First Amendment Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Civil Rights Legal Fellow

Work Location: Anaheim, CA

Position Status: Exempt, Temporary, Full-Time for one year

Salary: Range: $70,000 to $85,000 salary/year, commensurate with skills and experience. Time limited one-year position, with possibility for future extension contingent upon additional funding, performance, and other factors.

Reports To: Civil Rights Managing Attorney

Generous Benefits: 100% employer-paid medical and dental insurance for employees & dependents, 401(k) plan with an employer match, 12 vacation days, 10 sick days and 12 holidays, hybrid work schedule utilized temporarily with three days in office and two days remote work.

About CAIR

Join the largest American Muslim civil rights organization at the frontlines in protecting the rights of free speech, to freely practice one's faith, to pursue employment opportunities without harassment, and to live as an active and engaged American without reprisal. The Council on American-Islamic Relations of California (CAIR-CA) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3), grassroots civil rights and advocacy group. We recognize that our employees are passionate, talented, and are our most valuable resource. With such an important vision to be a leading advocate for justice and mutual understanding, our diverse workforce stands together to demonstrate our values for everyone who chooses to join these efforts.

About the Role

The Greater Los Angeles area office of CAIR (CAIR-LA) is looking for a recent law graduate or practicing attorney with up to three years of experience to work on priority issues affecting the American Muslim community. Specifically, CAIR-LA's Civil Rights Department is looking to identify a qualified candidate with a demonstrated commitment to public interest advocacy and to serving the Muslim community to fill the Fellowship position. The Fellow must be a motivated individual who will be expected to identify, strategize, and use creative legal and grassroots advocacy solutions to address systematic issues facing the American Muslim community.

CAIR-LA's Civil Rights Department works to protect and defend the constitutional rights of American Muslims. The department counsels, mediates, and advocates on behalf of Muslims and others who have experienced religious discrimination.

Fellows gain the skills, knowledge, and exposure required to deal with contemporary civil rights issues affecting the American Muslim community, including employment discrimination, public accommodation discrimination, First Amendment rights, the rights of incarcerated individuals to religious accommodations, school bullying, equal protection, and procedural due process issues.

The position will remain open until filled.

General Duties and Responsibilities

• Support the Civil Rights department's advocacy and litigation work
• Conduct intakes and investigate legal claims through effective communication with an incredibly diverse community
• Perform in-depth legal research and analysis on a variety of legal claims
• Legal writing including, but not limited to, drafting complaints, letters, briefs and memos; and non-legal writing including drafting community advisories, issue briefings, and reports
• Participate in discovery, brief writing, and trial practice
• Draft and edit public education and non-litigation advocacy materials
• Communicate with outside parties such as attorneys, employers, law enforcement agents, administrative agencies, etc.
• Work to educate and empower diverse community members on their rights through community presentations and material distributions
• Participate in public speaking and outreach activities through community events and coalition meetings
• Other duties as needed and assigned

Required Qualifications

• Law degree from an American Bar Association accredited law school
• Candidates who have not yet been admitted to practice law will be expected to have been admitted by the Fall of 2026
• Demonstrated commitment to upholding civil liberties and civil rights
• Excellent research, writing, analytical, and speaking skills
• Strong time management skills with a demonstrated ability for meeting deadlines
• Demonstrated problem-solving skills with outstanding attention to detail
• Comfort working productively in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, including public speaking experience
• Experience working with people from diverse cultural and socio-economic backgrounds
• Access to a working vehicle and the ability to drive throughout the greater Los Angeles area
• High degree of self-motivation and creativity
• A strong commitment to civil rights, immigrants' rights, and CAIR's mission
• Conversational proficiency in Arabic, Urdu, Farsi, Spanish, or Somali preferred but not required

To apply, please submit the following: (1) a letter of interest in the position and your earliest date of availability to start, (2) your resume, (3) a brief legal writing sample, and (4) your law school transcript. Please attach all documents to your submission.

CAIR-CA is an equal opportunity employer and adheres to all federal, state, and local laws prohibiting employment discrimination.