Immigration Defense Senior Fellow

About Washington Lawyers'​ Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs

The Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs (WLC) works to create legal, economic, and social equity through litigation, client and public education, and public policy advocacy with a primary focus on racial justice. For the last 55 years, the Committee has been on the cutting edge of civil rights advocacy in the region bringing precedent setting litigation to address discrimination. Our work focuses on injustices in housing, employment, the criminal legal system, education, public accommodations, and the civil rights of immigrants. We partner with individuals and communities facing discrimination and with the legal community to achieve justice. The Committee’s staff is unionized with the National Organization of Legal Service Workers Local #2320, UAW. For more information on the Washington Lawyers’ Committee, please go to www.washlaw.org.

We seek an experienced litigator to join a small team working to protect immigrants in the DMV by pursuing challenges to unlawful immigration policies. This is a hybrid role with in-office requirements of three (3) days per week – every Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday in our downtown DC office.  The selected applicant must reside full-time in the DMV.

• Manage and conduct all aspects of litigation including investigation and case development, legal research and writing, discovery, motions practice, and evidentiary hearings/trial as part of a team comprised of WLC staff and private bar co-counsel.  The Senior Fellow will work closely with organizers in impacted communities and advocacy groups to identify the issues of most concern to the communities the WLC serves. 
• Engage in community outreach and public speaking, including representing WLC to the media and the public
• Work closely with non-legal program staff, including communications and fundraising professionals
• Develop strong co-counsel relationships with private pro bono attorneys and other nonprofit public interest attorneys.
• Travel, as required for litigation, conferences, and public speaking
• Work on special projects and other duties as assigned 

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• J.D. degree; bar admission in DC, MD, and/or VA or ability to waive in
• Five or more years of demonstrated commitment to public interest law, constitutional law, immigrants’ rights, and/or civil rights
• Knowledge of Administrative Procedure Act, constitutional law, and/or immigration law
• Ability to engage in complex legal analysis and fact investigation in impact litigation under tight deadlines, including in an emergency or preliminary injunction phase
• Superior analytic skills and excellent research skills
• Demonstrated ability to write and speak clearly, persuasively, and creatively
• Self-motivated, diligent, and able to meet deadlines
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate with a wide range of organizations with diverse agendas
• Ability to work independently, as well as with a wide range of people in a dynamic work environment

• Proficiency in Spanish and/or Mandarin

Compensation

Salary is determined pursuant to WLC’s pay scale, which is available on our website. The range for this position is $80,250 (assuming five years of experience) to $134,250 (the top of the scale).  Benefits will be commensurate with the benefits provided to permanent staff attorneys employed by WLC, including:

• Generous paid time-off
• Comprehensive healthcare benefits (medical, dental and vision coverage, parental leave)
• 401k plan
• Commuter benefits
• Telework option -- two days per week (Mondays, Fridays)

How to apply

A complete application will consist of: 

1.  Cover letter (no longer than two pages) explaining the ways in which you meet the selection criteria