Chicago Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights

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Chicago Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights

We are civil rights lawyers and advocates working to secure racial equity and economic opportunity for all. We identify and disrupt patterns of discrimination.

We provide legal representation through partnerships with the private bar, and we collaborate with grassroots organizations and other advocacy groups to implement community-based solutions that advance civil rights. We are committed to the unfinished business of our nation’s civil rights movement. Our vision is to root out and dismantle deeply entrenched systems of discrimination, racism, and econ

omic oppression. We believe in the power of the law to uplift and give voice to those individuals, organizations, and communities most impacted by poverty and racial disparity, including racial and ethnic groups, religious minorities, women, immigrants, LGBTQ people, and people with disabilities. Through longstanding partnerships with member law firms, we provide high quality legal assistance to clients and communities in litigation and transactional matters. We collaborate with community leaders, advocacy organizations, and attorneys to craft and implement community-based solutions and policy reform. We use a broad range of advocacy tools that include direct legal services, impact litigation, policy advocacy, community education, and coalition building. Our current legal projects focus on education, housing, voting and civic empowerment, public safety, and community economic development.

05/29/2026

What gives you hope in continuing this fight?

Yesterday, Chicago Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights hosted a conversation with Chai Feldblum (former EEOC Commissioner), Jocelyn Samuels (former EEOC Commissioner & Vice Chair), and Dariely Rodriguez (Chief Counsel at Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law) on how nonprofit leaders can best understand their legal obligations, assess DEI program and policy risk, and navigate this moment with clarity and confidence.

➡️ Slide through to see our panelists’ responses to who or what is giving them hope to keep pushing through in this difficult moment.

05/28/2026

These days, hope can feel hard to come by and the challenge of showing up only grows. Former congressman John Lewis said it best: when you see something that is not right, not fair, not just – you have an obligation to do something about it.

We are living in that moment right now. There is no better or more urgent time to join the fight. It’s time for us to get in good, necessary trouble.

Please SAVE THE DATE for our annual Good Trouble Gala on Wednesday, November 4th from 5:30-10 PM CT. ✨

We are thrilled to have the brilliant Neal Katyal, lawyer and former Acting Solicitor General of the United States, join us as our featured speaker!

Formal invitations and registration information coming soon. We hope to see you on November 4. Because good trouble is exactly what this moment demands.

🔗 Learn more about sponsorship opportunities here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1XR7JSJBx2xL4ny4-Mb1qYMXP4QDSmzdp/view?mc_cid=e5dc3f5064&mc_eid=6a2cd1931c

05/26/2026

On May 25, — six years ago yesterday — George Floyd was murdered by a police officer in Minneapolis. The murder forced a national, long-overdue racial reckoning. Millions took to the streets demanding systemic change, prompting massive commitments from corporations, schools, and philanthropic institutions.

Today, however, that awakening faces a fierce, organized backlash. From the rollbacks of diversity initiatives to the gutting of crucial voting rights protections, the initial momentum is facing a steady retreat.

👉 Swipe through to read our full op-ed, published in the Chicago Sun-Times, on why true justice requires sustained advocacy and an unflinching honesty about our history — even when it causes discomfort.

05/22/2026

When the head of the federal agency tasked with dismantling systemic workplace discrimination announces a "10-year first" case... and it's on behalf of a white man suing the New York Times, it raises some massive questions about the future of civil rights enforcement.

Join Chicago Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights next week for a candid conversation with two of the nation’s foremost experts on anti-discrimination law: former EEOC Commissioners Chai Feldblum and Jocelyn Samuels. They will be discussing how to help nonprofit leaders understand their legal obligations, assess DEI program and policy risk, and navigate this moment with clarity and confidence.

🗓️ Thursday, May 28, 2026
🕛 12:00 PM CT
📍 Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/g1n0zfpdScGqqQAOtxknMg #/registration

05/21/2026

📣 We're hiring!

Chicago Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights seeks an experienced attorney based in Indiana to join our Midwest Voting Rights Program at a critical moment for American democracy. This is an opportunity work lead high-impact litigation and policy advocacy defending and protecting voting rights in Indiana and the Midwest—work that will shape the legal landscape for years to come.

