil Rights Attorney jobs in Washington, DC, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Civil Rights Attorney jobs in Washington, DC look for?

The top searched job categories for Civil Rights Attorney jobs in Washington, DC are:

Civil Rights Attorney jobs near you
Infographic showing various Civil Rights Attorney job openings in Washington, DC as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 2% As Needed, 76% Full Time, 19% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 95% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 4% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $127,925 per year, or $61.5 per hour.

Paralegal

Washington Lawyers' Committee

Washington, DC • On-site

$53K/yr

Other

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 15 days ago

Job description

About Washington Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs
The Washington Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs (WLC) works to create legal, economic, and social equity through litigation, client and public education, and public policy advocacy with a primary focus on racial justice. For the last 55 years, the Committee has been on the cutting edge of civil rights advocacy in the region bringing precedent setting litigation to address discrimination. Our work focuses on injustices in housing, employment, the criminal legal system, education, public accommodations, and the civil rights of immigrants. We partner with individuals and communities facing discrimination and with the legal community to achieve justice. The Committee's staff is unionized with the National Organization of Legal Service Workers Local #2320, UAW.For more information on the Washington Lawyers' Committee, please go to www.washlaw.org.
About the role
Candidates should be prepared to commit at least two years of service in this role.
This position is part of a team of paralegals who provide support to the Committee's civil rights and racial justice advocacy and will primarily support our housing and workers' rights teams, along with general duties. Paralegals work under the direct supervision of Committee attorneys and are not engaged in the practice of law.
Responsibilities
Job responsibilities will vary by practice area and by case, but for this position will be comprised primarily of administrative duties, including:
  • Conducting intakes for new potential cases and clients.
  • Managing dockets and maintaining organized, up-to-date case files.
  • Supporting litigation and case development as needed.
  • Drafting and updating relevant informational guides for both the individual teams and the Committee as a whole.
  • Providing administrative support in arranging client and witness calls and meetings.
  • Facilitating the Committee's document retention and return policy with respect to closed matters, pending matters and matters not accepted by the Committee.
  • Ensuring case accessibility for clients (securing interpretation, translation, Optical Character Recognition compatibility, and any transportation or related issues).
  • Updating the Committee's client management system and be responsible for organizing closed case files.
  • Participating in the coordination of the Committee's undergraduate interns.
  • Other duties as assigned to support the Committee's advocacy work.

Preferred Experience and Skills:
The ideal candidate will possess the following skills and qualifications:
  • Deep passion for civil rights and racial justice advocacy.
  • Demonstrated awareness and sensitivity to the needs and concerns of individuals from diverse cultures, backgrounds and orientations.
  • Ability to manage competing priorities and to communicate effectively regarding the progress of various projects.
  • Excellent organizational skills.
  • Familiarity with, or willingness and ability to learn, various case management, communication, and software systems (for example, Excel, Outlook, Legal Server).
  • Ability to contribute to the creation of a diverse, equitable and inclusive culture that encourages and celebrates differences.
  • A sufficient level of Spanish fluency to interview or counsel clients in Spanish without the assistance of an interpreter.
  • Experience working with communities from a diverse set of socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds strongly preferred.

Applicants with lived experience in communities historically under-resourced and marginalized due to race, class, gender, disability, etc. are encouraged to apply.
Compensation
WLC's pay scale is available with this posting. WLC offers a broad range of benefits including:
  • Generous paid time-off
  • Comprehensive healthcare benefits (medical, dental and vision coverage, parental leave)
  • 401k plan
  • Professional development
  • Telework option - two days per week (Mondays, Fridays)

How To Apply
Please include as part of your application package a letter detailing your interest (i.e., cover letter), university transcript, a resume, and a brief writing sample. Our system allows only two (2) documents you can attach to your application: cover letter and resume. Please include your interest letter, university transcript, and brief writing sample in one document as the cover letter attachment.
Applications will be considered on a rolling basis, and the position will remain open until filled. The Washington Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs is an equal opportunity employer. Diversity is an essential component of the Committee, and we encourage all qualified persons to apply. Applicants are accorded an equal opportunity for selection without regard to actual or perceived race, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, disability, medical condition, marital status, sex, age, sexual orientation, or gender identity or expression.
This position is a hybrid position with three core days required to physically be in the office located in Washington, DC and up to two days of telework. We will be participating in-person when it is necessary to provide the highest quality legal services to our clients and the most effective advocacy.
The pay range for this role is:
53,240 - 53,240 USD per year (Yrs Exp 0)
53,540 - 53,540 USD per year (Yrs Exp 1)
54,272 - 54,272 USD per year (Yrs Exp 2)
55,808 - 55,808 USD per year (Yrs Exp 3)

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