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Human Rights Lawyer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

CAIR San Diego

Civil Rights Attorney

San Diego, CA · On-site

$80K - $95K/yr

CAIR-CA is seeking a dedicated attorney to advance and defend the civil and human rights of the American Muslim community at a time when those rights are increasingly under threat. This role offers a ...

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How much do human rights lawyer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 24, 2026, the average yearly pay for human rights lawyer in the United States is $100,626.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $79,000.00 and $103,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a human rights lawyer do?

A Human Rights Lawyer is a legal professional who specializes in cases involving the protection and promotion of fundamental rights and freedoms. They represent individuals or groups whose rights have been violated and may work on issues such as discrimination, freedom of speech, or asylum cases. Human Rights Lawyers can work for non-governmental organizations, government agencies, or in private practice, and they often engage in litigation, advocacy, and policy development to uphold human rights standards.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a human rights lawyer?

To thrive as a Human Rights Lawyer, you need a law degree, bar admission, and a deep understanding of international human rights law and legal research. Familiarity with legal research databases, case management software, and international legal frameworks is typically required. Excellent advocacy, cross-cultural communication, and resilience are vital soft skills for working with diverse clients and sensitive cases. These skills and qualities are crucial for effectively protecting individuals' rights and achieving justice in complex legal environments.

What are some common challenges faced by human rights lawyers in their daily work?

Human rights lawyers often deal with complex cases that can be emotionally and mentally demanding, especially when representing vulnerable populations or confronting systemic injustices. They may encounter resistance from authorities, limited access to resources, and lengthy legal processes that require persistence and resilience. Additionally, balancing advocacy with legal strategy while maintaining client confidentiality and security is a frequent challenge. Collaboration with NGOs, international organizations, and multidisciplinary teams is essential to build strong cases and drive meaningful change.

What is the difference between Human Rights Lawyer vs Civil Rights Attorney?

AspectHuman Rights LawyerCivil Rights Attorney
CredentialsLaw degree, bar admission, specialization in international or human rights lawLaw degree, bar admission, focus on domestic civil rights law
Work EnvironmentNonprofit organizations, international courts, government agenciesLaw firms, government agencies, advocacy groups
Industry UsageInternational human rights organizations, NGOs, UN bodiesLegal practice focusing on discrimination, voting rights, and equality issues

Human Rights Lawyers primarily focus on international and global issues, often working with NGOs or international bodies. Civil Rights Attorneys concentrate on domestic issues like discrimination and voting rights. Both roles require legal credentials but differ in scope and work environment.

What can you do with a human rights lawyer degree?

A human rights lawyer degree prepares individuals to work on cases involving civil liberties, social justice, and international law. Graduates can work for non-governmental organizations, government agencies, or as legal advocates, often requiring strong research, negotiation, and litigation skills. The role typically involves analyzing legal issues, drafting documents, and representing clients or causes in court or policy settings.

What does a human rights lawyer make?

A human rights lawyer's salary varies based on experience, location, and employer, but typically ranges from $50,000 to $120,000 annually. Entry-level positions tend to pay less, while experienced lawyers working for large organizations or in high-cost areas can earn higher salaries. Many also pursue specialized training or certifications to enhance their earning potential.
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Human Rights Lawyer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Human Rights Lawyer job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 80% Full Time, 16% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 91% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $100,626 per year, or $48.4 per hour.

Human Rights Associate Attorney

DiCello Levitt LLP

Washington, DC • Hybrid

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 29 days ago

Job description

NOTE TO EMPLOYMENT AGENCIES: Please do not submit resumes through this link or via direct messaging. Thank you.
Human Rights Associate Attorney
DiCello Levitt LLP
Washington, DC
Join a firm that is shaping front-page headlines pursuing justice every day, whether litigating some of the most significant civil and human rights cases of our time or ensuring that companies take responsibility for their actions and remediate the harm they have caused.
DiCello Levitt, a nationally prominent, Chambers and Benchmark-rated law firm with offices nationwide, is seeking interested individuals for the Civil Rights practice group in the Firm’s Washington, DC office.
Please note that this is a hybrid role, 4 days onsite at our Washington, DC office, 1 day WFH. Remote or relocation is not available for this role. Please live within a reasonable commute of our office.

