The Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR) seeks an experienced Staff Attorney for its International Human Rights docket. This position involves litigating existing international human rights cases in U.S. courts and international fora, as well as developing new and creative litigation projects in areas such as gender justice and sexual rights, the promotion and protection of economic, social and cultural rights, corporate accountability, and militarism. The position will also require the attorney to engage in coordinated education, advocacy and media work.
For more than 45 years, CCR has been dedicated to advancing and protecting the rights guaranteed by the United States Constitution and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. CCR grew out of the civil rights struggle in the South and is committed to the creative use of law as a positive force for social change. Specific focuses have included the integration of international human rights and humanitarian law into claims brought in U.S. courts and pressing government and private actors to abide by international law.
In 1980, following prior challenges to U.S. policy or practices in Latin America and Southeast Asia that violated international law, CCR brought and won the landmark Filártiga v. Peña-Irala case, which recognized that the Alien Tort Statute (ATS) provided a basis for non-U.S. citizens to bring claims in U.S. federal courts for serious international human rights violations – including torture. Since 1980, CCR has continued to litigate cases under the ATS, bringing legal claims against foreign officials from Haiti, Guatemala, Indonesia, the Philippines, Bolivia and Israel, and leading the charge in holding non-state actors accountable (in cases such as Kadić v. Karadžić) including multinational corporations (in cases such as Doe v. Unocal, Wiwa v. Shell, Abtan v. Blackwater). CCR has engaged in litigation and advocacy in support of Palestinian human rights and solidarity activism. In addition CCR has brought claims, or supported litigation, in U.S. courts and international fora on behalf of women, children and families subjected subject to gender violence.
Some of CCR’s current cases include: Al Shimari v. CACI and Al-Quraishi v. Nakhla, for the torture and other serious abuse of Iraqi detainees by private contractors in detention centers across Iraq; actions under the principle of universal jurisdiction that seek to hold George W. Bush, Donald Rumsfeld and other high-level officials criminally accountable for their role in torture and war crimes; Murillo v. Micheletti, for the extra-judicial killing of a peaceful protestor and political persecution by the coup regime in Honduras and Bigwood v. DOD and CIA, a Freedom of Information Act case seeking documents from U.S. agencies about their role in and knowledge of the 2009 coup in Honduras; a complaint to the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court seeking an investigation of high-level Vatican officials for the widespread rape and sexual violence by priests and others associated with the church.
CCR has a long history of supporting social justice movements, and continues working with and supporting human rights defenders through litigation, including as amici or in litigation FOIA cases, and other advocacy.
CCR seeks to bring cases or undertake advocacy primarily through consultation, coordination and partnership with community and/or grassroots movement groups and allies.
For an in-depth look at CCR’s work, applicants are encouraged to review our website, www.ccrjustice.org, and specifically see our International Law and Accountability and Corporate Human Rights Abuses work at http://www.ccrjustice.org/ourcases.
Job Responsibilities:
For more than 45 years, CCR has been dedicated to advancing and protecting the rights guaranteed by the United States Constitution and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. CCR grew out of the civil rights struggle in the South and is committed to the creative use of law as a positive force for social change. Specific focuses have included the integration of international human rights and humanitarian law into claims brought in U.S. courts and pressing government and private actors to abide by international law.
In 1980, following prior challenges to U.S. policy or practices in Latin America and Southeast Asia that violated international law, CCR brought and won the landmark Filártiga v. Peña-Irala case, which recognized that the Alien Tort Statute (ATS) provided a basis for non-U.S. citizens to bring claims in U.S. federal courts for serious international human rights violations – including torture. Since 1980, CCR has continued to litigate cases under the ATS, bringing legal claims against foreign officials from Haiti, Guatemala, Indonesia, the Philippines, Bolivia and Israel, and leading the charge in holding non-state actors accountable (in cases such as Kadić v. Karadžić) including multinational corporations (in cases such as Doe v. Unocal, Wiwa v. Shell, Abtan v. Blackwater). CCR has engaged in litigation and advocacy in support of Palestinian human rights and solidarity activism. In addition CCR has brought claims, or supported litigation, in U.S. courts and international fora on behalf of women, children and families subjected subject to gender violence.
Some of CCR’s current cases include: Al Shimari v. CACI and Al-Quraishi v. Nakhla, for the torture and other serious abuse of Iraqi detainees by private contractors in detention centers across Iraq; actions under the principle of universal jurisdiction that seek to hold George W. Bush, Donald Rumsfeld and other high-level officials criminally accountable for their role in torture and war crimes; Murillo v. Micheletti, for the extra-judicial killing of a peaceful protestor and political persecution by the coup regime in Honduras and Bigwood v. DOD and CIA, a Freedom of Information Act case seeking documents from U.S. agencies about their role in and knowledge of the 2009 coup in Honduras; a complaint to the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court seeking an investigation of high-level Vatican officials for the widespread rape and sexual violence by priests and others associated with the church.
CCR has a long history of supporting social justice movements, and continues working with and supporting human rights defenders through litigation, including as amici or in litigation FOIA cases, and other advocacy.
CCR seeks to bring cases or undertake advocacy primarily through consultation, coordination and partnership with community and/or grassroots movement groups and allies.
For an in-depth look at CCR’s work, applicants are encouraged to review our website, www.ccrjustice.org, and specifically see our International Law and Accountability and Corporate Human Rights Abuses work at http://www.ccrjustice.org/ourcases.
Job Responsibilities:
- Devise, initiate and/or contribute to the development and implementation of litigation strategies before domestic courts, regional and international human rights bodies and within the United Nations system;
- Draft and file legal briefs, conduct motion-practice, present oral argument, and coordinate amicus strategies; undertake legal and factual research in areas of international human rights, humanitarian, refugee and criminal law, among others;
- Contribute to developing, planning and implementation of community advocacy initiatives and educational materials, including public speaking and writing on subjects related to the docket area;
- Provide assistance and advice to CCR’s movement allies, activists, advocates and other organizations;
- Media work, including doing interviews, working on press materials, and participating in press strategy;
- Assist the Development Department in developing grant proposals and discussing work with donors (some travel may be required); and
- Supervise legal workers, legal interns, and fellow(s), as well as build relations with outside lawyers and organizations to broaden the resources of the IHR Docket.
- Minimum of eight years litigation experience, including experience and confidence in complex federal litigation;
- A preferred background or expertise in some of the following substantive areas: reproductive justice, sexual rights or gender identity; anti-militarism; corporate accountability; migrants’ rights; environmental justice or other anti-discrimination work; or economic, social and cultural rights, including in the areas of labor, economic justice, and access to housing and health services;
- Familiarity and experience with international substantive human rights treaties, laws and instruments and international human rights tribunals and other human rights forums;
- Demonstrated commitment to social justice and the mission of CCR; creativity in crafting strategies to advance and promote international human rights in CCR’s priority areas;;
- Excellent research, writing, and oral communication skills;
- Demonstrated ability to effectively initiate and manage complex legal work, including ability to work independently and manage a variety of tasks simultaneously.
- Proven ability to work as member of a team;
- Excellent client skills and cultural sensitivity; experience working with diverse groups and social justice movements preferred;
- Experience with advocacy outside of or in conjunction with litigation;
- International experience a plus;
- Willingness to travel;
- Integrity, collegiality and a sense of humor;
- Non-English language skills a plus;
- Admission to the New York Bar preferred; if hired, must become admitted to New York Bar.
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