📍 Hybrid, based in Indiana
💰 Salary range: $70,000 – $108,000 per year depending on experience
📆 Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

🔗 Learn more and apply here:https://static1.squarespace.com/static/64772b94b1a4a2569477aaeb/t/6a0e387df0144a09b8f73c7a/1779316861771/MVRP_SrCounsel_IN.pdf

05/20/2026

📣 A win for housing equity!

Today, City Council unanimously passed the Centralized Affordable Housing Listing Portal Ordinance, marking a major step toward breaking down barriers that too often keep families from accessing affordable housing.

Championed by Alderwoman Hadden and Alderman Villegas alongside a broad coalition of city agencies, civil rights organizations, and housing advocates, the Ordinance authorizes:

➡️ The launch of an innovative pilot program for an affordable housing listing and search portal designed to connect prospective tenants directly with affordable housing units across the city.

➡️ Establishes a working group to actively monitor the pilot program to inform final recommendations for a permanent affordable housing portal.

Read more here: https://www.clccrul.org/press/chicago-city-council-unanimously-passes-housing-ordinance-to-streamline-affordable-housing-access

05/18/2026

Late last year, the Department of Education abruptly issued Notices of Non-Continuation, discontinuing two federal Full-Service Community Schools (FSCS) grants that support 19,000 students across Illinois.

ACT Now Illinois filed a federal lawsuit shortly after to protect its Full-Service Community Schools. ACT Now is represented in the litigation by the Chicago Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and the Sligo Law Group.

Swipe through to see the full case timeline and exactly what’s at stake.

05/17/2026

Today marks 72 years since the landmark Supreme Court ruling in Brown v. Board of Education (1954).

In this historic civil rights case, the Court unanimously ruled that separating public school children based on race is unconstitutional — marking the end of legalized racial segregation in schools across the country.

But while Brown dismantled the legal framework of “separate but equal,” the promise of true educational equity remains unfulfilled.

Systemic racism and unequal funding models mean that many schools across the country remain heavily under-resourced and underfunded. At Chicago Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights, we believe public education is a fundamental right and that every student — regardless of their ZIP code, race, or socioeconomic background — deserves access to a thriving, well-funded, and equitable education.

05/15/2026

The City of Chicago Committee on Housing and Real Estate just unanimously passed the Centralized Affordable Housing Listing Portal Ordinance 🏡

This Ordinance will launch a pilot program for a centralized affordable housing listing and search portal, alongside a working group to help shape its permanent future. This portal will make it easier for housing seekers to find and apply for affordable housing. It’ll also help elected officials and community-based organizations more easily assist community members in locating available affordable units, eliminating the complex web that currently exists.

Chicago Lawyers' Committee has been working for years alongside our community partners to get this ordinance passed. Next stop: the full City Council vote on May 20. Let's keep the momentum going!

05/12/2026

During the Indiana Primary Election on May 5, 2026, our nonpartisan Election Protection pro bono volunteers answered calls to the 866-OUR-VOTE hotline and supported nonpartisan community partners’ voter protection efforts on the ground. 🗳️

Volunteers fielded questions and resolved issues related to voter intimidation, electioneering, improper use of provisional ballots, and voter ID.

In one instance, a poll worker barred a voter from using their U.S. Passport as proof of identity to vote, despite the fact that unexpired U.S. passports are acceptable forms of voter ID in Indiana. We collaborated with Count US Indiana to advocate to election officials, who corrected poll workers on what forms of ID are acceptable for voting.

We are so grateful to our determined Election Protection volunteers for helping to protect voter access on May 5, and we thank the multiple law firms who dedicated their time to recruiting pro bono volunteers and supporting Election Protection efforts in other capacities.

We also want to thank our community partners who assisted voters on the ground — including Count US Indiana, Common Cause Indiana, League of Women Voters of Indiana, and NAACP — as well as the national Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law for their continued partnership.

We look forward to continuing to work with our partners to support voters in the November 2026 General Election.

Address

100 N La Salle Street
Chicago, IL
60602

Telephone

(312) 630-9744

Website

http://www.clccrul.org/

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