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How much do human rights advocacy jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 1, 2026, the average hourly pay for human rights advocacy in Raleigh, NC is $25.24, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $19.86 and $27.79 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is human rights advocacy?

A Human Rights Advocacy job involves promoting, protecting, and defending human rights through research, policy development, public awareness, and direct support for affected individuals or communities. Advocates work for NGOs, government agencies, or international organizations to address issues like discrimination, inequality, and human rights violations. Responsibilities may include lobbying for policy changes, conducting investigations, writing reports, and providing legal or humanitarian aid. The role requires strong communication, analytical, and problem-solving skills to influence decision-makers and drive social change.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in human rights advocacy?

To thrive in Human Rights Advocacy, a strong background in law, social sciences, or international relations, along with experience in research and policy analysis, is essential. Familiarity with case management systems, legal research tools, and certifications such as CIPP (Certified Information Privacy Professional) or relevant human rights courses can be beneficial. Exceptional interpersonal, cross-cultural communication, and negotiation skills help advocates build trust and mobilize support across diverse groups. These abilities are crucial for effectively promoting human rights, influencing policy, and supporting vulnerable populations in complex environments.

What are some typical challenges faced in human rights advocacy?

Professionals in Human Rights Advocacy often face challenges such as navigating complex legal frameworks, managing sensitive information, and confronting emotionally charged cases involving vulnerable populations. They may encounter resistance from institutions or communities, which requires resilience and strategic communication. Balancing advocacy, research, and public outreach is a regular part of the job, and collaborating with legal teams, NGOs, and government agencies is common to create impactful change. While challenging, the role offers significant personal and professional growth for individuals passionate about justice and human rights.

How do you become a human rights advocate?

To become a human rights advocate, individuals typically pursue a relevant degree such as political science, law, or international relations, and gain experience through internships or volunteer work with organizations focused on human rights. Developing skills in research, communication, and advocacy, along with understanding international laws and policies, is essential. Building a network within the field and staying informed about current issues also support a career in human rights advocacy.

What do human rights advocates do?

Human rights advocates work to promote and protect fundamental rights and freedoms for all individuals. They research issues, raise awareness, lobby policymakers, and may provide legal or humanitarian support to address violations and promote social justice.

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Human Rights Advocacy jobs near you
Infographic showing various Human Rights Advocacy job openings in Raleigh, NC as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 80% Full Time, and 20% Part Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $52,497 per year, or $25.2 per hour.

ACLU-NC Immigrants' Rights Staff Attorney

Durham, NC • On-site

American Civil Liberties Union of North Carolina
See more jobs at American Civil Liberties Union of North Carolinaexternal

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This job post has expired today. Applications are no longer accepted.

