The Employment Justice Center (EJC) seeks a Legal and Advocacy Director to support all aspects of the EJC’s mission to secure, protect, and promote workplace justice in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. EJC provides legal information and advice to low-income workers with employment law disputes at our free, walk-in Workers' Rights Clinic; legal representation in contested employment law cases through staff and pro bono attorneys; and community education to workers about their rights and responsibilities on the job. EJC also leads advocacy and enforcement activities to improve the rights and conditions for District workers and coordinates advocacy campaigns designed to build low-wage worker leadership to participate in and, in some instances, lead the process.
Responsibilities of the Legal and Advocacy Director:
Workers’ Rights Clinics: Providing on-site supervision of Workers’ Rights Clinics, including supervision and training for EJC legal staff and our extensive volunteer network. Reviewing Clinic files and facilitating necessary follow-up with workers.
Employment Law Practice: Developing concrete, measurable objectives, comprehensive strategies and annual work plans, and assessing progress. Overseeing the development of relations with private bar members, academics and law school clinics who will support workers’ rights litigation. Identifying and assessing litigation opportunities and relevant research, policy analysis and advocacy, and leading those efforts. Supervising the EJC’s Litigation Attorney and Clinic Coordinator.
Advocacy: Providing information, technical assistance, co-advocacy, supervision, training, and strategic support to advocacy staff. Overseeing outreach and engagement with the community and engaging in media advocacy. Supervising the EJC’s advocacy staff.
Management: Collaborating with the Executive Director on all legal, advocacy and supervisory matters, serving as a member of the management team with a unionized staff
• Barred in Washington DC, or eligible for timely admission to practice.
• Minimum of four to seven years legal practice experience preferred, particularly in labor and/or employment law.
• Direct advocacy experience at the local, state or federal level; experience with the DC Council preferred.
• Ability to work effectively in collaboration with diverse groups of people, including staff, clients, board members, community groups, labor unions, and funders.
• Superior oral, written communication, editing skills.
• Excellent administrative and organizational skills.
• Management or administrative experience involving supervision of legal staff.
• Commitment to a flexible, comprehensive view of representation on behalf of low income workers that values both individual and systemic advocacy.
• Ability to identify and respond to shifting trends in legal practice and policies affecting the low-wage workers.
• Fluency in Spanish, French, Amharic or Arabic a plus
To apply, please reference any of the above factors that are relevant to your application explicitly in your cover letter and/or resume. Send cover letter, resume, and a short writing sample to Philip Fornaci, Executive Director, and forward materials to [email protected]. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis until position is filled. This is an immediate vacancy. Absolutely no phone calls.