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 litigation attorney to lead significant portions of our systemic reform agenda, 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 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 mission to promote 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.  

Our goal is to develop a new generation of attorneys who can advance this agenda for at least the next decade, and to recruit, train, mentor, and support attorneys of various levels of experience to become the new leaders of CPR. 

The Position 

As a senior litigation attorney, you will: 

• Initiate, develop, lead, and litigate complex civil rights cases in federal courts throughout the country. 
• Participate in the development of priorities for litigation and advocacy. 
• Demonstrate 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. 
• Support special projects, national and local policy initiatives, and the preparation of amicus briefs, as assigned by the Legal Director. 
• Provide training and mentoring to other CPR staff.  
• Contribute to our national training and technical assistance work for the National Disability Rights Network (NDRN), a national network of disability advocates in each of the U.S. states and territories.  
• Provide training and technical assistance 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 

• A Juris Doctorate degree and admission to/good standing in at least one state bar 
• At least 10 years of complex litigation experience on disability or related civil rights issues 
• Substantial experience in developing and litigating systemic reform litigation including complex discovery and trial practice 
• Extensive knowledge of relevant disability and civil rights laws 
• Demonstrated commitment to people with disabilities or other marginalized groups. 
• Professional or personal experience working with communities of color and/or advancing racial equity 
• Leadership and supervisory experience  
• Excellent research, writing, and communication skills 
• Ability to manage multiple tasks and projects independently 
• Working knowledge of Word, Excel, PowerPoint  
• Ability to travel, as needed 

The Salary and Benefits 

CPR offers a unique benefit package, including health insurance; disability insurance; paid time off, including vacation, sick, personal days, and retreat time; a flexible spending account; and a 403(b)-retirement plan.  CPR has recently updated its salary structure to be competitive with other national civil rights organizations.  Qualified attorneys with at least ten years of experience can expect to earn $106,000-$113,500 a year.  

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 different 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 related to complex litigation 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 November 10, 2023.  If you are having technical difficulties while applying, or need assistance/accommodations to apply, please call (413) 586-6024.