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Senior Attorney

Center for Public Representation

CPR is a national legal advocacy center that has been advancing the civil rights of people with disabilities for over 45 years.  We have staff who work in Easthampton and Boston Massachusetts, New York City, and Washington, D.C.  CPR's mission focuses on supporting institutionalized and other persons with disabilities, including people from BIPOC communities, to return to, or remain in, their homes and communities and to be full and equal participants in all facets of society.  Through our systemic advocacy, we have been a major force in promoting civil rights, community integration, self-determination, and improvements in services for people with disabilities throughout the country.  We are looking for a senior attorney to assist in this effort, to work on CPR’s systemic litigation, and to challenge the historical and structural racism that contributes to health inequities.

Our system reform agenda includes numerous litigation and policy initiatives that are designed to end segregation and promote community integration, enforce and expand civil rights, ensure equal access to health resources, and establish new standards of care for persons with disabilities.  This agenda, which is periodically revised and updated, guides CPR's legal reform activities.  A summary of the our systemic litigation agenda can be found at http://www.centerforpublicrep.org/litigation-and-major-cases/litigation.

CPR is committed to prioritizing racial equity as an integral part of our work as a civil rights law firm. As part of our mission to enforce and expand the rights of people with disabilities, we are committed to working towards equity and community inclusion for all people. Our Racial Equity Initiative, established in 2022, seeks to ensure that we understand and prioritize the needs of historically marginalized communities in our systemic initiatives, our policy advocacy within CPR, and our relationships with community partners.

We are committed to developing a new generation of attorneys who can advance this agenda for at least the next decade.  We seek to recruit, train, mentor, and support attorneys of various levels of experience to become the new leaders of CPR.

The Position

As a senior attorney you will:

  • Participate in complex litigation cases, primarily in federal courts throughout the country.
  • Participate in the development of priorities for litigation and advocacy.
  • Learn and develop expertise in subject matter areas which impact people with disabilities and other marginalized communities.
  • Incorporate racial equity principles into systemic reform efforts and policy advocacy.
  • Have the opportunity to initiate, develop, and litigate complex civil rights cases, including both injunctive and damage actions.
  • Be offered ongoing training and mentoring in these areas.
  • Contribute to our national support work for the National Disability Rights Network (NDRN), providing training and technical assistance to a national network of disability advocates in each of the states and territories.
  • Participate in our training and technical assistance and state support work to Massachusetts legal services programs.
You can be based in either CPR’s Easthampton, Massachusetts or DC offices or work remotely from another location within the United States.

Qualifications

Required

  • Juris Doctorate degree and at least 5-7 years of experience
  • Member of a state bar
  • Demonstrated commitment to people with disabilities or other marginalized groups
  • Experience in assisting in the development, prosecution, and trial of complex litigation
  • Excellent research, writing, and communication skills
  • Knowledge of relevant disability and civil rights laws
  • Ability to work independently and within a team
  • Ability to manage multiple tasks and projects with supervision
  • Working knowledge of Word, Excel, PowerPoint
  • Ability to travel
Preferred

  • Proficiency in a language other than English
The Salary and Benefits

CPR offers an excellent salary, and a unique benefit package, including health insurance; disability insurance; paid time off, including vacation, sick, and personal days; retreat time; flexible spending account; and a 403(b)-retirement plan.

Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

CPR is committed to advancing equity, diversity, and inclusion in our work and within our organization. We believe that excellence is best achieved by bringing together and embracing a variety of difference lived experiences and perspectives. We therefore encourage and welcome applications from members of the BIPOC and disabilities communities, as well as candidates from other historically under-represented communities.

Please send cover letter, resume, and writing sample to Cathy Costanzo (she/hers), Center for Public Representation, 5 Ferry Street, Suite 314, Easthampton, MA 01027, or by e-mail to hiring@cpr-ma.org, by April 21, 2023.  If you are having technical difficulties while applying, or need assistance/accommodations to apply, please call (413)586-6024.