About CIR:

Founded in 1989, CIR is a nationwide, nonprofit public interest law firm dedicated to defending individual liberties against state and federal government abuses. With nine Supreme Court appearances and many other landmark victories in our storied history, we continue to select cases strategically to establish enduring constitutional precedents with broad applications while also influencing public policy and a wider cultural discourse.

CIR is accelerating the growth of our operations and tightly aligned team. We are committed to the principle that America’s founding documents and post-Civil War amendments represent the fullest realization of Enlightenment ideals—with a charter of limited and divided government and other protections for individual rights that are the envy of the world.

Our proud public mission is to establish landmark precedents to strengthen and restore these individual rights essential for a free and flourishing society. In sum, CIR team members are principled, zealous advocates committed to restoring that constitutional charter and its attendant benefits.

Are you ready for more meaningful work?

Wanted: Recent law school graduates and post-clerkship litigators who want to channel their talent, skills, and passion into protecting individual rights from government abuse. Litigation Fellows who excel in the year-long program will be considered for permanent employment.

About the Role

CIR seeks recent law school graduates and post-clerkship candidates with up to two years of litigation experience to help incubate, execute, and win major landmark victories that defend, expand, and entrench individual liberties. Judicial clerkships and experience in public interest law are strong advantages.

CIR’s ideal candidates will demonstrate:

  • Strong alignment with CIR’s mission and a passion for advancing individual liberty;
  • Knowledge of relevant areas of constitutional law for CIR’s practice and its central role in our mission;
  • Entrepreneurial skills to develop and execute litigation strategies;
  • Ability to identify specific opportunities for consequential litigation;
  • A commitment to client and public interest case development;
  • A collaborative approach in working with attorneys inside and outside the organization, clients, and prospective clients;
  • Interest in all aspects of public interest law; and
  • Creativity and drive to be a constructive change agent, helping CIR continually improve and increase its impact in a competitive environment.

Litigation Fellows will work directly with CIR’s senior leadership to expand and advance its litigation practice areas, including restoring competitive federalism, promoting equal protection of the law, and defending freedom of speech.

This is a growth position: Litigation Fellows will be mentored and trained to work primarily on cases they help develop. Over time, Litigation Fellows will be expected to assist team members in serving as CIR spokespersons on select cases and related substantive matters with the media, in coalition gatherings, and in academic settings.

In sum, CIR’s litigation team will develop and win landmark cases. This often requires setting the stage for broad reform with publications, media appearances, public advocacy, and coalition building, and establishing litigators as sought-after national spokespersons for individual rights.

Necessary Qualifications

  • Demonstrated passion for promoting individual liberty and a deep understanding of its constitutional foundations.
  • Exceptional legal research, writing, and oral advocacy skills, plus the ability to communicate persuasively for both legal and non-legal audiences.
  • Exemplary planning and organization skills, including meticulous attention to detail.
  • Excellent time-management skills to advance multiple cases and handle dynamic, fast-moving situations.
  • Collaborative spirit, combined with a sense of humor to challenge government malefactors in a relentless and disciplined manner without forgetting the bright side of life.
  • Willingness to travel for client and case development, litigation appearances, and other institutional purposes.

General Information:

CIR’s headquarters are in Washington, DC, where Litigation Fellows are expected to work. This is a full-time position. CIR is an equal opportunity employer, offering a generous compensation package that includes competitive salary, premium medical and dental insurance, employer-paid retirement contributions, and other attractive benefits. CIR takes pride in its employees and encourages continuous professional growth, a meaningful personal and family life, and the pursuit of other intellectual and creative endeavors.

The projected salary range for this year-long position is $75,000-$90,000.

To Apply:

Qualified candidates should submit the following application materials (in order) in separate PDF documents:

  • Cover letter explaining why you meet each qualification listed above, why you want a career defending liberty against government overreach, and what makes you ideally suited to the role.
  • Resume including your educational and professional experience, and a list of publications;
  • 10-page writing sample reflecting your original work and demonstrating your best legal analysis and writing abilities, without editing by others or AI, and
  • Three professional references.

Applications should be submitted to Talent Market via this link: talentmarket.org/apply-for-your-dream-job/

Questions can be directed to Savannah Murphy, Project Manager at Talent Market, who is assisting with the search: [email protected].

There is no application deadline for this position. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Later stages of our interview process include an additional writing component. This job will remain posted on our site until it is filled.

While we thank all applicants in advance for their interest in this position, we are only able to contact those to whom we can offer an interview. Only direct applications will be considered. No phone calls, please.

Talent Market is a nonprofit entity dedicated to promoting liberty by helping free-market nonprofits identify talent for critical roles. We provide consulting and recruiting services at no cost to 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations that clearly and directly focus on advancing the principles of economic freedom, free enterprise, free trade, free speech, property rights, rule of law, and limited regulation.