CAIR-NY's legal department is hiring a temporary staff attorney for a four-month contract position (October 10, 2026 start) covering parental leave for an existing attorney.
**Role Overview:**
You will work alongside CAIR-NY's legal team and external co-counsel, providing comprehensive legal services to the Muslim community in New York. The role combines civil rights litigation, community legal education, and advocacy work.
**Key Responsibilities:**
- Civil Rights Litigation: Participate in all phases of civil rights cases, including client interviews, factual investigations, legal research, discovery management, drafting legal documents, and negotiation
- Community Education & Outreach: Conduct Know-Your-Rights presentations (in-person and online), provide legal consultations to community members, handle limited representation in student disciplinary matters and law enforcement encounters
- Legal Advocacy: Draft pre-litigation advocacy letters on behalf of community members
- Administrative: Produce internal and external reports and assist with general office duties
**Required Qualifications:**
- Minimum two years of post-law school legal experience
- Strong legal writing, research, and analytical skills
- Strategic advocacy capabilities
- Current admission to New York State Bar and both Southern District and Eastern District of New York (SDNY and EDNY)
- Genuine commitment to CAIR-NY's civil rights and Muslim advocacy mission
- Prior experience in collaborative, public-interest-oriented legal work
**Preferred Qualifications:**
- Proficiency in Arabic, Urdu, or Bangla to better serve CAIR-NY's diverse Muslim community
**What's Offered:**
- Four-month temporary full-time position with hybrid work arrangement based at CAIR-NY office in New York City
- Compensation: $20,000–$25,000 for the full engagement, commensurate with experience
- Opportunity to work on meaningful civil rights and Muslim advocacy cases
**Application Deadline:** October 1, 2026 (rolling review; priority to early submissions)
**How to Apply:** Send cover letter (1 page), résumé, writing sample (max 10 pages), and three references to legal@ny.cair.com with subject line including your name and "Temporary Staff Attorney"