Equal Protection Initiative (EPI) Counsel (2 Positions)

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, public policy advocacy 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 continues to make an impact in the area of public service and was recognized by Fast Company as one of its 2023 Brands That Matter under its public service category.

Equal Protection Initiative is a new initiative housed within the Strategic Initiatives Department, aimed at fully realizing the U.S. Constitution's promise of equal protection under law by safeguarding, expanding, and deepening efforts to remove and remediate barriers to opportunity for Black people in the economy, our educational systems, and other areas through race-conscious and race-neutral means. Since its inception more than 80 years ago, LDF has been at the forefront of shaping equal protection jurisprudence, most notably through its watershed victory in Brown v. Board of Education. However, following the Supreme Court's decision in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard and Students for Fair Admissions v. University of North Carolina, opponents of civil rights have escalated their attacks on racial equity programs that advance equal opportunity, including through efforts to distort and upend equal protection and anti-discrimination law. LDF launched EPI to defend and advance the proper interpretation of the Equal Protection Clause and anti-discrimination law to ensure that all people, regardless of race, have equal access to educational and economic opportunities.

As of March 7, 2022, LDF transitioned to a hybrid work environment. Any candidate selected for this position should be prepared to work in the assigned office location at least two days per week.

LDF is looking for two (2) qualified candidates to join the team. Responsibilities for the role includes but is not limited to:

• Assist with both litigation and non-litigation advocacy, including policy work, to safeguard, expand, and deepen race-conscious and race-neutral means to remove and remediate barriers to opportunity for Black people in the economy, our educational systems, and other areas;
• Assist with identifying, developing, and implementing litigation, as well as legislative and policy reform, strategies at the federal, state, and/or local levels, consistent with EPI's substantive priorities and in collaboration with the Policy and Litigation Departments;
• Conduct legal and factual research in the areas of racial justice, equal protection, civil rights, educational equity, economic justice, health equity, and the First Amendment;
• Assist with building and/or participating in national, state, and local coalitions, partnerships, and task forces working to advance race-conscious and race-neutral means of removing and remediating barriers that deny Black people equal opportunities;
• Monitor and respond to litigation that impedes the proper interpretation of equal protection and anti-discrimination laws;
• Identify, secure, and prepare for opportunities for LDF to influence legislation and policy at the federal, state, and local levels, including the preparation and delivery of testimony before legislative or administrative bodies, commenting on proposed legislation and rules, submitting statements and letters, preparing advocacy materials, and organizing, conducting, and/or participating in meetings or briefings with elected and administrative officials and their staff;
• Work collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams of LDF attorneys, organizers, policy advocates, communications specialists, and researchers to advance national, state, and/or local efforts to advance race-conscious and race-neutral means to remove and remediate barriers of opportunity for Black people;
• Work collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams of LDF attorneys, organizers, policy advocates, communications specialists, and researchers to write, publish, and widely disseminate research and policy briefs, fact sheets, talking points, infographics, reports, and other documents that will educate target audiences, including legislators, agency officials, stakeholders, and the general public about efforts to advance race-conscious and race-neutral means to remove and remediate barriers of opportunity for Black people and propose solid recommendations for change;
• Speak to media and the public regarding the Equal Protection Initiative's work and mission; and
• Other duties as requested by the Managers of the Equal Protection Initiative, the Director of Strategic Initiatives, or other members of LDF's Senior Leadership Team; and
• Other responsibilities as assigned.

Qualifications:

The ideal candidate will possess the following:

• Juris Doctor degree;
• Four or more years of experience in litigation and/or policy reform or advocacy at the federal, state, or local level in the area of racial justice, equal protection, civil rights, educational equity, economic justice, health equity, and/or the First Amendment;
• Excellent research, writing, and public speaking skills;
• Experience working with communities and/or individuals directly impacted by racially discriminatory educational and/or economic systems;

• Ability to work with coalitions of organizations, community members/leaders, and public officials;

• A demonstrated commitment to civil rights and racial justice;
• A demonstrated ability to work collaboratively and think and plan strategically, including an ability to lead and manage complex litigation, advocacy, and policy reform efforts involving multiple issues and parties;
• A demonstrated ability to work independently and on teams; and
• Ability to travel on a periodic basis as needed.

Salary Range

New York: $120,000 - $181,000

Washington DC: $115,000 - $173,500

Atlanta: $104,000 - $157,000

This is not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, skills, efforts or 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.

Please note that LDF requires all employees to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as a condition of employment. Accordingly, successful candidates must be fully vaccinated, including the booster shot against COVID-19, and submit proof of vaccination prior to the commencement of employment unless they qualify for a reasonable accommodation for bona fide medical or religious reasons.