Position: Staff Attorney
Areas of Practice: Policing, Prisoners’ Rights, Immigration, Employment Issues, Other Civil Rights
Location: Atlanta, Georgia; In-office
Reports to: Legal Director
Application deadline: Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled. CAIR-Georgia is an equal opportunity employer.
Start Date: January 3, 2023
About CAIR Georgia:
CAIR-Georgia is the Georgia chapter of the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest civil liberties and advocacy group serving the Muslim community. Our mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, protect civil liberties, and empower Muslims in America to advocate for themselves. From restrictions placed on Muslims to practice their religion, to profiling and discrimination stemming from a lack of understanding of Islam, the need for CAIR in Georgia is great. The proof is reflected in the dramatic increase in civil rights cases by 250% from 2007 to 2013. CAIR-Georgia strives to ensure that Muslims in Georgia enjoy the same protections that all Americans have.
The Opportunity:
The Georgia chapter of the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR-Georgia) seeks a full-time Staff Attorney with a demonstrated commitment and interest to public interest advocacy and serving diverse communities to join our Legal Department. The attorney will work primarily on our policing, prisoners’ rights and immigration dockets, using a combination of direct services, litigation, community education, and advocacy to address issues facing the Muslim community in Georgia. They will report to the Legal Director. Because we are a small team, the Staff Attorney will also be expected to work on other docket areas, such as employment discrimination, and religious accommodations generally.
Responsibilities:
- Conduct intakes and investigate legal claims through effective communication with a diverse community
- Manage your own caseload
- Perform in-depth legal research
- Legal writing including but not limited to, drafting complaints, letters, and memos; and non-legal writing including drafting community advisories, issue briefings, and reports
- Communicate with outside parties such as attorneys, employers, law enforcement agents, administrative agencies, etc.
- Work to educate and empower diverse community members on their rights through community presentations and material distributions
- Travel for outreach including participating in community events and coalition meetings
- Other duties as assigned
All CAIR-Georgia staff are required to assist in general duties such as answering phones, weekly outreach, fundraising, and other office tasks.
Qualifications:
- B.A./B.S. and J.D. degrees with membership in good standing with the Georgia State Bar. We will consider candidates whose State Bar results are currently pending or who plan to take the February or July 2022 bar exam.
- Highly motivated and self-starting
- Excellent research, analytical, written, and oral communication skills
- Demonstrated leadership and ability to work independently and in collaboration with other attorneys, community advocates, and community-based organizations
- Demonstrated commitment to advancing the rights of low-income, Black, Muslim, people of color, and/or immigrant communities
- Experience in organizing and/or working in coalition spaces to advance the rights of low-income, Black, Muslim, people of color, and/or immigrant communities
- Experience and/or knowledge of state legislative processes and structure desirable
- Preferred bilingual skills in Arabic, Farsi, Bangla, Urdu, or other relevant languages
Compensation and Benefits:
- Compensation $55,000 – $65,000, commensurate with skills and experience
- Generous vacation, holiday, and sick leave policies
- Reimbursement for health care coverage
- BAR dues, CLE funding support, and malpractice insurance
Application Process:
Interested candidates should apply via email to [email protected], and include the following as PDF attachments:
- Cover letter addressing your interest in the position, relevant experience, and particular interest and/or experience in policing, prisoners’ rights, and immigration law
- Resume summarizing your education, qualifications, and experience, including any relevant community-grounded advocacy or experience
- Legal writing sample (no more than 10 pages)
- Three professional references and their contact information (email and phone)
Please indicate “2022 Staff Attorney” in the subject line.