Current Openings:

The Washington Lawyers' Committee is an equal opportunity employer.  We are fully committed to maintaining a diverse workforce and strongly encourage all persons from historically disadvantaged groups to apply.   At present, we are accepting applications for the following positions.

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SPRING INTERNSHIP POSITIONS
 

The Washington Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs is currently accepting applications from law students interested in spring 2010 internships or externships with our Equal Employment Opportunity Project or D.C. Prisoners' Rights Project.

JOB DESCRIPTIONS
Internships are designed to give students hands-on experience in the day-to-day operations of a civil rights litigation practice. Interns assist attorneys in all aspects of the investigation and litigation of discrimination and other civil rights cases, including interacting with clients, potential clients, and witnesses. Interns will conduct legal research and draft memoranda and possibly pleadings on a wide range of issues. Special considerations for the individual projects are listed below:

Equal Employment Opportunity
The EEO Project fields hundreds of requests for assistance annually, and litigates employment-related claims designed to have far-reaching impact, either due to the novel claims presented or the potential for far-reaching injunctive relief. We represent individuals and classes of all protected categories in lawsuits in local federal and state courts. EEO Project interns investigate employment claims for potential representation and also handle critical litigation responsibilities on our active cases.

Prisoners' Rights
Issues prioritized in the Prisoners' Rights Project include traditional conditions of confinement claims, freedom of religion and association claims, issues regarding parole, and disability rights within the incarceration system. Interns will interview clients and witnesses at local jails and possibly at federal prisons. Interns also have opportunities to assist with the public policy and community advocacy work of the Project. Interns carry a case load for investigation, legal research, action, and follow-up in addition to assisting the attorneys with litigation preparation and other legal research assignments. Familiarity with the criminal legal system is an asset, but is not required.

QUALIFICATIONS
Highly motivated individuals with a demonstrated commitment to public interest and civil rights work are encouraged to apply. Excellent communication and writing skills are required. The ability to speak and write in languages other than English is a plus. 2Ls and 3Ls are preferred, but 1Ls with outstanding qualifications will be considered. Completed course work in Constitutional law and the project's subject matter is preferred. Applicants who can commit to working between 15 and 20 hours per week are preferred.

COMPENSATION
The Committee is not able to offer a stipend. We are happy to work with students who apply for outside funding or school credit, and we encourage accepted applicants to seek out such opportunities.

DEADLINES
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. If you are interested in applying, please send a cover letter indicating your project of interest, resume, writing sample and unofficial transcript to Emily Read at emily_read@washlaw.org for EEO Project applicants or Deborah Golden at deborah_golden@washlaw.org for Prisoners' Project applicants. Applicants interested in both projects may submit application materials to Emily Read.

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SUMMER INTERNSHIP POSITIONS
 

The Committee is accepting applications from law students interested in 2010 summer internships. Our internships offer the opportunity to focus on one of the following Committee project areas: Equal Employment Opportunity, Fair Housing, Immigrant and Refugee Rights, Disability Rights and Prisoners' Rights.

JOB DESCRIPTIONS
Internships are designed to give students hands-on experience in the day-to-day operations of a civil rights litigation organization. Interns assist attorneys in all aspects of the investigation and litigation of discrimination and other civil rights cases, including interacting with clients, potential clients, and community members. Interns will conduct legal research and draft memoranda and possibly pleadings on a wide range of issues. Special considerations for individual projects are listed below:

Equal Employment Opportunity
The EEO Project fields hundreds of requests for assistance annually, and litigates employment-related claims designed to have a far-reaching impact, either due to the novel claims presented or the potential for far-reaching injunctive relief. We represent individuals and classes of all protected categories in lawsuits in local federal and state courts. EEO Project interns both investigate employment claims for potential representation and also perform critical litigation responsibilities on our active cases.

Fair Housing
The Fair Housing Project engages in a broad spectrum of cases involving discrimination in housing for all protected classes under federal, state, and local laws. The Housing Project's diverse docket ranges from traditional housing discrimination cases to cases involving the accessibility of multifamily housing, discrimination based on a tenant's use of governmental subsidies, and predatory lending. Interns in the Housing Project will have the opportunity to investigate claims, perform legal research and writing, draft written discovery, and participate in all other aspects of litigation.

