Civil Rights Education Attorney

CENTER FOR LAW AND EDUCATION IS HIRING!

The Center for Law and Education (“CLE”), seeking an experienced attorney for its Civil Rights Fellowship. CLE is a national nonprofit resource, support and advocacy organization committed to improving the quality of education for all students, with a focus on the rights of low-income students. The fellowship is a two-year, grant-funded position with the intention of long-term sustainability and continued employment at the conclusion of the grant period. The Fellow will further CLE’s mission by addressing the needs of immigrant and migrant (including newly arrived) students.  Specifically, the Fellow will work to (1) ensure schools proactively adopt procedures for protecting student information, (2) identify and address unauthorized student record sharing, and (3) assist students and families so that schools timely enroll immigrant/migrant students, hold them to high expectations, and provide them with the educational supports needed to learn to the challenging academic standards the state has said all students should learn to.

Qualifications for the Position

We encourage applications from people with diverse backgrounds and lived experiences. If you see yourself in this role—even if you don’t meet every requirement—please apply.

1. At least 5 years of experience as a licensed attorney;

2. Licensed in the state of Massachusetts or eligible for admission through one of the  avenues provided in the “Supreme Judicial Court Rules, Rule 3:01” 

(https://www.mass.gov/supreme-judicial-court-rules/supreme-judicial-court-rule-301- attorneys);

3. Robust legal research, writing and analytical skills; 

4. Demonstrated commitment to addressing social justice concerns; familiarity with inequities in public education, in particular, barriers confronting marginalized students who are disproportionately students of color, multilingual learners, and students with disabilities;

5. Basic knowledge and understanding of Title I affecting economically disadvantaged students, special education law, and federal civil rights laws;

6. Strong communication skills;

7. Ability to work independently and collaboratively as part of a team.

8. Proficiency in Spanish, Haitian Creole, Cabo Verdean Creole, Mandarin, Cantonese, Vietnamese, Khmer, Korean  or other languages relevant to the population this Fellowship serves highly preferred.

Teaching or other experience working with students or immigrant communities, multilingualism, and prior legal experience, particularly as it pertains to education law, litigation, administrative advocacy, and policy, are highly desirable.

Application Process 

Please submit a letter of interest, resume, and writing sample to Paul Weckstein

(pweckstein@cleweb.org) with Subject Line: CLE Education Attorney Application [Last Name]. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

 Compensation and Benefits 

This is a full-time, exempt hybrid position requiring at least 3 days a week in our Boston office near Chinatown. The salary is $75,000 + depending on years of experience. CLE offers a comprehensive benefits package which includes health and dental insurance with an 100% employer contribution, employer-paid life and short-term disability insurance. Employees receive generous paid time off, including 20 vacation days per year, 12 or 15 sick days a year, 12 holidays per year.

CLE is an Equal Opportunity Affirmative Action Employer and encourages applications from all qualified individuals without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability, veteran status or to other non-work-related factors. CLE strives to foster a healthy, inclusive environment where all staff, clients, and community members are valued, empowered and recognized.