Description

Attorney Position
Midwest Voting Rights Program
Based in Indiana
The Opportunity
Chicago Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights seeks an experienced attorney to join our Midwest Voting Rights Program at a critical moment for American democracy. This role will be based in Indiana, where voters face some of the most restrictive voting laws in the country. This is an opportunity to lead high-impact litigation and policy advocacy defending and protecting voting rights in Indiana — work that will shape the legal landscape for years to come. The attorney will serve in the position as a Program Counsel or Senior Counsel, depending on years of legal experience.  
About the Role
The position 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. CLC already has a track record of community-driven legal work in Indiana and federal court challenges to Indiana's restrictive voting laws. The attorney will report to the Director of the Midwest Voting Rights Program.
Working in collaboration with the Director of the Midwest Voting Rights Program and the Legal Director, you will help shape strategy and build on our track record of impact — including federal court challenges to Indiana's restrictive voting laws, expansion of access to voting for incarcerated and system-impacted individuals, and our long-running Election Protection partnership in Indiana through the 866-OUR-VOTE hotline. You will be the lead in-state attorney for CLC's Indiana 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 Indiana and bring established relationships with Indiana coalitions, organizations, and community-based partners. Candidates should have a strong commitment to community lawyering 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.
The attorney will be expected to work as needed with colleagues to advance our work in other core practice areas, including fair housing, equitable community development, education equity, and economic justice.
Duties Include
Strategic Litigation
   Lead and conduct impact litigation in Indiana state and federal courts challenging systemic barriers to voting and representation, including discriminatory laws, policies, and procedures
   Develop federal and state civil rights legal theories and build local expertise
   File rapid response litigation against barriers affecting Indiana 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 in Illinois and across the Midwest on a multi-state strategy 
Policy Advocacy
   Draft and analyze Indiana legislation and administrative policies affecting voting access
   Partner with community organizations and statewide coalitions on legislative, policy, and administrative advocacy in Indiana
   Produce publications, know-your-rights materials, fact sheets, and policy briefs tailored to Indiana voting rights issues
   Conduct presentations to stakeholders including legislators, advocates, election officials, and media in Indiana
Community Engagement & Election Protection
   Cultivate and maintain partnerships with Indiana organizations and coalitions from communities impacted by systemic racism, including organizations serving voters with disabilities, voters with limited English proficiency, system-impacted voters, voters of color, and rural voters
   Provide brief advice and legal opinions to community partners across Indiana
   Plan and participate in community education and outreach in support of advocacy goals, including in underserved areas
   Lead Indiana Election Protection initiatives — including volunteer attorney recruitment, training, and deployment via 866-OUR-VOTE — and partner with and advocate to election officials
   Coordinate voting initiatives and partnerships with incarcerated and returning community members in Indiana
About You
Qualifications
   Must be based in Indiana, with regular travel within the state required and periodic travel to the Chicago office for team meetings, training, and program-wide convenings.
   J.D. and admission to the Indiana Bar (or admission in another state with requirement to obtain Indiana licensure within one year)
   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 (7th Circuit experience preferred)
   Established working relationships with coalitions and organizations in Indiana — 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
Preferred
   Experience supervising attorneys, fellows, or program staff
   Experience working with voting rights coalitions or pro-democracy organizations

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.
Salary and Benefits
Salary range is $70,000 – $108,000 per year depending on experience ($70,000-$90,000 for applicants under 8 years experience / $90,000-$108,000 for applicants with at least 8 years 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
This position is based in Indiana and primarily works remotely, with regular in-state travel and periodic travel to the Chicago office for team meetings, training, and program-wide convenings.
About Us
Chicago Lawyers’ Committee 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.  We provide legal representation through in-house staff and long-standing partnerships with over 30 member law firms. We mobilize volunteer attorneys, generating millions of dollars in donated legal services annually.
Our integrated legal team works across four core practice areas: Voting Rights, Equitable Community Development & Housing, Education Equity, and Economic Justice.
Our Midwest Voting Rights Program is a three-year intensive capacity-building initiative. Our needs assessment, conducted in early 2026 with leaders of pro-democracy organizations across the region, documented gaps in voting rights legal capacity in Indiana and across the Midwest. This role is part of our response to those documented needs.
To Apply
Please e-mail a cover letter, resume, writing sample, and 3 references to: Elesha Jackson, Director of Administration, [email protected], with subject line specifying "Application for Attorney Position (Voting Rights – Indiana)." Please, no telephone inquiries. The priority deadline for applying has been extended through July 30. 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

Qualifications
   Must be based in Indiana, with regular travel within the state required and periodic travel to the Chicago office for team meetings, training, and program-wide convenings.
   J.D. and admission to the Indiana Bar (or admission in another state with requirement to obtain Indiana licensure within one year)
   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 (7th Circuit experience preferred)
   Established working relationships with coalitions and organizations in Indiana — 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
Preferred
   Experience supervising attorneys, fellows, or program staff
   Experience working with voting rights coalitions or pro-democracy organizations