Description
The Opportunity
Chicago Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights seeks an experienced voting rights attorney to join our Midwest Voting Rights Program at a critical moment for American democracy. This role will be based in Michigan, with a requirement of regular travel within the state. This is an opportunity to support state- and community-based partners on policy advocacy, voter protection efforts, and litigation defending and protecting voting rights in Michigan and across the Midwest. The attorney will serve in the position as a Program Counsel or Senior Counsel, depending on years of legal experience.
About the Role
This position will report to the Director of the Midwest Voting Rights Program and 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. Working in collaboration with the Director of the Midwest Voting Rights Program and the Vice President and Legal Director, you will help shape strategy and build on our track record of impact—including supporting nonpartisan community-based organizations and state-based partners upon request, contributing to policy advocacy alongside partners, expanding voting access for incarcerated and system-impacted individuals, supporting Michigan organizations’ long-running Election Protection work through the 866-OUR-VOTE hotline and related field programs, and co-counseling with Michigan partners on litigation as needed. You will be the lead in-state attorney for Chicago Lawyers’ Committee’s Michigan voting rights work, building local relationships that endure beyond any single election cycle.
This is a state-based role. The attorney will be based in Michigan and bring established relationships with state coalitions, organizations, and community-based partners. Candidates should have a strong commitment to community-driven advocacy and be able to share specific examples of coalitions they have worked with, partners they have collaborated with, and the relationships they would bring to this role. The attorney must demonstrate a passion for racial equity and possess the skills needed to be a successful advocate for impacted communities, as well as an effective manager of projects.
Community-Driven Advocacy: A Core Principle at Chicago Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights
A commitment to community-driven advocacy is a core principle of every legal role at Chicago Lawyers’ Committee, and it anchors this position in particular. Community-driven advocacy means using legal advocacy to help achieve solutions to community-identified issues in ways that develop local leadership and institutions that can continue to exert power to effect systemic change. In practice, this means:
Shared Power & Collaboration: working alongside communities to identify local priorities and develop sustainable, community-led solutions, rather than dictating legal strategy
Focus on Systemic Change: treating communities as partners in reform, using individual cases to advance broader shifts in systemic, structural inequities
Capacity Building: acting as educators, coalition builders, and advisors who equip communities with the legal knowledge to develop sustainable leadership and resolve future problems independently
Holistic Problem Solving: viewing legal issues through the broader lens of social, racial, and economic justice, using tools such as litigation, policy advocacy, public education, and strategic communications
Cross-Cultural Awareness and Competencies: understanding the specific history, demographics, and assets of the communities served, and remaining mindful of how race, gender, age, disability, and socioeconomic status shape client relationships
Duties Include
Community Engagement & Election Protection
Cultivate and maintain partnerships with state-based organizations and coalitions from communities impacted by systemic racism, including organizations serving voters of color, system-impacted voters, voters with limited English proficiency, naturalized citizens, voters with disabilities, and Indigenous voters
Provide brief advice and legal opinions to community partners across Michigan upon request
Plan and participate in community education and outreach in support of advocacy goals, including in underserved areas
Alongside program staff and community partners, support Election Protection initiatives in Michigan—including volunteer attorney recruitment, training, and deployment via 866-OUR-VOTE—and partner with and advocate to election officials, following the lead of Michigan’s robust Election Protection coalition
Work with community-based organizations to coordinate voting initiatives and partnerships with incarcerated and returning community members in Michigan
Policy Advocacy
Partner with community organizations and statewide coalitions on legislative, policy, and administrative advocacy in Michigan, including possible drafting and analysis
Produce publications, know-your-rights materials, fact sheets, and policy briefs tailored to Michigan voting rights issues, as requested by state and community partners
Conduct presentations to stakeholders, including legislators, advocates, election officials, and media in Michigan, as requested by state and community partners
Strategic Litigation
Following the lead of state and community partners, conduct impact litigation in Michigan state and federal courts challenging systemic barriers to voting and representation, including discriminatory laws, policies, and procedures
Collaboratively develop and build upon federal and state civil rights legal theories and build local expertise
File rapid response litigation against barriers affecting Michigan voters and support stakeholders who face intimidation or attack
Support and expand pro bono relationships with law firms serving as co-counsel
Coordinate with attorneys across the Midwest on a multi-state strategy
Preferred
Experience supervising attorneys, fellows, or program staff
Experience with Election Protection (either as a volunteer or as a coordinator)
Experience working in northern Michigan or the Upper Peninsula or based in that area
Experience in criminal defense
Experience/familiarity with cyber and election security concerns
Brings connections with Michigan-based law firms and/or law schools
Language skills relevant to the communities served, where applicable
Don’t meet every single requirement? At Chicago Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights, we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your experience does not align perfectly with every qualification in this role description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.
