Civil Rights Attorney

The Opportunity

Position Title: Civil Rights Attorney

Department:Civil Rights

Location: Santa Clara, CA

Reports To: Civil Rights Managing Attorney

Classification: Exempt

Status: Full-Time, occasional evenings and weekends required

Compensation: $92,888–$116,086/annually commensurate with skills and experience

Join the team behind the mission

Every day, people across California turn to the Council on American-Islamic Relations, California(CAIR-CA) when they face discrimination, threats to their civil rights, or challenges to their freedom to practice their faith. As the largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization in California, we protect constitutional rights, advance justice, and empowercommunities through legaladvocacy, public policy, civic engagement, and education.

Since 1994, that work has been made possible by a dedicated team committed to serving individuals, families, and communities across California. Behind every case, campaign, and initiative are people working together to create meaningful change.

Whether you serve clients directly or support our mission behind the scenes, your work helps build a more just, inclusive, and equitable California.

Why CAIR-CA

Meaningful Work: Your work directly contributes to protecting civil rights, advancing justice, and strengthening communities throughout California.

Collaborative Culture: Team members value respect, teamwork, innovation, and continuous learning.

Professional Growth: We support your development through mentorship and opportunities to expand your skills and impact.

Purpose-Driven Environment: Colleagues create meaningful change and serve communities with dedication and integrity.

Statewide Impact: No matter your role, your contributions advance CAIR-CA's mission and create lasting impact throughout California.

How You'll Make an Impact

As a Civil Rights Attorney, you will play a vital role in protecting the civil rights of American Muslims and other marginalized communities through direct legal services, litigation, and advocacy. You will work at the intersection of legal advocacy and social justice, using your legal skills to address systemic barriers, advance civil rights, and create meaningful change.

This role offers an opportunity to collaborate with coalition partners, engage in movement lawyering, contribute to litigation strategy, and develop creative legal and grassroots advocacy solutions to address issues affecting the American Muslim community. The ideal candidate is a motivated, organized, and detail-oriented attorney with strong time management skills and a commitment to public interest law.

In this role, you will do the following:

Legal Case Management and Litigation

• Review and investigate an array of legal claims brought by a diverse community
• Manage and work on assigned litigation efforts, including preparing pleadings, motions, discovery, and briefs
• Conduct intakes of legal claims as necessary through effective communication with members of the community
• Independently manage a considerable caseload (our attorneys currently manage approximately 150+ intakes per year)
• Depending on experience, identify, develop, lead and manage assigned litigation efforts
• Maintain legal calendaring system for statutes of limitations, deadlines, and timely filings of extensions, pleadings, petitions, and applications for cases assigned to or including staff attorney

Legal Research, Writing, and Client Representation

• Legal writing including, but not limited to, drafting complaints, discovery, briefs, letters, and memos; and non-legal writing including drafting community advisories, issuing briefings, and reports
• Perform in-depth legal research
• Communicate with outside parties such as attorneys, employers, law enforcement agents, administrative agencies, media contacts, etc
• Engage in effective and zealous client representation, communications, and management

Community Education and Outreach

• Educate and empower community members on their rights through community presentations, know your rights workshops, and drafting and distributing educational material
• Organize and participate in special civil rights events, forums, community outreach, and trainings
• Travel for outreach including participating in community events and coalition meetings

Partnerships and Organizational Reporting

• Support partnership and network building by attending partnership and network meetings, identifying and developing new partner and network relationships
• Prepare and assist in CAIR-San Francisco Bay Area reports

Supervision and Mentorship

• Assist in supervision of interns and law clerks, as assigned, including scheduling check-ins and reviewing and/or assigning work product

Working Conditions and Physical Effort

• Moderate physical activity. Requires handling of average-weight objects up to 25 pounds or standing and/or walking

Other duties as assigned, dependent on organizational needs and employee skills. All CAIR staff are required to assist in general duties such as answering phones, weekly outreach, and other office tasks. 

What You Bring

Required Qualifications

• A strong commitment to civil rights and CAIR's mission
• Law degree from an American Bar Association accredited law school
• California State Bar admission, in good standing
• Minimum 2+ years of experience practicing law, preferably in the areas of civil rights, religious discrimination, employment law, national security, constitutional law, public accommodation, or public interest
• Strong time management skills with a demonstrated ability for meeting deadlines
• Demonstrated problem-solving skills with outstanding attention to detail
• Comfort working productively in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment
• Excellent legal research, legal writing, and oral advocacy skills
• Access to a working vehicle and the ability to drive throughout the San Francisco Bay Area
• High degree of self-motivation and creativity
• A strong commitment to civil rights and CAIR's mission
• Cultural competence and sensitivity when working with people from diverse cultural, religious, and socio-economic backgrounds
• Basic computer proficiency including knowledge of Office 365, OneDrive, and WestLaw Next

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge of cloud applications such as SharePoint and social media applications
• Conversational proficiency in Arabic, Spanish, Farsi, or Urdu

What You'll Gain

At CAIR-CA, we believe our employees are essential to advancing our mission. We strive to provide a workplace where employees can grow professionally while doing meaningful work.

Depending on eligibility, our benefits include:

• Competitive Compensation
• Hybrid Work Schedules
• Generous Time Off: 12 Paid Holidays, 10 Sick Days, and 12 Vacation Days
• Comprehensive Benefits:
  • 100% employer-paid medical and dental insurance for employees and dependents
  • 401(k) retirement plan with employer match
• Perks:
  • Professional development opportunities
  • Paid parental leave
  • Employee Assistance Program
  • Sabbatical Leave

How to Apply

We encourage interested candidates to apply early. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

To apply, please submit:

• A cover letter explaining your interest in the position and why you are a strong fit for the role
• A current resume
• A brief writing sample
• The names and contact information for three professional references

Application Deadline:Open until filled

Equal Opportunity Employer

CAIR-CA is an equal opportunity employer and adheres to all federal, state, and local laws prohibiting employment discrimination.

Empowering American Muslims. Protecting Civil Rights. Promoting Justice.