Senior Staff Attorney, LGBT Rights and Special Litigation

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Job location
400 Washington Avenue
Montgomery, AL 36104
United States
Organization information
Organization name: 
Southern Poverty Law Center
Street address: 
400 Washington Avenue
City: 
Montgomery
State: 
Alabama
ZIP: 
36104
Job type: 
Legal - Defender
Position Description: 

Overview:

Southern Poverty Law Center seeks an outstanding and experienced attorney to drive our litigation efforts, defend the vulnerable communities with whom we work, and expand the protections and rights of our clients. The successful candidate will plan, develop, and litigate cases in federal and state courts throughout the country to protect the civil rights of vulnerable individuals. Under the supervision of the Deputy Legal Director of SPLC’s LGBT Rights & Special Litigation practice group, the Senior Staff Attorney will: 1) litigate impact cases and carry out other legal advocacy to address civil rights abuses, with a particular emphasis on litigation against hate groups and those who commit tortious acts against members of vulnerable communities, including racial and religious minorities and the LGBT community; 2) collaborate with other practice groups and provide litigation expertise; 3) coach and mentor attorneys in other practice groups. This attorney would report directly to our Deputy Legal Director, LGBT Rights and Special Litigation.

Responsibilities:

Oversee all aspects of litigation, including developing new cases and legal theories, discovery and motion practice, trials and appeals; Plan and implement effective litigation strategies to advance SPLC’s strategic goals;
Engage with the LGBTQ community, immigrant communities, communities of color, or other vulnerable communities to discover litigation opportunities and needs;
Supervise, mentor, and manage junior members of legal team and support staff;
Drive analysis of litigation opportunities and interact with legal leadership to identify and take on innovative cases;
Other duties as may be assigned to meet SPLC needs.

Qualifications:

J.D., active bar membership, and willingness to take the bar in a new state, if necessary;
At least 7 years of federal court civil litigation or comparable legal experience;
Served as lead counsel on two or more major civil cases;
Excellent research and writing skills;
High degree of professionalism and understanding of legal ethics;
Collegial, collaborative, and inspiring leadership style;
Excellent interpersonal skills with demonstrated ability to work as part of a team, build external relationships, and work in partnership in litigation;
Polished and persuasive speaking and presentation abilities;
Demonstrated capacity to work with diverse populations, including communities of color, people with disabilities, and/or LGBTQ communities;
A strong commitment to civil liberties and civil rights. A commitment to diversity; a personal approach that values the individual and respects differences of race, ethnicity, age, gender, sexual orientation, religion, ability and socio-economic circumstance.

Requirements: 

Qualifications:

J.D., active bar membership, and willingness to take the bar in a new state, if necessary;
At least 7 years of federal court civil litigation or comparable legal experience;
Served as lead counsel on two or more major civil cases;
Excellent research and writing skills;
High degree of professionalism and understanding of legal ethics;
Collegial, collaborative, and inspiring leadership style;
Excellent interpersonal skills with demonstrated ability to work as part of a team, build external relationships, and work in partnership in litigation;
Polished and persuasive speaking and presentation abilities;
Demonstrated capacity to work with diverse populations, including communities of color, people with disabilities, and/or LGBTQ communities;
A strong commitment to civil liberties and civil rights. A commitment to diversity; a personal approach that values the individual and respects differences of race, ethnicity, age, gender, sexual orientation, religion, ability and socio-economic circumstance.

Notes: 
Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) is proud to be an equal opportunity employer, and as an organization committed to diversity and the perspective of all voices, we consider applicants equally of race, gender, gender identity, color, sexual orientation, religion, marital status, disability, political affiliation and national origin. We reasonably accommodate staff members and/or applicants with disabilities, provided they are otherwise able to perform the essential functions of the job. y Employer
Salary range: 
Salary commensurate with experience.
Submission deadline: 
Sunday, April 30, 2017