Founded in 1963 at the request of President Kennedy, Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law is dedicated to securing equal justice for all Americans. The organization’s mission is to identify and eliminate barriers to voting and other forms of political participation and to provide legal services to grassroots organizations.
The organization’s Voting Rights Project focuses on traditionally disenfranchised populations. The Project identifies problems with the elections administration and provides legal support. The project has also worked with the non-partisan Election Protection program since 2004.
The organization also works on economic justice issues. Through Legal Services for Entrepreneurs, it provides free legal services to low-income entrepreneurs. The Economic Justice Project is also dedicated to eliminating discrimination in the workplace. It targets all forms of discrimination, including discrimination based on race, gender, and sexual orientation.
The organization has a board of directors composed of leading private law firms, academic institutions, and corporations. The Board of Directors also engages in pro bono legal work. Its executive committee includes the organization’s president Damon Hewitt, Jr., and Joe West of Duane Morris LLP. It has also partnered with the Charles Hamilton Houston Institute for Race and Justice and the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund.
The organization’s Public Policy Department provides leadership on the organization’s policy agenda. It conducts research, prepares testimony, and produces policy statements. It also provides materials for Hill hearings. The department is responsible for building and maintaining the organization’s visibility. It also produces issue briefs and provides advocacy to government officials.