Civil Rights Jobs - What Are They and How to Get One

By ZipRecruiter Marketplace Research Team

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.

The qualifications you need to become a civil rights attorney include a law degree and a license to practice as an attorney. Identifying firms that specialize in civil rights law and completing a summer internship while still in school is an excellent way to gain experience and increase your future employment opportunities. There are civil rights laws on the federal and state level, so many large law firms hire attorneys with this specialization. If you want to protect underserved populations or work with human rights advocacy groups, you can find employment with non-profit organizations or firms that focus on public interest.