Careers at CAIR Michigan

Now Hiring

Director of Safe Spaces

Position Summary

The Director of Safe Spaces leads proactive efforts to create more inclusive environments for Muslim religious practice and expression in schools, workplaces, public institutions, and other community settings.

The role is focused on institutional change, strategic partnership building, education, and advocacy. Rather than primarily responding to individual incidents, the Director works with institutions to develop policies, practices, and relationships that prevent barriers to religious expression before they arise.

Core Responsibilities

• Build and maintain strategic partnerships with schools, universities, employers, government agencies, correctional institutions, community organizations, and other stakeholders.
• Identify opportunities for proactive institutional reform related to religious accommodation and inclusion.
• Work with institutional leaders to develop and improve policies concerning prayer, Ramadan, Eid, hijab and modest dress, religious grooming, halal dietary needs, and other expressions of faith.
• Develop and deliver trainings, educational programs, toolkits, and resources on Muslim religious practices and religious inclusion.
• Facilitate dialogue between Muslim communities and institutional decision-makers to identify concerns and develop sustainable solutions.
• Develop initiatives and campaigns that encourage institutions to adopt inclusive practices before conflicts or discrimination occur.
• Collaborate with legal, communications, and community engagement teams when systemic concerns require coordinated advocacy.
• Track partnerships, policy changes, trainings, institutional commitments, and other measurable program outcomes.
• Maintain and strengthen already existing community partnerships.

Qualifications

The ideal candidate will have experience in advocacy, community engagement, education, public policy, nonprofit programming, institutional relations, or a related field, along with:

• Strong relationship-building and communication skills.
• Experience engaging institutional leaders and community stakeholders.
• Knowledge of Muslim religious practices and common accommodation needs.
• Strong presentation, training, and public-speaking skills.
• Ability to develop strategic initiatives and manage partnerships independently.
• Commitment to religious freedom, civil rights, and inclusive institutions.

Program Vision

Safe Spaces works to normalize and protect Islamic practice in American society by moving institutions from reactive accommodation to proactive inclusion.

Success means building lasting partnerships and institutional practices that allow Muslims to freely and openly practice their faith without having to repeatedly fight for recognition or accommodation.

Now Hiring

Civil Rights Legal Associate

Position Summary

CAIR-MI is seeking a talented Civil Rights Legal Associate to join its Legal Department. This position is open to qualified attorneys and experienced paralegals with strong substantive legal research, writing, and case-development skills.

This position is responsible for conducting substantive legal research; drafting and reviewing legal documents; investigating and developing civil rights matters; assisting with litigation, administrative proceedings, and legal advocacy; and, for licensed attorneys, representing CAIR-MI clients in administrative, judicial, or other legal proceedings as appropriate. The Civil Rights Legal Associate works collaboratively with the Chief Legal Officer, CAIR-MI staff, clients, and community partners to advance CAIR-MI's civil rights and legal advocacy objectives.

The Civil Rights Legal Associate works under the direction and supervision of the Chief Legal Officer and supports matters consistent with the case priorities and litigation priorities established by the Chief Legal Officer. Responsibilities will be assigned as appropriate based upon the candidate's experience, qualifications, and attorney licensure.

Essential Duties

The Civil Rights Legal Associate will be primarily responsible for:

• Performing substantive legal research involving federal and Michigan civil rights law, constitutional law, religious liberty, employment discrimination, education, government conduct, and other areas relevant to CAIR-MI's civil rights practice.
• Drafting and reviewing legal documents, including legal and research memoranda, demand letters, advocacy correspondence, administrative complaints, religious accommodation requests, pleadings, motions, briefs, discovery, affidavits, declarations, and other legal documents as appropriate.
• Conducting client interviews, factual investigations, witness interviews, and document review in connection with potential and existing civil rights matters.
• Developing factual chronologies, case summaries, investigative memoranda, and other materials necessary to evaluate and develop civil rights claims.
• Assisting with all aspects of litigation, including client interviews, factual investigation, legal research, discovery, document review and production, deposition preparation, preparation of exhibits and trial materials, negotiations, hearings, trials, and appellate work.
• Drafting demand letters and assisting with efforts to resolve civil rights matters through negotiation, advocacy, administrative processes, or alternative dispute resolution.
• Assisting with administrative complaints and proceedings before federal, state, and local agencies.
• Reviewing and analyzing records, policies, correspondence, electronic communications, government records, and other evidence relevant to civil rights investigations and litigation.
• Maintaining accurate and contemporaneous case notes, records, documents, and deadlines in CAIR-MI's case-management system.
• Monitoring applicable statutes of limitation, court deadlines, administrative deadlines, and other case-related deadlines.
• Communicating professionally and effectively with clients, witnesses, government agencies, opposing parties, attorneys, and community partners as appropriate.
• Supporting matters consistent with case priorities, litigation priorities, and legal strategies established by the Chief Legal Officer.
• Participating in speaking engagements, Know Your Rights presentations, community programs, and educational sessions concerning civil rights issues affecting American Muslims.
• Assisting with the development and review of legal education materials, community resources, presentations, and other materials concerning civil rights and religious liberties.
• Attending continuing legal education, professional development, and other training opportunities as appropriate and remaining abreast of developments in civil rights law.
• Performing other legal, litigation, and civil rights advocacy responsibilities as assigned by the Chief Legal Officer.

Attorney Candidates

For candidates who are licensed attorneys, responsibilities may additionally include, as directed by the Chief Legal Officer:

• Providing legal advice to CAIR-MI clients;
• Representing clients in administrative, judicial, or other legal proceedings;
• Entering appearances and signing court filings;
• Participating in depositions, hearings, negotiations, trials, and appellate proceedings;
• Communicating and negotiating with opposing counsel and government attorneys; and
• Performing other responsibilities requiring attorney licensure.

Non-attorney employees will not be expected or authorized to perform duties requiring attorney licensure.

Qualifications

Qualified candidates should possess either:

• A J.D. from an accredited law school and admission to the State Bar of Michigan, or eligibility for admission within a reasonable period following hire; or
• Significant experience as a paralegal or legal professional performing substantive legal research, drafting, litigation support, and case-development work.

Qualified candidates should also possess:

• Demonstrated experience conducting substantive legal research and drafting substantive legal work product;
• Excellent legal research, writing, analytical, and oral communication skills;
• Ability to handle multiple concurrent assignments and meet deadlines;
• Ability to work effectively both independently and collaboratively;
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail;
• Familiarity with federal and/or Michigan court practice and civil litigation;
• Ability to review complex factual records and identify legally significant information;
• Ability to appropriately handle confidential, privileged, and sensitive information;
• An understanding of or demonstrated interest in civil rights issues affecting American Muslims;
• Passion for the mission of CAIR-MI; and
• Ability to communicate in a language other than English is a plus.

Preferred Qualifications

Ideal candidates will have:

• Approximately 2–5 years of relevant legal experience as an attorney, paralegal, law clerk, or other substantive legal professional;
• Prior experience in civil rights, constitutional law, employment discrimination, religious accommodation, public-interest law, or litigation;
• Experience drafting legal memoranda, demand letters, pleadings, motions, briefs, discovery, or administrative complaints;
• Experience conducting client and witness interviews and factual investigations;
• Experience with federal court practice and civil discovery; and
• Prior nonprofit, civil rights, public-interest, or community advocacy experience.