Firm Description:
DiCello Levitt is a leading national plaintiffs’ law firm representing clients in class action, business-to-business, public client, whistleblower, personal injury, civil rights, and mass tort litigation. The firm has delivered $20B+ in awards and settlements to our clients and has been recognized for our excellence in litigation by Chambers USA, Law360, Benchmark Litigation, Lawdragon, and The National Law Journal.

Position Summary:
The Human Rights Associate Attorney will be responsible for investigating and prosecuting complex civil litigation for victims of genocide, war crimes, terrorism, sexual violence, and other human rights abuses in federal, state, and international courts. This position will build cases through international investigations; brief and argue questions of constitutional and national security law, state and foreign tort law, and public international law; substantially lead discovery; and participate in trials and appeals.
Major Duties amp; Responsibilities:
  • Interview victims and conduct open-source investigations on perpetrators and corporate enablers of human rights violations, both domestic and foreign.
  • Analyze and evaluate historical materials, human rights reports, sanctions and export-control regulations, as well as military procurement and command structures to ascertain liability.
  • Consult and develop experts on country conditions, sanctions and anti-money-laundering compliance, U.S. foreign policy, military systems and technology, international finance, and foreign law.
  • Prepare and file complaints, motions, appeals, and correspondence to courts.
  • Present oral argument.
  • Propound and respond to written discovery and conduct meet-and-confers with opposing counsel.
  • Take expert and fact depositions and present witnesses to a jury.
  • Participate in settlement negotiations.
  • Draft commentaries and amicus briefs on issues of human rights and transnational litigation.
  • Follow strict standards of legal ethics when dealing with clients.
  • Work closely with a team of lawyers and collaborate with paralegals and legal assistants.
Knowledge, Skills amp; Abilities:
  • Demonstrated ability to write and argue complex legal issues through trial and appellate briefs, oral argument, clerkships, or scholarly publications.
  • Understanding of the investigation and prosecution of transnational human rights abuses, money-laundering, sanctions evasion, and/or terrorism financing.
  • Advanced research skills, with the ability to analyze and synthesize complex legal, historical, and international relations issues.
  • Foreign language proficiency a plus.
  • Commitment to our ethos of advancing human and civil rights through rigorous lawyering.
Education amp; Experience:
  • Four plus years of litigation experience.
  • Substantive training and experience in transnational civil litigation, complex civil procedure, international human rights law, international criminal law, and/or national security law (particularly sanctions and export controls).
  • J.D. from an accredited law school.
  • Bar admission in a U.S. jurisdiction; willingness to be admitted in D.C. if not already
What DiCello Levitt Offers:
  • Salary Range: Varies
  • Starting salary is dependent on experience and location
Benefits:
  • Comprehensive benefits package, effective the first day of the month following your start date: medical, dental, vision
  • Health Savings Account (HSA)
  • Life Insurance
  • Additional Insurance Plans: Life and AD amp;D and Short-Term Disability plans
  • 401(k) retirement savings plan with 3% employer contribution
Time Off:
  • Personal Time Off (PTO)
  • Sick Leave Time (SLT)
  • 10 Paid Holidays Annually
DiCello Levitt LLP is committed to ensuring equal employment opportunity and non-discrimination. The Firm prohibits unlawful discrimination in any term or condition of employment against any employee or applicant for employment because of the individual's race, color, creed, religion, sex, age, marital status, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, disability, membership or service in the armed forces, or any other characteristic protected by law.
DiCello Levitt LLP does not accept unsolicited resumes from search firms or agencies. Any resume submitted to any employee of DiCello Levitt LLP without a prior written search agreement will be considered unsolicited and the property of DiCello Levitt LLP. Please, no phone calls or emails.
DiCello Levitt LLP provides reasonable accommodation for qualified individuals with disabilities during the interviewing process and on the job. Please include any reasonable accommodation needs in your application.
For more information, visit our website: www.dicellolevitt.com.

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