1

Civil Rights Jobs in Virginia (NOW HIRING)

Senior Immigrant Rights Attorney

Norfolk, VA ยท On-site

$76K - $102K/yr

Civil Rights & Racial Justice (focuses on the criminal legal system), Housing & Consumer Justice, Youth Justice, Health Justice & Public Benefits, Immigrant Justice, and Worker Justice. As examples ...

Intern - Civil Engineering

VA ยท On-site

$16.25 - $21.25/hr

This position will work with the Civil Engineering team by supporting the needs of our quarry ... For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.

Civil Lead Project Engineer

Portsmouth, VA ยท Hybrid

$85K - $140K/yr

Civil Lead Project Engineer Wright-Pierce, an award-winning, multi-discipline environmental ... For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.

next page

Showing results 1-20

Civil Rights information

See Virginia salary details

$37.7K

$82K

$121.9K

How much do civil rights jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 6, 2026, the average yearly pay for civil rights in Virginia is $81,965.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $66,900.00 and $97,700.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What Are Jobs in Civil Rights?

Attorneys who specialize in civil rights cases protect and advocate for individuals or groups facing discrimination. This job involves defending clients in courts, creating legal documents, and doing advocacy work on behalf of clients. The duties of a civil rights attorney focus on ensuring that vulnerable individuals who face a human rights issue ultimately receive justice through the court of law. Your responsibilities may include advocacy on behalf of civil rights groups, such as the NAACP. As a civil rights attorney, you may use your skills to expand and enforce freedoms granted by the United States Constitution.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Civil Rights Attorney, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Civil Rights Attorney, you need a law degree, a valid license to practice law, and a solid understanding of constitutional and civil rights law. Familiarity with legal research databases (like Westlaw or LexisNexis), litigation software, and courtroom procedures is typically required. Exceptional analytical thinking, persuasive communication, and a strong sense of empathy are valuable soft skills in this role. These skills are crucial for effectively advocating for clients, navigating complex legal systems, and upholding justice in civil rights cases.

What are some typical challenges faced by professionals working in civil rights roles, and how can they prepare for them?

Professionals in civil rights roles often navigate complex legal, social, and political environments while advocating for equity and justice. Common challenges include managing emotionally charged situations, balancing competing interests, and staying updated on evolving laws and policies. To prepare, job seekers should develop strong communication and conflict resolution skills, remain adaptable, and pursue continuous education in relevant regulations. Building a supportive network within the organization and the broader civil rights community can also help address these challenges effectively.

What is the difference between Civil Rights vs Equal Opportunity Specialist?

AspectCivil RightsEqual Opportunity Specialist
Required CredentialsLegal knowledge, civil rights law certificationsHR certifications, equal employment opportunity training
Work EnvironmentGovernment agencies, legal settingsHR departments, government agencies
Employer & Industry UsageUsed in civil rights enforcement and advocacyUsed in workplace compliance and HR
Common Search & ComparisonFocuses on civil rights laws and violationsFocuses on workplace fairness and policies

While both roles involve ensuring fairness and legal compliance, Civil Rights professionals primarily focus on enforcing civil rights laws and addressing violations, often within legal or governmental settings. Equal Opportunity Specialists concentrate on promoting workplace fairness, preventing discrimination, and ensuring employer compliance with equal employment laws within organizations.

What are civil rights jobs?

Civil rights jobs are positions focused on protecting and advancing equal rights and freedoms for all individuals, regardless of race, gender, religion, or other characteristics. Professionals in this field may work as lawyers, advocates, investigators, researchers, or educators, often within government agencies, non-profits, or legal organizations. Their work involves enforcing anti-discrimination laws, promoting social justice, and supporting individuals or groups whose rights have been violated. These roles play a vital part in upholding fairness and equality in society.
What cities in Virginia are hiring for Civil Rights jobs? Cities in Virginia with the most Civil Rights job openings:
Infographic showing various Civil Rights job openings in Virginia as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 3% As Needed, 82% Full Time, 11% Part Time, 2% Temporary, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 95% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 4% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $81,965 per year, or $39.4 per hour.

