Chicago Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights seeks an experienced attorney to serve in the role of Fair Housing Program Counsel. The position is an exciting opportunity for a community driven attorney to address systemic racism and advance opportunity through litigation, policy advocacy and other creative strategies. Community partnerships are critical to our work and our efforts are driven by their experiences and priorities.

Chicago Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights, a not-for-profit organization with a long and successful history of civil rights enforcement and advocacy, seeks applicants for a Fair Housing Program Counsel. This attorney will work with colleagues, clients and community partners to address housing discrimination and advance fair housing in Chicago as a member of our Equitable Community Development and Housing (ECDH) team.

Founded in 1969, 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. Our advocacy is done through in-house staff and long-standing partnerships with over 40 member law firms.

Our ECDH team provides legal and policy support to community-based organizations and coalitions in communities of color advocating for healthy, thriving communities, and fighting gentrification and displacement. We represent individuals and organizations in actions to enforce the anti-discrimination provisions of the Fair Housing Act and local fair housing laws and we use impact litigation, policy advocacy and community education to affirmatively further fair housing and combat racial segregation. The Program Counsel will work with a collaborative team, including an Outreach, Intake and Testing Coordinator, to identify and address housing discrimination based on race, ethnicity, and other protected classes.

Key responsibilities include:

• Provide representation to individuals facing racial discrimination, and other related forms of discrimination in Chicago’s housing market.

• Develop and advance impact litigation and litigation to address systemic sources of housing discrimination and affirmatively further fair housing.

• Work with outreach and testing coordinator to design and conduct investigations of housing discrimination, as well as conduct know your rights trainings and intake clinics.

• Partner with colleagues, community organizations and coalitions on policy and administrative advocacy seeking to advance fair and affordable housing opportunities

Qualifications:

• Law degree and litigation experience (4 to 8 years preferred);

• A demonstrated commitment to racial justice;

• Experience with fair housing laws strongly preferred;

• Experience working with community organizations and coalitions;

• Cross cultural competencies and self-awareness around issues of power, privilege, and difference;

• Excellent writing and communications skills;

• Skills in Spanish, or another language other than English, valued.

Salary and Benefits:

Salary range is $65,000 -$80,000 per year depending on experience.

Generous benefits include PTO and paid leave; health, dental, and vision plans; employerprovided life and disability insurance; and a retirement savings plan.

To Apply:

Please e-mail a cover letter, resume, writing sample, and 3 references to: Elesha Jackson, Director of Administration, [email protected]. Please, no telephone inquiries. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. To receive full and timely consideration, candidates are strongly encouraged to submit their applications by May 13, 2022.

Chicago Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We prioritize equity and inclusion in our organizational culture and hiring, and we value candidates with lived experience in the communities we serve. We welcome all applicants regardless of race, color, ancestry, national origin, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability, service in the military, or other identity factor.