Staff Attorney/Civil Rights Attorney

Work Location: Philadelphia, PA (Hybrid)
Term: Full-time; occasional evenings and weekends required
Position Status: Exempt
Reports to: Legal Director
Salary Range: $68,000 – $73,000, commensurate with skills and experience
Benefits: Competitive benefits package including employer-supported health coverage, paid vacation and sick leave, and paid holidays.

About Us

Join the largest American Muslim civil rights organization at the frontlines of protecting the rights to free speech, to freely practice one's faith, to pursue employment opportunities without discrimination, and to live as an active and engaged American without reprisal.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations – Philadelphia (CAIR-Philadelphia) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) civil rights and advocacy organization serving Muslims across Central and Eastern Pennsylvania and Delaware, including the Greater Philadelphia region. Our mission is to protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and promote justice and mutual understanding.

Our team is driven by a deep commitment to defending civil rights, supporting community empowerment, and building coalitions across faith and civic communities. We believe our staff are our greatest asset, and we strive to create a workplace rooted in collaboration, integrity, and service.

About the Role

CAIR-Philadelphia seeks a Staff Attorney / Civil Rights Attorney with civil litigation experience to develop and litigate cases addressing systemic civil rights violations affecting American Muslims and other communities.

This role will help lead impact litigation and civil rights advocacy in Pennsylvania. The attorney will work closely with the Legal Director to identify strategic cases and advance CAIR’s broader civil rights objectives.

Litigation areas may include:

• First Amendment and free speech violations
• Employment discrimination and religious accommodation
• Constitutional and civil rights violations
• Educational discrimination and school bullying
• Immigration-related civil liberties issues
• Law enforcement and national security practices
• Hate crimes and bias incidents
• Prisoners’ religious rights
• Workplace discrimination and retaliation
• The position will also support advocacy campaigns, public education initiatives, and community outreach efforts that advance CAIR-Philadelphia’s civil rights mission.

Primary Roles and Responsibilities

• Identify, develop, and lead litigation addressing systemic civil rights violations impacting American Muslims and other marginalized communities.
• Review and investigate legal intakes from community members to identify matters suitable for impact litigation or strategic advocacy.
• Conduct legal research and factual investigation to develop viable claims, legal theories, and litigation strategies.
• Lead litigation matters through all phases, including client and witness interviews, pleadings, discovery, motions practice, settlement negotiations, and trial where appropriate.
• Draft legal documents including memoranda, demand letters, pleadings, affidavits, motions, briefs, and discovery materials.
• Conduct legal research and analysis to support emerging civil rights claims and litigation opportunities.
• Assist in supervising and mentoring fellows, paralegals, interns, and volunteers supporting CAIR-Philadelphia’s legal work.
• Coordinate with CAIR-Philadelphia departments including Communications, Policy & Advocacy, and Development to maximize the impact of litigation and legal advocacy.
• Communicate with co-counsel, administrative agencies, employers, law enforcement, and media when appropriate.
• Participate in press conferences and media engagement related to legal filings and civil rights developments.
• Represent CAIR-Philadelphia at community events, coalition meetings, and outreach programs.
• Conduct public education efforts, including community presentations and “Know Your Rights” trainings.
• Assist with additional legal, advocacy, or organizational initiatives as assigned.
• Support organizational operations when needed, including outreach events, fundraising efforts, and other shared responsibilities.

Qualifications

Required:

• Juris Doctor (JD) from an ABA-accredited law school
• Admission to the Pennsylvania State Bar (or eligibility to obtain admission promptly).
• Admission to Delaware State Bar is a plus but not required.
• 2+ years of civil litigation experience in state or federal court
• Ability to independently develop and litigate cases
• Strong commitment to CAIR’s mission and American Muslim empowerment
• Demonstrated dedication to social justice, civil liberties, and civil rights advocacy
• Excellent legal research, writing, and analytical skills
• Strong oral communication skills and public speaking ability
• Exceptional organizational and time-management skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously
• Strong attention to detail and demonstrated problem-solving skills
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, collaborative environment
• Experience working with diverse communities and cultural backgrounds
• Ability to travel within the Greater Philadelphia region and occasionally beyond
• High degree of initiative, professionalism, and self-discipline
• Basic proficiency in Office 365 and legal research platforms such as Lexis or Westlaw

Preferred:

• Experience in civil rights litigation, constitutional law, employment discrimination, religious accommodation, student rights, or related fields
• Experience with cloud platforms such as SharePoint and digital collaboration tools
• Conversational proficiency in Arabic, Urdu, Bengali, or another community language is a plus but not required

To Apply

Please submit:

• A cover letter describing your interest in the position and commitment to civil rights work
• Your resume
• The names and contact information of at least two professional references

As a single PDF document to [email protected] with a subject line following this format [YOUR LAST NAME, CRA26]

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Equal Employment Opportunity: CAIR-Philadelphia is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, disability, age, or any other protected status under applicable law.

Pay: $68,000.00 - $73,000.00 per year

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Philadelphia, PA 19102