Assistant U.S. Attorney (Civil Division)

Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys and the Office of the U.S. Attorneys

Alexandria, VA โ€ข On-site, Remote

$65K - $171K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 24 days ago


Job description

Summary
If you are looking for an exciting and challenging career, this is the position for you! The mission of the Department of Justice is to uphold the rule of law, keep our country safe, and protect civil rights. You will be part of a dedicated team helping to enforce Federal criminal and civil laws that protect life, liberty and the property of citizens.
For more information, visit http://www.justice.gov/careers/careers.html
Additional selections may be made at a later time.
Learn more about this agency
Duties
Help
An appointment with the U.S. Attorney's Office offers unique and challenging experiences for the highly motivated attorney; an opportunity to work on their own caseload and handle their own trials. Working in the Civil Division, Assistant United States Attorneys (AUSAs) represent the United States' interest in the trial and appellate courts for a wide variety of federal and state litigation, including bankruptcy, civil rights, commercial, constitutional, employment, environmental, federal program, fraud, immigration, medical malpractice, patent, prisoner, social security, summons enforcement, tax, and general tort cases. The attorney selected for this position primarily will work in the General Litigation Unit of the Civil Division and will focus on defending the United States' interests in civil cases and matters involving employment discrimination allegations, tort law, immigration law, the Constitution, the Administrative Procedure Act, and FOIA, among others.
Responsibilities will increase and assignments will become more complex as your training and experience progress.
Security Requirements: Initial appointment is conditioned upon a satisfactory preemployment adjudication. This includes fingerprint, credit and tax checks, and drug testing. In addition, continued employment is subject to a favorable adjudication of a background investigation.
Selective Service: If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System, or are exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law. See www.sss.gov.
Requirements
Help
Conditions of employment
  • You must be a United States Citizen or National.
  • Initial appointment is conditioned upon a satisfactory preemployment adjudication. This includes fingerprint, credit and tax checks, and drug testing. Continued employment is subject to a favorable adjudication of a background investigation.
  • You must be registered for Selective Service, if applicable.
  • J.D. degree and active member of the bar (any U.S. jurisdiction) required.
  • Must reside in the district to which appointed or within 25 miles thereof. See 28 U.S.C. 545 for district specific information.

Qualifications
Required Qualifications: Applicants must possess a J.D. degree, be an active member of the bar (any U.S. jurisdiction), and possess superior oral and written communication skills as well as strong interpersonal skills, exhibit good judgment and function with minimal guidance in a highly demanding environment.
Preferred Qualifications: Direct experience litigating civil cases in the federal courts and/or a federal judicial clerkship is desired.
You must meet all qualification requirements upon the closing date of this announcement.
Education
Applicants must possess a J.D. Degree
Additional information
Salary Information: Assistant United States Attorney's pay is administratively determined based, in part, on the number of years of professional attorney experience. The range of basic pay is $65,563 to $171,487, which will include the following locality pay based on the location selection listed below:
  • Alexandria, VA is 33.94%
  • Norfolk, VA is 18.80%
  • Newport News, VA is 18.80%
  • Richmond, VA is 22.28

Other Benefits: The Department of Justice offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes, in part, paid vacation; sick leave; holidays; telework; life insurance; health benefits; and participation in the Federal Employees Retirement System. The Benefits link provides an overview of the benefits currently offered to Federal Employees.
Relocation Expenses: Relocation expenses will not be authorized.
* * *
This and other vacancy announcements can be found under Attorney Vacancies and Volunteer Legal Internships. The Department of Justice cannot control further dissemination and/or posting of information contained in this vacancy announcement. Such posting and/or dissemination is not an endorsement by the Department of the organization or group disseminating and/or posting the information.
Travel: Occasional
Applicants should familiarize themselves and comply with the relevant rules of professional conduct regarding any possible conflicts of interest in connection with their applications. In particular, please notify this Office if you currently represent clients or adjudicate matters in which this Office is involved and/or you have a family member who is representing clients or adjudicating matters in which this Office is involved so that we can evaluate any potential conflict of interest or disqualification issue that may need to be addressed under those circumstances.
Political Appointees (Current and Former): Political Appointees (Current or Former): The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C or Non-Career SES employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the HR Office. Failure to disclose this information could result in disciplinary action including removal from Federal Service.
Security Requirements: Initial appointment is conditioned upon a satisfactory preemployment adjudication. This includes fingerprint, credit and tax checks, and drug testing. In addition, continued employment is subject to a favorable adjudication of a background investigation.
EEO Statement/Policy: The United States government does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service or other non-merit factor. More information can be found here: https://www.justice.gov/jmd/media/1425556/dl?inline.
Expand Hide additional information
Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.
Benefits
Help
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Review our benefits
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.