Staff or Senior Attorney & Editor, Red Line for Civil Rights

Democracy Forward Foundation is seeking a Staff or Senior Attorney and Editor to join the Red Line for Civil Rights team. This oversight and accountability project, led by former career attorneys of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division, tracks and analyzes federal civil rights enforcement across various domains, including voting, policing, housing, employment, disability rights, education, criminal civil rights prosecutions, LGBTQI+ rights, and access to reproductive healthcare.

The selected candidate will be responsible for drafting detailed case entries and long-form articles that analyze developments in federal civil rights enforcement. This includes monitoring federal court dockets, enforcement announcements, executive orders, and agency guidance to identify changes in enforcement priorities and legal positions. Additionally, the role involves producing rapid-response analyses of significant developments and drafting strategic public records requests.

Applicants must possess a J.D. from an accredited law school and active bar membership in at least one U.S. jurisdiction. For the Staff Attorney position, 5-6 years of experience in civil rights law, constitutional law, or related public interest litigation or policy work is required. The Senior Attorney position requires 7+ years of similar experience. Demonstrated expertise in one or more federal civil rights statutes or enforcement frameworks, along with exceptional legal research, writing, and analytical skills, are essential.

Democracy Forward offers a competitive compensation and benefits package. The organization is committed to workplace inclusion and seeks candidates who can contribute affirmatively to a just and equitable workplace culture. This position offers flexibility to work remotely, with expectations for regular in-office presence for DC-based employees and periodic travel for remote candidates.