About the Role
The Senior Counsel 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 Senior Counsel will report to the Director of the Midwest Voting Rights Program.
Working in collaboration with the Director of the Midwest Voting Rights Program and the Legal Director, you will help shape strategy and build on our track record of impact—including successful resolution of Illinois's flawed automatic voter registration implementation, federal court challenges to Indiana's restrictive voting laws, expansion of access to voting for incarcerated individuals, and leadership of legislative efforts to expand voting rights in Illinois.
Candidates should have a strong commitment to community lawyering and be able to share examples of relationship building and collaboration with community-based partners. The attorney 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 projects.
The attorney will be expected to work as needed with colleagues to advance our work in other core practice areas, including fair housing, equitable community development, education equity, and economic justice.
Duties Include:
Strategic Litigation
Lead and conduct impact litigation challenging systemic barriers to voting and representation in Illinois and Indiana
Research and develop legal theories for challenges to discriminatory laws, policies, and procedures
Support pro bono relationships with major 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
Draft and analyze legislation
Partner with colleagues, community organizations and coalitions on legislative, policy and administrative advocacy
Produce publications, know-your-rights materials, fact sheets, and policy briefs
Conduct presentations to stakeholders including legislators, advocates, and media
Community Engagement & Election Protection
Cultivate and maintain partnerships with organizations and coalitions from communities impacted by systemic racism
Provide brief advice and legal opinions to community partners in Illinois and Indiana.
Plan and participate in community education and outreach in support of advocacy goals
Lead Election Protection initiatives including volunteer attorney recruitment, training, and deployment, as well as advocacy to election authorities
Coordinate jail voting initiatives and partnerships with incarcerated and returning community members