Core Traits Expected of All Chicago Lawyers’ Committee Staff
Entrepreneurial: comfortable building new capacity and taking initiative in a program that is actively expanding
Self-managing: able to prioritize and drive work forward with minimal oversight
Self-executing: takes an idea through to implementation without needing to be handed a fully formed plan
Exercising sound judgment and discretion: able to make sound decisions and keep moving in a fast-changing legal and political landscape
Deeply collaborative: works across states, teams, and partner organizations in a consultative, follow-the-lead manner
Innovative: brings fresh thinking to regional coordination and program growth rather than defaulting to the status quo
Community-centered: leads with the community-driven advocacy principles above—shared power and collaboration, focus on systemic change, capacity building, holistic problem solving, and cross-cultural awareness and competency
Why Work with Us?
Work with lawyers who are determined, focused, and compassionate
Lead voting rights litigation and advocacy at a critical moment for American democracy
Build enduring relationships with Michigan coalitions and community partners, backed by a regional program with a track record of impact
Salary and Benefits
Salary range is $70,000–$108,000 per year depending on experience ($70,000–$89,500 for applicants under 8 years of experience / $90,000–$108,000 for applicants with at least 8 years of experience).
Benefits include:
15 vacation days per year for years 1–2, increasing to 20 vacation days after two years of continuous service, plus 2 personal days
10 sick days per year
Health, dental, basic life, short-term disability, long-term disability, and Employee Assistance Program
Voluntary vision, life, critical illness, and accident insurance
403(b) retirement plan
Healthcare and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts
About Us
Chicago Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights was founded by a group of Chicago lawyers and law firms in 1969. We are civil rights lawyers and advocates working to secure racial equity and economic opportunity for all. We provide legal representation through partnerships with the private bar, and we collaborate with grassroots organizations and other advocacy groups to implement community-based solutions that advance civil rights.
Our Midwest Voting Rights Program works to eliminate barriers to voting and civic participation, especially in communities of color and low-income communities. To do this, we provide Election Day resources via the nonpartisan Election Protection program, partner with incarcerated and returning community members to expand voting rights, advocate for racial equity in redistricting (drawing voting precinct boundaries), collaborate with local election officials, and engage in litigation in defense of civil rights or compliance with election law.
To Apply
Please e-mail a cover letter, resume, writing sample, and 3 references to: Elesha Jackson, Director of Administration, ejackson@clccrul.org, with subject line specifying “Application for Attorney Position (Voting Rights – Michigan).” Please, no telephone inquiries. The priority deadline for applying is August 14, 2026. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.
Chicago Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights values a diverse workforce and a culture of inclusivity and belonging. We are an equal opportunity employer and encourage applications from all individuals without regard to an individual’s race, color, sex, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, national origin or ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, family care status, marital status, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, genetic information, military or veteran status, or any other basis protected by federal, state, or local laws. Those from groups historically underrepresented in the legal community are strongly encouraged to apply.
Requirements
About You
Qualifications
Must be based in Michigan, with required regular travel within the state and periodic travel to the Chicago office for team meetings, trainings, and program-wide convenings
J.D. and admission to the Michigan Bar
Years of Experience:
For Senior Counsel position: At least 8 years of combined experience in civil rights litigation, policy advocacy, and/or experience advancing voting rights, including 5+ years litigation experience
For Program Counsel position: At least 5 years of combined experience in civil rights litigation, policy advocacy, and/or experience advancing voting rights, including 3+ years litigation experience
Demonstrated impact litigation experience, including federal court practice (6th Circuit experience preferred)
Demonstrated legislative advocacy experience
Established working relationships with voting rights organizations and/or coalitions in Michigan (candidates should be prepared to describe specific coalitions and partners they have worked with and the nature of those relationships)
Deep commitment to racial justice and community-driven advocacy
Excellent legal research, writing, and oral advocacy skills
High degree of flexibility, ability to multi-task, and take significant initiative
Strong analytical skills, attention to details and accuracy
Excellent people skills, especially the ability to communicate effectively with a diversity of groups and individuals
Cross-cultural competencies and self-awareness around issues of power, privilege, and difference
Community-Driven Advocacy Skill Set
[KH1] Ability to adapt approach to the specific interests of a given client or community
