Director of Criminal Legal Litigation

Robert & Ethel Kennedy Human Rights Center, new york, ny, United States

Reporting to: VP of US Advocacy & Litigation

Full-Time, Exempt

Location: Hybrid (NY or Washington, DC) preferred; remote candidates may be considered

Salary Range: $120-130k

Robert & Ethel Kennedy Human Rights Center (KHRC) is pleased to announce a call for applications for a Director of Criminal Legal Litigation . This full-time position is designed for an experienced civil rights litigator who will lead the organization’s criminal legal reform litigation program, pursuing systemic change through federal and state court actions that challenge racial discrimination, torture and cruel treatment, arbitrary detention, and extrajudicial killings carried out through policing and prison practices.

Job Responsibilities:

Litigation & Partnerships:

Develop, lead, and manage a docket of civil rights litigation focused on challenging abusive policing and prison policies and practices, including cases involving racial discrimination, excessive force, extrajudicial killings, unlawful stops and arrests, arbitrary detention, and unconstitutional conditions of confinement;
Serve as lead or co-counsel on currently pending § 1983 litigation in federal district courts and courts of appeals, including challenges to unconstitutional policing practices, use of force, constitutional violations, and other systemic civil rights violations;
Draft and supervise the preparation of complaints, motions, briefs, consent decrees, settlement agreements, and other litigation documents to a high standard;
Pursue requests and litigation under the Freedom of Information Act and state sunshine laws to expose abusive policing and prison practices, obtain records of misconduct, and support investigative and litigation strategies;
Support litigation and other interventions before the Organization of American States, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, and the United Nations system, including treaty body proceedings, special procedures, and Universal Periodic Review submissions, in coordination with the organization’s advocacy staff;
Work with grassroots partners and other human rights organizations to develop and prosecute class action and other systemic or structural reform litigation challenging patterns and practices of human rights violations by police departments, jails, and prisons;
Develop and maintain partnerships with directly impacted communities, advocacy and grassroots organizations, peer litigation groups, private law firms, and pro bono practices to build collaborative litigation and advocacy campaigns;
Represent the organization in coalitions, media, policy forums, and public communications related to criminal legal reform, police accountability, and civil rights;
Limited domestic and international travel as required (domestic and, as needed, international)

Research & Strategy:

Research and advance claims under state constitutional law, state tort law, and applicable state civil rights statutes to maximize remedies and expand legal protections for people harmed by policing and custodial abuses;
Conduct factual investigation of human rights abuses by law enforcement and in custodial settings, including through site visits, expert engagement, public records, and sunshine law requests, and discovery litigation;
Analyze evolving case law in § 1983 litigation, qualified immunity, the Fourth, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendments, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Rehabilitation Act, and related doctrines, and identify opportunities to advance novel legal theories and counter regressive precedent;
Evaluate and pursue opportunities for cross-organizational collaboration with KHRC teams on impact litigation and amicus filings in cases with broad precedential significance;
Participate in developing long-term litigation strategies and advocacy campaigns alongside grassroots partners and directly affected individuals and communities;
Identify and execute ways to achieve shared impact across other KHRC programs, to mobilize KHRC stakeholders in support of the work, and to increase the visibility of KHRC and our work before the general public;
Supervise, mentor, and support senior attorneys, fellows, and law student interns
Participate in recruitment, hiring, and training of department staff
Provide constructive feedback/performance evaluations and align individual goals with organizational strategy
Advocate for resources, capacity, and training needed for team success

A successful candidate is likely to have the following skills and experiences:

8-10+ years of substantial litigation experience with a significant portion devoted to civil rights matters in federal and/or state courts;
J.D. from an accredited law school and active bar membership in at least one U.S. jurisdiction (or eligibility to waive in);
A demonstrated commitment to KHRC’s mission, civil rights, racial justice, police accountability, and the rights of incarcerated and system-involved people;
Meaningful experience with § 1983 litigation, including pleading, discovery, dispositive motions, and trial or settlement in federal district court;
Experience with conditions-of-confinement claims, including Eighth and/or Fourteenth Amendment challenges to jail or prison conditions, use of force, medical care, mental health care, or solitary confinement;
Experience litigating police misconduct or accountability cases, including claims arising from excessive force, extrajudicial killings, unlawful stops and searches, or discriminatory policing;
Experience with class action litigation and/or other systemic or institutional reform litigation, including class certification, injunctive relief, and compliance monitoring;
Familiarity with state constitutional law and state tort theories applicable to civil rights and personal injury claims arising from government misconduct;
Exceptional legal research, analytical, and writing skills, with a demonstrated ability to write and speak clearly and persuasively;
Strong attention to detail and rigorous quality control over filings and work product;
Exceptional time management and the ability to manage multiple active matters and a team simultaneously;
High level of integrity and discretion in handling confidential information;
Innovative thinking, willingness to voice your opinions, and a strong work ethic are essential;
Strong sense of teamwork that builds positive relationships with colleagues, partners, and stakeholders;
Commitment to inclusivity and to working respectfully with colleagues and clients with diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives.

Benefits and other Perks:

Flexibility and independence to help manage your work and home life: Staff have the ability to work from home or telecommute 3-4 days a week.
KHRC values your health: We cover 100% of individual-only costs of our platinum medical, dental, vision benefits, and subsidizes the cost for dependent coverage.
KHRC understands the importance of financial planning and saving: An automatic contribution of 7% of your salary after your first year of employment.
An automatic monthly cell phone & internet speed stipend of $125/monthly to offset any phone & internet expenses.
Employees receive a $1,000 benefits card each calendar year to use at your discretion towards food and home & life purchases.
KHRC values your growth: We provide an annual $1,000 professional development stipend to all full-time staff to use towards any courses, conferences, or training that would further one's professional learning and development. As well as professional development days/hours to complete these courses.
KHRC loves to celebrate human rights advocates and our hard work! We do so by hosting award ceremonies, galas, summer outings, holiday parties, potlucks, domestic and international staff retreats, and spur-of-the-moment social outings.

How to Apply:

Submit the following application materials to with “Your Name + “Director of Criminal Legal Litigation” in the subject heading.
A resume;
A cover letter - please include how you heard about this role, why you’re interested in this position, and describing your commitment to civil rights, police accountability, and criminal legal reform, and all relevant experience;
A list of two references;
A brief (maximum 10-page), unedited writing sample. The ideal writing sample will be a persuasive brief filed in federal court, preferably in a § 1983, conditions-of-confinement, or police misconduct matter.

No phone calls please. Kennedy Human Rights Center will contact qualified candidates directly.

Kennedy Human Rights Center is an equal opportunity employer and believes we are stronger and more effective by working internally and externally with people of all abilities, diverse backgrounds, and a range of perspectives, particularly those who have historically been marginalized or underrepresented. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status. We do not discriminate in our hiring practices and in order to build the strongest possible workforce, actively seek a diverse applicant pool. If you're in need of an accommodation at any time during the application and hiring process please contact us by emailing your request to with the subj. line "Accommodation Request". Examples include, but are not limited to:

Having documents in alternate formats or read aloud
Having interviews in a more accessible location/format

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