Department: Law Legal Clinic
Salary/Grade: EXS/9
Target hiring range for this position will be between $94,129 - $98,102 per month.
Offered salary will be determined by the applicant's education, experience, knowledge, skills and abilities, as well as internal equity and alignment with market data.
Job Summary
In the Community Justice and Movement Lawyering (CJML) Clinic, students work within social and racial justice movements on cutting edge policy projects and litigation aimed at redressing over-policing and mass imprisonment.
Students in the clinic work directly with collectives and community organizers who are committed to creating a more just Chicago.
They also work on precedent-setting, client-driven litigation.
Students will gain experience with client counseling, federal district court litigation, policy development and advocacy, and the various strategies for social change.
Representative matters include litigation expanding First Amendment protections to youth peacekeepers, civil rights litigation filed on behalf of protesters who experienced police brutality, enforcement of a federal court order aimed at transforming the Chicago Police Department, litigation filed on behalf of a Black transgender woman challenging abusive prison conditions, and policy projects aimed at developing community-led approaches to public safety and police accountability.
The Clinic is seeking a staff attorney with significant experience in both movement lawyering and civil rights litigation to help expand the Clinic's impact by leading litigation and policy projects aligned with the Clinic's mission.
DEI Statement
Northwestern Pritzker Law prides itself on its active and diverse community, which brings together a passionate and talented group of students, staff, and faculty.
The Law School endeavors to take principled action towards ensuring that we live up to our responsibility and our institutional values to create a diverse, equitable, and inclusive community for all constituents.
Law School leadership commits to working tirelessly to ensure every member feels valued, all students can study and train to be successful in their careers, all staff members can develop personally and professionally, and where our faculty can both teach and support our students and produce top-quality research and scholarship.
Specific Responsibilities:
Direct Client Representation:
Working on existing cases and projects
Conduct client intakes and bond screenings
Interview clients and develop case theory and fact investigation plans
Conduct fact investigations, including identifying and interviewing lay and expert witnesses and obtaining documents from government agencies through FOIA
Conduct legal research and keep abreast of changing civil rights laws and policies
Draft and file motions, briefs, memoranda of law, and other pleadings
Participate in court hearings and evidentiary proceedings
Manage client policy projects, including developing work plans, conducting policy research and working with policymakers
Manage case and project deadlines and maintain client contact information, case information, files, and correspondence
Outreach/Public Engagement:
Identify additional community/movement lawyering needs/opportunities aligned with the fellow's interest and expertise
Increase the clinic's litigation and policy capacity
Cultivate and manage relationships with national and local social and racial justice movement stakeholders
Attend meetings and serve as the Clinic's liaison with national and local legal service providers, community organizations, and advocacy groups
Conduct and organize trainings, presentations, and other events providing information to partners and promoting the work of the Clinic
Minimum Qualifications:
J.D.
3-5 years of litigation experience (and/or a federal clerkship)
Minimum Competencies:
A passion for racial justice and movement lawyering
Strong strategic thinking and organizational skills and the ability to multitask, and work with creativity, good humor, and rigor
Excellent verbal and written communication skills
Excellent project management skills - ability to identify priorities and manage multiple tasks and deadlines
Strong verbal and written communication skills in both legal and community contexts
Excellent legal and policy research skills
Preferred Qualifications:
Illinois law license
Experience representing people who have been directly impacted by the criminal legal system
Preferred Competencies:
Significant federal civil rights trial experience
Experience working in diverse, multi-faceted Chicago-based coalitions
Benefits:
At Northwestern, we are proud to provide meaningful, competitive, high-quality health care plans, retirement benefits, tuition discounts and more!
Visit us at here to learn more.
Work-Life and Wellness:
Northwestern offers comprehensive programs and services to help you and your family navigate life's challenges and opportunities and adopt and maintain healthy lifestyles.
Professional Growth & Development:
Northwestern supports employee career development in all circumstances whether your workspace is on campus or at home.
If you're interested in developing your professional potential or continuing your formal education, we offer a variety of tools and resources.
Visit us at here to learn more.
Northwestern strongly recommends COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters for people who can obtain them as a critical tool for minimizing severe illness.
More information can be found on the COVID-19 and Campus Updates webpage.
Northwestern University is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action Employer of all protected classes, including veterans and individuals with disabilities.
Women, racial and ethnic minorities, individuals with disabilities, and veterans are encouraged to apply.
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