Description
The Opportunity
Chicago Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights seeks an experienced attorney to serve as Director of our Education Equity Program at a critical moment for civil rights. This is an opportunity to lead high-impact litigation and policy advocacy addressing racial and economic inequities in Illinois' public education system-work that will shape opportunity and outcomes for students across the state for years to come.
About the Role
The Director position is an exciting opportunity for an experienced attorney who can bring vision, talent, and enthusiasm to the role at a time when protection and advancement of civil rights is needed more than ever. The Director will report to the Legal Director and will directly supervise an attorney, with the opportunity to grow the team as the practice expands.
One of the primary areas of work for this role will be building systemic litigation and policy strategy to challenge exclusionary discipline in Illinois public schools, and to advance student-centered, trauma-informed, and culturally responsive alternatives to suspension and expulsion. The Director will also support PEER Illinois, a statewide coalition advocating for full and equitable funding of Illinois public schools through the Evidence-Based Funding formula.
Candidates should have a strong commitment to community-driven advocacy and be able to share examples of relationship building and collaboration with community-based partners. The Director must demonstrate a passion for racial equity and community empowerment and possess the skills needed to be a successful advocate, as well as an effective manager of people and projects.
The Director will be expected to work as needed with colleagues to advance our work in other core practice areas, including voting rights, equitable community development and housing, and economic justice.
Community-Driven Advocacy: A Core Principle at CLC
A commitment to community-driven advocacy is a core principle of every legal role at Chicago Lawyers' Committee, and it anchors this position in particular. Community-driven advocacy means using legal advocacy to help achieve solutions to community-identified issues in ways that develop local leadership and institutions that can continue to exert power to effect systemic change. In practice, this means:
Shared Power & Collaboration: working alongside communities to identify local priorities and develop sustainable, community-led solutions, rather than dictating legal strategy
Focus on Systemic Change: treating communities as partners in reform, using individual cases to advance broader shifts in systemic, structural inequities
Capacity Building: acting as educators, coalition builders, and advisors who equip communities with the legal knowledge to develop sustainable leadership and resolve future problems independently
Holistic Problem Solving: viewing legal issues through the broader lens of social, racial, and economic justice, using tools such as litigation, policy advocacy, public education, and strategic communications
Cross-Cultural Awareness and Competencies: understanding the specific history, demographics, and assets of the communities served, and remaining mindful of how race, gender, age, disability, and socioeconomic status
shape client relationships
Duties Include
Strategic Litigation
Build and lead systemic litigation and policy strategy to challenge exclusionary discipline policies and practices, including through enforcement of SBlO0 requirements.
Develop and lead high-impact litigation in state and federal courts challenging systemic barriers to educational
opportunity, including racially discriminatory discipline practices, inequitable school funding, and exclusionary
policies
Research and develop legal theories for challenges to discriminatory laws, policies, and procedures affecting historically marginalized groups, including students of color and low-income students
Support pro bono relationships with member law firms serving as co-counsel-leveraging a network of 600+
volunteer attorneys to take on cases a small team otherwise couldn't
Collaborate with colleagues to identify intersections and develop integrated advocacy approaches that advance racial equity and economic opportunity for the clients and communities we serve
Policy Advocacy
Advance administrative and legislative policy work in support of Senate Bill 100 (Public Act 99-0456) enforcement, including guidance, rulemaking, and accountability mechanisms for school districts
Draft and analyze legislation and administrative policy affecting educational opportunity
Partner with colleagues, community organizations, and coalitions on legislative, policy, and administrative advocacy
Produce publications, fact sheets, know-your-rights materials, and policy briefs
Conduct presentations to stakeholders including legislators, school boards, advocates, and media
Support PEER Illinois, a coalition advocating for full and equitable funding of Illinois public schools through the Evidence-Based Funding formula
Team & Practice Management
Set practice priorities and goals, and develop an annual program workplan and project plans
Be accountable for the implementation, execution, and outcomes of those plans
Supervise education equity team staff, including conducting annual performance reviews, providing ongoing support on cases and projects, and supporting professional development opportunities
Work with the Executive Director and Communications and Development teams to raise the overall profile of Chicago Lawyers' Committee with funders, law firms, community partners, and media
Community Engagement & Partnerships
Cultivate and maintain partnerships with community-based organizations and coalitions, including from communities most impacted by historic, systemic racism and economic injustice
Build strong relationships with Chicago Lawyers' Committee member law firms and pro bono counsel through support, training, and co-counseling opportunities on education matters
Plan and participate in community education and outreach in support of advocacy goals
Core Traits Expected of All CLC Staff
Entrepreneurial: comfortable building new capacity and taking initiative in a program that is actively expanding
Self-managing: able to prioritize and drive work forward with minimal oversight
Self-executing: takes an idea through to implementation without needing to be handed a fully formed plan
Exercising sound judgment and discretion: able to make sound decisions and keep moving in a fast-changing legal and political landscape
Deeply collaborative: works across teams, coalitions, and partner organizations in a consultative, follow-the-lead
manner
Innovative: brings fresh thinking to legal strategy and program growth rather than defaulting to the status quo
Community-centered: leads with the community-driven advocacy principles above-shared power and collaboration, focus on systemic change, capacity building, holistic problem solving, and cross-cultural awareness
and competency
Don't meet every single requirement? At Chicago Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights, we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace, so if you're excited about this role but your experience does not align perfectly with every qualification in this role description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.
