Human Rights Assistant Jobs in Washington, DC (NOW HIRING)

The NAACP Legal Defense & Educational Fund, Inc. (LDF) is the country’s first and foremost civil and human rights law organization. Founded in 1940 under the leadership of Thurgood Marshall, who subsequently became the first Black U.S. Supreme Court Justice, LDF was launched at a time when the nation’s aspirations for equality and due process of law were stifled by widespread state-sponsored racial inequality. From that era to the present, LDF’s mission has been transformative—to achieve racial justice, equality, and an inclusive society.

LDF’s litigation, public policy advocacy, and public education programs in the substantive areas of criminal justice, economic justice, education, and political participation seek to ensure the fundamental and basic human rights of all people to quality education, economic opportunity, the right to vote and fully participate in democracy, and the right to a fair and just judicial system. LDF continues to make an impact in the area of public service and was recognized by Fast Company as one of its 2023 Brands That Matter under its public service category.

The Litigation Department at LDF seeks an experienced attorney with at least seven years of experience to join LDF as Assistant or Senior Counsel. The Assistant or Senior Counsel will litigate and strategize on a range of civil rights matters across LDF’s litigation docket. The Litigation Department is particularly interested in Assistant or Senior Counsel who have significant experience leading litigation teams. The Assistant or Senior Counsel will report to either a Director of Litigation or a Deputy Director of Litigation.

LDF operates in a hybrid work environment where employees are expected to be in the office a minimum of two days per week, unless otherwise indicated.

Responsibilities:

• Litigating the full range of racial justice issues, including: educational opportunity, diversity, adequacy, access and retention; employment and housing discrimination; voting rights; and criminal justice;
• Leading and supervising teams to develop and litigate complex, civil rights impact cases in federal and state courts and after administrative bodies;
• Drafting petitions for certiorari, merits briefs and amicus briefs in the United States Supreme Court, other federal courts, and state courts that bear significantly on the civil rights of Black people;
• Investigating, developing, consulting, and advising on potential claims, preparing complaints, participating in motion practice, discovery, hearings and oral arguments, trials, and appeals;
• Collaborating with LDF’s policy team in developing and implementing strategies to advance LDF’s policy agenda related to the substantive subject matter areas;
• Supervising, managing, and assisting litigation teams that include LDF staff attorneys, organizers, cooperating counsel, fellows, legal interns, and others from within and outside of LDF;
• Directly supervising legal fellows, research associates, legal interns, and/or administrative assistants;
• Serving as a public thought leader on issues confronting Black communities;
• Representing LDF in the media, at conferences, and in other public venues;
• Developing and maintaining relationships with community partners, coalition members, and legal allies;
• Assisting in creating and implementing multi-pronged strategic plans using litigation, organizing, public education, legislation and policy advocacy;
• Preparing policy reports, memoranda, briefing papers, public education materials, and talking points for internal and external use;
• Assisting LDF colleagues in developing skills in impact litigation and the other interdisciplinary advocacy strategies necessary to effect change;
• Fostering relationships with other advocates, lawyers, and civil rights organizations;
• Travel as necessary, when conditions permit; and
• Other responsibilities as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Juris Doctor degree;
• Minimum of 7 years of litigation experience for Assistant Counsel (although we welcome applications from highly qualified candidates with fewer years of experience) and minimum of 10 years litigation experience for Senior Counsel;
• Admission to the New York, Washington, D.C. or Georgia Bar or eligibility to waive in, based on the office location;
• Commitment to the racial justice mission of LDF;
• Outstanding legal research, writing, and oral advocacy skills;
• Broad, relevant litigation experience at the trial and/or appellate levels; candidates with experience litigating criminal legal system cases (including death penalty challenges), economic justice cases (including under Title VII and the Fair Housing Act), and/or class actions are especially encouraged to apply;
• Federal and/or state advocacy experience related to reform for communities of color;
• Experience leading significant civil and/or criminal litigation;
• Effective public speaking experience;
• The ability to work both collaboratively and independently;
• Supervisory and case management experience with an interest in and commitment to the professional development, training and support of attorneys, legal interns and administrative staff;
• Capacity to analyze and articulate legal concepts and other complex issues to a variety of audiences; and
• A vision for attacking persistent barriers to full access and equality for people of color, and Black people in particular.

Applications must be received no later than July 31,2026, and will considered on a rolling basis.

The starting salary for attorneys with between seven and nine years of experience:

New York: $147,000 - $159,000

Washington D.C.: $141,000 - $152,000

Atlanta: $128,000 - $138,000

This is not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, skills, efforts, requirements, or working conditions associated with the job. While this is intended to be an accurate reflection of the current job, management reserves the right to revise the job or to require that other or different tasks be performed as assigned. This description does not constitute a contract of employment, and LDF may exercise its employment-at-will rights at any time.

LDF offers all eligible employees a generous benefits package. To learn more, click the following link: 2026 Benefits Overview.

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