Immigrant and Refugee Rights
The IRR Project has two components. One component focuses strictly on asylum intake and research, while the other concentrates on intake and research of civil rights violations against those in the immigrant community. Interns working with individuals seeking asylum will be involved in intake interviews with the asylum seeker's, will research the asylum seekers claims and country conditions, and may have the opportunity to accompany his/her client to an asylum interview. Interns working on civil rights cases within the IRR Project will be involved in both the intake and investigation of immigrants' claims of civil rights violations. Interns will also participate in the Project's current litigation docket.

Disability Rights
This Project represents clients with diverse disabilities, and litigates cases against places of public accommodation, such as hospitals, restaurant chains, and retail chains, as well as cases against governmental entities for discrimination against people with disabilities. Disability Rights interns work on project litigation under the Americans with Disabilities Act and other disability laws, as well as on cases that are being investigated and prepared for litigation. Assignments include legal research and writing, which depend upon the project's needs at the time of the internship. Interns are also usually assigned to factual research, which may include client interviews and accessibility surveys of selected sites.

Prisoners' Rights
Issues prioritized in the Prisoners' Rights Project include traditional conditions of confinement claims, freedom of religion and association claims, issues regarding parole, and disability rights within the incarceration system. Interns will interview clients and witnesses at local jails and possibly at federal prisons. Interns also have opportunities to assist with the public policy and community advocacy work of the Project. Interns carry a case load for investigation, legal research, action, and follow-up in addition to assisting the attorneys with litigation preparation and other legal research assignments. Familiarity with the criminal legal system is an asset, but not required.

QUALIFICATIONS
Highly motivated individuals with a demonstrated commitment to public interest and civil rights work are encouraged to apply. Excellent communication and writing skills are required. Abilities to speak and write in languages other than English are a plus. 2Ls are preferred, but 1Ls with outstanding qualifications are encouraged to apply as well. Completed course work in Constitutional law and project subject matter is a plus.

COMPENSATION
The Committee is not able to offer a stipend. We are happy to work with students who apply for outside funding or school credit, and we encourage accepted applicants to seek out such opportunities.

DEADLINES
The Committee will accept applications for summer internship positions from October 1, 2009 through March 19, 2010. However, offers are extended on a rolling basis so we encourage interested applicants to submit their materials as early as possible. Interested applicants should send a cover letter, resume, writing sample and (unofficial) transcript to:

Susan Huhta
EEO Project Director and Director of Summer Recruitment
Washington Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights & Urban Affairs
11 Dupont Circle, N.W., Suite 400
Washington, D.C. 20036
susan_huhta@washlaw.org

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PARALEGAL POSITIONS
 

The Washington Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs has paralegal openings in its Equal Employment Opportunity Project, Fair Housing Project, and Disability Rights Project.

RESPONSIBILITIES
Paralegals are asked to make a two year commitment. Duties include the following: investigating, evaluating and analyzing claims of discrimination and requests for legal assistance; conducting interviews with potential plaintiffs and other witnesses; conducting legal and factual research on issues arising in the course of litigation; drafting memoranda, court documents, and correspondence; participating in all stages of litigation; preparing documents for filing in court; and providing other administrative support to the Project, including database and file management; responding to telephone, email, and web inquiries; and training and supervising interns.

QUALIFICATIONS
The positions require a Bachelor's degree, outstanding organizational skills, excellent written and oral communication skills, strong analytical capability, and a demonstrated commitment to public interest work. Fluency/proficiency in Spanish is highly desired for the Equal Employment Opportunity Project paralegal position. against places of public accommodation, such as hospitals, restaurant chains, and retail chains, as well as cases against governmental entities for discrimination against people with disabilities. Disability Rights interns work on project litigation under the Americans with Disabilities Act and other disability laws, as well as on cases that are being investigated and prepared for litigation. Assignments include legal research and writing, which depend upon the project's needs at the time of the internship. Interns are also usually assigned to factual research, which may include client interviews and accessibility surveys of selected sites.

APPLICATION
Interested persons should send a cover letter, resume, writing sample and references to:

Susan Huhta
EEO Project Director and Director of Summer Recruitment
Washington Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights & Urban Affairs
11 Dupont Circle, N.W., Suite 400
Washington, D.C. 20036
susan_huhta@washlaw.org

NON-DISCRIMINATION
The Committee is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, familial status, family responsibilities, matriculation, political affiliation, genetic information, disability, source of income, status as a victim of an intra-family offense, or place of residence. Students who are members of a historically disadvantaged group are encourage to apply.

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