Why Work with Us?
Work with lawyers who are determined, focused, and compassionate
Lead high-impact litigation and policy advocacy at a pivotal moment for civil rights and public education
Shape enforcement and policy that will protect students' access to educational opportunity for years to come
Salary and Benefits
Salary range is $115,000 - $140,000 per year depending on experience. Benefits include:
15 vacation days per year for years 1-2, increasing to 20 vacation days after two years of continuous service, plus 2 personal days
10 sick days per year
Health, dental, basic life, short-term disability, long-term disability, and Employee Assistance Program
Voluntary vision, life, critical illness, and accident insurance
403(b) retirement plan
Healthcare and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts
We offer a flexible hybrid work arrangement, with one day per week in the office on a designated anchor day and the option to work up to 4 days remotely.
About Us
Founded in 1969 as part of the Kennedy-era Lawyers' Committee movement, the Chicago Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights is Chicago's preeminent nonprofit civil rights legal organization. Our mission and strategic direction explicitly focus on racial equity, and we collaborate with grassroots organizations and other advocacy groups to implement community-based solutions that advance civil rights.
We provide legal representation through in-house staff and long-standing partnerships with over 30 member law firms. We mobilize 600+ volunteer attorneys, generating millions of dollars in donated legal services annually.
Our integrated legal team works across four core practice areas: Education Equity, Voting Rights, Equitable Community Development & Housing, and Economic Justice. Our Education Equity Program protects and promotes access to education by addressing the systemic barriers-including exclusionary discipline, inequitable funding, and unresponsive school governance-that disproportionately impact historically disadvantaged communities.
To Apply
Please e-mail a cover letter, resume, writing sample, and 3 references to: Elesha Jackson, Director of Administration, [email protected] with subject line specifying "Application for Director of Education Equity." Please, no telephone inquiries. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis starting immediately and will be accepted until the position is filled.
Chicago Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights values a diverse workforce and a culture of inclusivity and belonging. We are an equal opportunity employer, and encourage applications from all individuals without regard to an individual's race, color, sex, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, national origin or ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, family care status, marital status, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, genetic
information, military or veteran status, or any other basis protected by federal, state or local laws. Those from groups historically underrepresented in the legal community are stron
Requirements
About You
Qualifications
Must be based in the Chicagoland area and available for regular in-person work at Chicago Lawyers' Committee's downtown office as established by organizational policy
J.D. and active, good-standing admission to the Illinois Bar
At least 8 years of combined experience as a litigator and/or policy advocate, preferably in civil rights, with deep knowledge of and experience in education equity advocacy
Experience as a supervisor or in a senior attorney role
Demonstrated impact litigation experience, including federal court practice
Experience working with community organizations and coalitions
Deep commitment to racial justice and community-driven advocacy
Excellent legal research, writing, and oral advocacy skills
High degree of flexibility, ability to multi-task, and significant initiative
Strong analytical skills, attention to detail and accuracy
Excellent people skills, especially the ability to build a motivated and productive team and communicate effectively with a diversity of groups and individuals
Cross-cultural competencies and self-awareness around issues of power, privilege, and difference
Community-Driven Advocacy Skill Set
Language skills relevant to the communities served, where applicable
Ability to adapt approach to the specific interests of a given client or community
