Koya | Diversified Search Group partnered with Chicago Lawyers’ Committee to find its next Executive Director.

Founded in 1969, Chicago Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights (“Chicago Lawyers’ Committee” or “CLC”) is the Midwest’s preeminent civil rights legal organization and a trusted partner in the ongoing fight for racial equity and economic opportunity for all. Chicago Lawyers’ Committee believes 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.

Most recently, Chicago Lawyers’ Committee found itself at a critical inflection point in its evolution of leading and supporting efforts to dismantle barriers to equity and identifying and disrupting systemic patterns of discrimination. This required a leader who would bring a track record of leadership and commitment to community-based solutions that advance civil rights for all.

The search resulted in the appointment of David Shapiro to the role.

Shapiro has devoted his career to fighting for racial justice and civil rights. He founded and lead MacArthur’s Supreme Court and Appellate Program (SCAP), scaling it up to a team of 16, establishing a groundbreaking strategic vision, receiving national recognition for the program, and raising over $2M to-date in external funding. Six years ago, not a single civil rights organization in the United States had a dedicated appellate practice. He saw a critical opportunity to shape the future of civil rights protections through a national initiative focused on identifying and litigating the most important appeals involving civil rights in the criminal legal system.

Recognized as a servant leader with an extraordinary command of a wide range of legal issues, Shapiro will build upon CLC’s collaborative relationships with community leaders, advocacy organizations, and attorneys to craft and implement community-based solutions and policies.

Previously, Shapiro served as Clinical Professor of Law at Northwestern Pritzker School of Law. Before joining Northwestern, Shapiro was a Staff Attorney at the ACLU Prison Project. Early on in his career he worked as an Associate at Davis Wright Tremaine. His extensive work includes 12 notable cases, several op-eds, books, law reviews, and reports. He has roughly 100 published quotations, interviews, and guest appearances.

Shapiro received his bachelor’s degree from Harvard College, his juris doctor from Yale Law School, was a Fulbright Scholar in Moscow Russia and completed an Executive Scholar in Non-Profit Management Program at Kellogg School of Management.

Shapiro has also experienced the power and impact of CLC’s work firsthand, CLC saved his son’s elementary school, National Teachers Academy, from closure while he was a student there. His deep passion for and commitment to Chicago and the Civil Rights space has been evident throughout his career.

We invite you to read the announcement here.