LAWCROSSING FEATURED EMPLOYER OF THE WEEK
1. 800. 973.1177
NAACP [Adam Silver] Like most public interest jobs, working for the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People will probably not make you rich. What it can give you is amazing experience and the chance to work on issues that are likely to have far-reaching effects.
The National Association for the Advance-
Today, the NAACP continues to pursue
ment of Colored People has been at the
important issues that define society. The
forefront of social and political reform since
organization offers a variety of programs for
it was founded in New York in 1909. With
attorneys. In the spirit of Brown, there is a
headquarters in Baltimore, Maryland and
strong education program. While schools
thousands of offices around the country and
were supposed to be desegregated 50 years
overseas, the NAACP provides many exciting
ago, problems persist. In addition, there are
opportunities for people looking to be on the
issues such as affirmative action and various
cutting-edge of civil rights legislation.
discrepancies in equality across the nation. Although the education program is the most
Few organizations can match the NAACP
visible, the NAACP offers many other options:
when it comes to translating abstract prin-
criminal justice, environmental justice, fair
ciples into tangible, legal action. From the
housing, and redistricting and voting.
abolition of grandfather clauses to the 1968 Fair Housing Act, the NAACP has played
Employment at the NAACP offers attorneys
a crucial role in cases that have reshaped
the opportunity to work for an organization
American culture, as well as the nation’s
that is continually shaping the landscape of
laws.
American law. Sadly, civil rights will always be a pressing concern and there will always
Recently, the country celebrated the 50th
be matters of inequality that need to be ad-
Anniversary of the decision in Brown v. Board
dressed. Lawyers for the NAACP have the
of Education. The legendary case found
ability to create a broad network both within
segregated schooling to be unconstitutional
their own ranks and among the many attor-
and served as one of the key Supreme Court
neys that handle litigation issues the NAACP
rulings of the 20th Century. The landmark
plays a significant role in.
case was won on the strength of NAACP attorneys. The legendary Charles Hamilton
The NAACP has more members than most
Houston, one-time Dean of Howard Universi-
cities have people. The considerable strength
ty Law School, was the first Special Counsel
of the organization is reflected in the amount
of the organization, and he was succeeded by
of cases it is involved in at the high courts.
the man who argued Brown in the Supreme
While it doesn’t provide the economic boon
Court, future Justice Thurgood Marshall.
of big firms, it affords great experience, the
Marshall went on to create the NAACP Legal
chance to meet many dedicated profession-
Defense and Education Fund, Inc., which
als and the ability to do work with far reach-
formed its own identity in 1957. The LDF has
ing consequences.
offices in New York, Washington and Los
s
Angeles; and was instrumental in the legal reforms of the 1960s.
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