Education Special Counsel (one-year position), Litigation

The NAACP Legal Defense & Educational Fund, Inc. (LDF) is the country’s first and foremost civil and human rights law organization. Founded in 1940 under the leadership of Thurgood Marshall, who subsequently became the first Black U.S. Supreme Court Justice, LDF was launched at a time when the nation’s aspirations for equality and due process of law were stifled by widespread state-sponsored racial inequality. From that era to the present, LDF’s mission has been transformative—to achieve racial justice, equality, and an inclusive society.

LDF’s litigation, policy advocacy, organizing, and public education programs in the substantive areas of criminal justice, economic justice, education and political participation seek to ensure the fundamental and basic human rights of all people to quality education, economic opportunity, the right to vote and fully participate in democracy, and the right to a fair and just judicial system.

LDF seeks applicants for a full-time one-year position as Education Special Counsel in the Litigation Department. The Education Special Counsel will principally work on LDF’s school desegregation docket and litigation to challenge education-related federal executive actions as well as may assist on a range of other education or civil rights matters. The Education Special Counsel will report to the Director of Litigation or a Deputy Director of Litigation.  

This is a one-year, full-time position for a licensed attorney. The position starts in Fall 2026. This is a hybrid role with an in-office requirement of two (2) days per week.

In exceptional circumstances, LDF may consider a remote or part-time (30-hours a week) candidate for this position. Even a remote position may require some travel to LDF offices or for case-related matters.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, but priority consideration will be given to applications submitted by November 20, 2026. To be considered, applicants must submit a resume, cover letter, and writing sample. 

Responsibilities may include:

• Leading or serving on case teams litigating school desegregation cases and other matters related to educational opportunity, diversity, and adequacy, as well as equal access to a quality education;
• Developing, leading, supervising, consulting, and advising on complex, civil rights impact cases in federal and state courts and before administrative bodies;
• Drafting petitions for certiorari, merits briefs and amicus briefs in the United States Supreme Court, other federal courts, and state courts that bear significantly on the civil rights of Black people;
• Investigating potential claims, preparing complaints, participating in motion practice, discovery, hearings and oral arguments, trials, and appeals;
• Supporting LDF’s Policy team in developing and implementing strategies to advance LDF’s policy agenda related to the substantive subject matter areas;
• Supervising, managing, and assisting litigation teams that include LDF staff attorneys, organizers, cooperating counsel, fellows, legal interns, and others from within and outside of LDF;
• Directly supervising legal fellows, research associates, legal interns, and/or administrative assistants;
• Serving as a public thought leader on issues confronting Black communities;
• Representing LDF in the media, at conferences, and in other public venues;
• Developing and maintaining relationships with community partners, coalition members, and legal allies;
• Assisting in creating and implementing multi-pronged strategic plans using litigation, organizing, public education, legislation and policy advocacy;
• Preparing policy reports, memoranda, briefing papers, public education materials, and talking points for internal and external use;
• Assisting LDF colleagues in developing skills in impact litigation and the other interdisciplinary advocacy strategies necessary to effect change;
• Fostering relationships with other advocates, lawyers, and civil rights organizations;
• Travel as necessary, when conditions permit; and
• Other responsibilities as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications include:

• Juris Doctor degree;
• Minimum of four (4) years of litigation experience and admission to the New York, Washington, D.C., or Georgia Bar or eligibility to waive in, based on the office location or, if remote work is approved, the state where the candidate is based;
• Commitment to racial justice and the mission of LDF;
• Outstanding legal research, writing, and oral advocacy skills;
• Relevant litigation experience at the trial and appellate level;
• Experience litigating school desegregation, educational opportunities, or other racial justice class action cases is strongly preferred;
• Federal and/or state advocacy experience related to reform for communities of color;
• Effective public speaking experience;
• The ability to work both collaboratively and independently;
• Supervisory and case management experience with an interest in and commitment to professional development, training and support of attorneys, legal interns and administrative staff;
• Capacity to analyze and articulate legal concepts and other complex issues to a variety of audiences; and
• A vision for attacking persistent barriers to full access and equality for people of color, and Black people in particular.

LDF’s attorney scale sets pay for practicing attorneys based on year of law school graduation and office location. The total salary range for this position by region for candidates with 4-10 years of experience post-law school graduation is as follows:

New York: $126,000 - $224,000

Washington, D.C.: $121,000 - $216,000

Atlanta: $109,500 - $194,500

This is not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, skills, efforts, requirements, or working conditions associated with the job. While this is intended to be an accurate reflection of the current job, management reserves the right to revise the job or to require that other or different tasks be performed as assigned. This description does not constitute a contract of employment, and LDF may exercise its employment-at-will rights at any time.

LDF offers all eligible employees a generous benefits package.  To learn more, click the following link: 2026 Benefits Overview.

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