Public rights project staff attorney civil rights

ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION:

Public Rights Project (PRP) is a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that helps local government officials fight for civil rights. We build their capacity to protect and advance civil rights, convene and connect them on key issues, and provide legal representation to help them win in court for residents. Since 2017, we've recovered over $46 million in relief for marginalized people; built a network of over 1,300 government offices, elected officials, and community-based organizations in 50 states; trained 130 prosecutors and government lawyers in 24 states; and secured court victories on abortion, immigrant, workers’, and voting rights.

JOB SUMMARY

Public Rights Project seeks to hire a Staff Attorney to join its Civil Rights Hub. The Staff Attorney will support Civil Rights Hub responsibilities, including performing legal research and writing, coordinating resources for local jurisdictions and leaders, and advising jurisdictional partners on a wide array of civil rights matters. The ideal candidate has strong legal writing skills, can prioritize effectively in a fast-paced environment, and demonstrates excellent judgment about what information needs immediate attention.

The Staff Attorney will work across multiple civil rights issue areas. The Staff Attorney will be expected to produce high-quality written work product, including amicus briefs, memoranda, and legal analysis, while managing competing priorities and deadlines. In addition, the position will require strategic thinking to best provide a spectrum of both legal and non-legal support for our partners and thinking through how best to equip local governments with the tools and resources they need to fight for their communities.

This position does not include formal supervisory responsibilities, though the Staff Attorney will work independently and collaboratively with other team members.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Advise, counsel, and support PRP government partners (cities, counties, elected officials) on civil rights matters;

• Conduct legal research and provide guidance and analysis across a range of civil rights issues and jurisdictions;

• Draft persuasive legal documents including amicus briefs, memoranda, legal analyses, and other written work product;

• Identify opportunities for CRH advocacy and strategize pathways to action;

• Participate in coalition work with diverse partners, including government officials, community-based organizations, and advocacy groups;

• Exercise judgment to filter and prioritize information for leadership, managing up effectively;

• Identify opportunities for CRH advocacy and assist with case selection and strategy;

• Support PRP’s communications about the CRH, including through public speaking, conversations with the press, and drafting press statements, “explainers,” and op-eds (as needed);

• Work well independently and collaboratively with case teams;

• Team player;

• Other duties as assigned.

EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE

• Licensed to practice law in a jurisdiction of the United States

• At least 4+ years of relevant experience as an attorney. Relevant experience may include: Litigation experience, including brief writing, work at nonprofit organizations, government agencies, or law firms focused on civil rights, civil litigation, or related areas

• Experience in reproductive rights, LGBTQI+ rights, disability rights, or similar civil rights areas is a plus

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Outstanding writing and editing skills, including drafting and editing complex briefs, memoranda, and legal analysis

• Strong legal research and analytical skills

• Ability to analyze and explain complex legal issues

• Outstanding judgment about both legal issues and strategy

• Ability to prioritize effectively in high-volume, fast-paced environments

• Ability to take ownership and accountability; learns from mistakes and moves forward

• Team player who can work with government partners, co-counsel, community-based organizations, and other advocates, as well as internal teams

• Display a positive and respectful attitude, work well with diverse people and communities, demonstrate presence, self-confidence, common sense, and good listening ability

• A belief in the power of state and local government to make positive change in the world

• A passionate commitment to civil rights, economic, racial, and gender justice

ORGANIZATIONAL RELATIONSHIP

This position reports to a Senior Attorney in the Civil Rights Hub. This position will also work closely with the rest of the CRH team and other program teams.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

Requires sitting, talking, and listening for up to 8 hours per day. Certain situations may require lifting items up to 20 pounds.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

Fully remote organization and team. This role may require travel a few times a year to PRP events, case hearings, or meetings. We currently have remote staff in Boston, Chicago, Kansas City (MO), Los Angeles, New York, Oakland, Seattle, and Washington, DC, as well as other cities. Work pace can be intense during periods of urgent response (e.g., weekend brief drafting), balanced with periods of lower intensity.

COMPENSATION

The determined salary range for this role is set at $82,735-$111,935 (for internal equity, PRP will not engage in salary negotiations; salaries are presently set based on years of experience).

HOW TO APPLY

Interested candidates are encouraged to promptly submit their applications through our online portal. All applicants will receive a response to their application. Please email [email protected] with questions or for support in submitting your application.

Candidates who advance should expect:

• Initial interviews with the recruitment team at Positively Partners in November 2025

• A virtual interview with members of the PRP team

• A multipart interview with work exercise with a range of PRP stakeholders in December 2025

The expected start date is in December 2025 or January 2026. Positively Partners is committed to conducting an equitable, accessible assessment process. If you would like to request an accommodation during the interview process, please email [email protected]. Accommodation requests will be handled confidentially.

PRP HIRING COMMITMENT

PRP is committed to the principles and practices of equal employment opportunity. A diverse and inclusive workplace, both at PRP and within the government offices we serve, is a key ingredient for achieving our mission of building equitable enforcement capacity within state and local government.

We aim to assemble a team that reflects the world we live in and the communities we serve with respect to race, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, and immigration status. People with personal or family experience with the type of harms we seek to combat, including attacks on reproductive rights, voter suppression, discrimination, and threats to civil liberties, are particularly encouraged to apply.

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