Hispanic Bar Association of New Jersey

LatinoJustice PRLDEF is one of the foremost Latino civil rights organizations in the country, serving a pan-Latino constituency. Since 1972, we have been bringing precedent-setting impact litigation that has profoundly improved the way Latinos are treated in our society. Our areas of focus include immigrants’ rights; voting rights; housing, education, employment discrimination; the treatment of day laborers, and all forms of bias that affect Latinos. Current litigation includes Aguilar v. ICE, a 4^th Amendment challenge to DHS’ coercive immigration home raids; and Lozano v. City of Hazleton, where we obtained a precedent setting decision enjoining a Pennsylvania town from enacting its own anti-immigrant employment and housing ordinances. Other recent significant cases include Perez-Santiago v. Volusia County, Florida, a successful Voting Rights Act challenge upholding Latinos’ rights to language assistance when voting pursuant to Section 4(e), and Doe v. Mamaroneck, which successfully challenged discriminatory harassment of day laborers by local police. Our primary geographic focus is the Atlantic seaboard from Maine to Florida, and all areas where Latinos face injustice and discrimination.

Primary Responsibilities

We are seeking an energetic, motivated attorney with a record of commitment to social justice work, excellent legal, written, research, and communications skills to join our legal team. The attorney will be based in our NYC office in lower Manhattan but will primarily be engaged in litigation and advocacy on behalf of emerging Latino communities throughout the country.

The Associate Counsel will be a litigation team member and will help develop strategies to achieve litigation goals. LatinoJustice PRLDEF is at the forefront of litigation that, among other areas, attacks anti-immigrant, anti-Latino ordinances that are being proposed nationally. The attorney hired for this position will serve as a resource for Latino groups nationally in need of assistance combating these ordinances along with other laws and that impede the full political participation and labor market participation within the Latino community.

Duties also include drafting testimony and serving as a media spokesperson for the organization, travel nationally to communities dealing with the threat of anti-immigrant ordinances and serve as LatinoJustice PRLDEF’s liaison to the local community. He/she will coordinate outreach to local leaders, conduct community education forums, and identify local counsel with expertise in civil rights litigation. Plan and execute public forums designed to mobilize local leadership and the larger community on various civil rights topics. Perform other related duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

Demonstrated commitment to public interest and civil rights issues, and have good knowledge of constitutional law and civil rights issues. Minimum of 2 years post-bar admission (NY) litigation practice required. Experience of federal or state litigation; in good standing in state and federal courts.

Candidate should be effective in written and oral communication, be highly self motivated, posses excellent interpersonal skills to develop diverse allies and facilitate collaboration, have a good sense of humor and ability to work well independently and in teams, have ability to collaborate successfully with a broad and diverse range of communities and individuals, have strong organization skills, and be able to manage several projects simultaneously in a fast paced environment.

Bilingual Spanish/English is required. Applicants with experience working with or on behalf of Latino communities are strongly encouraged to apply. To learn more about LatinoJustice PRLDEF, please visit: www.latinojustice.org