Job description

About the ACLU of North Carolina
The ACLU of North Carolina (ACLU-NC) is an affiliate of the National ACLU. For 60 years, the ACLU-NC has worked in courts, legislatures, and communities to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution and laws of the United States. Whether it's achieving full equality for LGBTQ+ people, working to transform our broken and racist criminal legal system, defending freedom of speech, religion, and the right to protest, or preserving the right to vote or the right to have an abortion, the ACLU takes up the toughest civil liberties cases and issues to defend all people from government abuse and overreach.
Two critical components of our work are uplifting the voices and leadership of impacted people and applying an anti-racist lens to all aspects of our internal and external functions including but not limited to our issue campaigns, recruitment and human resources, strategic planning, donor and volunteer relations, Board and committee processes, and deciding what cases to litigate. We are looking for candidates who share our commitment to our values.
The ACLU-NC brings together litigation, legislative advocacy, communications, and organizing strategies to empower communities and achieve our objectives in major issue areas including criminal law reform, voting rights, LGBTQ+ equality, reproductive freedom, and the rights of immigrants. With more than 40,000 members and supporters across the state, the ACLU-NC has a staff of more than 25 people with an office in Durham.
The Opportunity
The ACLU-NC Legal Foundation (ACLU-NCLF) seeks to hire a full-time, term-limited Staff Attorney to join our passionate and dedicated team. The Staff Attorney position will be limited to three (3) years and will focus on the civil rights of detained immigrants, particularly individuals who will be detained by ICE in a soon-to-be-opened facility in Winton, NC. The Staff Attorney will spend significant time in Winton, leading efforts to monitor conditions and establish a legal outreach program at the detention facility. The Staff Attorney will also lead efforts to identify and advocate for individuals who are being unlawfully detained by local law enforcement officials for immigration-related reasons. In collaboration with ACLU-NC colleagues, the Staff Attorney will work to develop and conduct federal and state court litigation, as well as other legal advocacy to defend and enforce the constitutional rights of detained immigrants. Such work may include litigating habeas petitions and civil rights claims arising from over-detention or illegal detention conditions.
The Staff Attorney will work under the legal director's supervision and in close collaboration with other attorneys, paralegals, law student interns, and co-counsel, as well as staff from the policy and advocacy, organizing, and communications departments. Staff Attorneys work in a fast-paced environment to address emerging and ongoing civil rights issues through fact-intensive investigation, legal advocacy including complex litigation, and community education. The ideal Staff Attorney will be able to work independently to respond quickly and urgently when necessary to investigate and advocate for detained immigrants, including engaging in extensive solo travel throughout the state and working beyond standard office hours when necessary to address time-sensitive matters. The Staff Attorney will be able to move fluidly from the courtroom to the community and will be able to work with diverse allies and coalitions to achieve our ambitious goals.
Key Responsibilities
You'll help us protect and advance the rights of all North Carolinians by:
  • Developing, leading, and independently executing a workplan focused on ensuring that detained individuals have access to legal information and advocacy, that detainees are not subject to unlawfully prolonged detention, and that detention conditions comply with federal and state law.
  • Investigating, developing, and litigating high-impact civil rights cases in federal and state court to protect and expand the civil rights of detained immigrant North Carolinians. This includes conducting effective community outreach to impacted people; investigating possible civil rights violations; drafting and filing correspondence, pleadings, motions, and briefs; conducting written and oral discovery; negotiating and enforcing settlements; and presenting oral argument and evidence in hearings and trials.
  • Developing and implementing non-litigation advocacy campaigns in partnership with colleagues and coalition partners who are not lawyers.
  • Organizing and leading community education events and trainings to advance our strategic priorities.
  • Providing expert legal analysis of legislation, regulations, and legal research and strategy assistance in support of campaigns.
  • Working with non-lawyer staff and coalition partners to implement multi-faceted advocacy campaigns.
  • Representing the ACLU of North Carolina in coalition spaces.
  • Preparing summaries and reports of legal issues and cases for the public, as well as ACLU membership, staff, and leadership.
  • Serving as a spokesperson for the ACLU of North Carolina at public forums, meetings, and in the media.
  • Providing administrative support in recruiting and managing interns and legal fellows as needed. Occasional other administrative support is required of all team members on an as-needed basis.
  • Engaging in frequent travel within the state and working outside of standard office hours as needed to respond to time-sensitive matters. ( Note that compensatory time off is available for excessively demanding work schedules .)
To Be Successful in this Role, the Candidate Will Have
The ideal candidate will be ready to hit the ground running to expand the organization's work as a leading advocate for the civil rights of North Carolinians.
Other requirements include:
  • J.D. degree required.
  • Membership in good standing with the North Carolina Bar or admission to the North Carolina Bar within one year of hire is required. ( Reimbursement for some bar expenses may be available ).
  • Valid drivers' license, safe driving record, consistent access to a reliable car, and familiarity with and confidence in driving long distances solo in rural areas. (A CLU-NC will reimburse mileage and pay for other costs reasonably associated with work-related travel ).
  • Substantial experience with immigration law, or in civil rights advocacy focused on immigrants' rights.
  • Demonstrated commitment to the civil liberties mission and social justice principles of the ACLU. "Demonstrated commitment" can include, but is not limited to, prior employment. It can also include significant experience in law school clinics or other volunteer efforts, such as unpaid activism or pro bono work.
  • Demonstrated ability to develop and execute -with minimal supervision- a goal-oriented workplan, including delegation to and collaboration with legal outreach workers and other support staff.
  • Ability to consistently draft written work products that meet deadlines, reflect thorough legal research, is self-edited, and contains concise, up-to-date analysis of the law.
  • Demonstrated ability to make successful arguments to courts based on established law, to develop creative legal theories and strategies, and to write clearly and persuasively.
  • Demonstrated ability to meet tight deadlines while managing a docket that includes multiple cases in various stages of active litigation.
  • Demonstrated ability to proactively seek and receive remote supervision, communicate as part of a team, ask for support, and delegate as needed to ensure all work is completed on time.
  • High levels of commonsense judgment, emotional intelligence, humility, personal accountability, and well-developed listening skills are required in this role to successfully navigate and build relationships with clients, co-counsel, coalition partners, and officials where necessary to vigorously advocate for detained immigrants.
  • Demonstrated personal commitment to social justice, equity, and inclusion is required, including a personal approach that values individual lived experience and respects differences of race, ethnicity, nationality, age, gender and gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, ability, and socio-economic circumstances.
  • Commitment to working collaboratively and respectfully toward resolving obstacles and conflicts.
  • Excellent computer skills, including knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite.
Strongly preferred:
  • Bilingual in English and Spanish (or another language widely spoken by immigrant North Carolinians).
  • Substantial federal court district litigation experience, especially in immigration habeas or other civil rights matters.
  • Demonstrated ability to participate in all stages of complex litigation, from initial investigation through trial and appeal, and readiness to take a leading role in cases. Successful applicants will be able to identify both well-established and novel legal theories and build cases to advance state and federal constitutional jurisprudence on behalf of marginalized communities.
  • Demonstrated ability to work with community contacts, including detention center and immigration officials, to ensure detainee access to counsel and to secure the release of detained immigrants.
  • Experience in developing and executing non-litigation strategies to promote objectives, including building coalitions with ally organizations . click apply for full job details

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