The Legal Action Center (LAC) seeks a full-time Litigation Director. They will grow LAC’s litigation docket and integrate LAC’s litigation into its multi-dimensional strategy in close collaboration with other staff. This strategy encompasses direct legal services, impact litigation, policy advocacy, and education that prioritizes achieving racial justice and equity and engaging directly impacted communities.
The Litigation Director will report to the Vice President of Legal Advocacy. The position is based in New York City but is currently remote due to COVID-19. This position will include the opportunity to work some of the time remotely, even after full re-opening.
Job Responsibilities:
· Develop, conduct, and lead cutting-edge individual and class action litigation in federal and state courts and administrative agencies, including through amicus briefs. In addition, develop and maintain relationships with pro bono and other co-counsel (e.g., private plaintiff-side firms and public interest groups).
· Help to continually evolve and direct the implementation of the strategic vision for litigation and legal services as a critical complement to policy strategies; that is a coordinated process with the Vice President of Legal Advocacy and Vice President for Health Initiatives.
Supervise a Staff Attorney, and in 2022, help to create a new staff attorney position which the Litigation Director will supervise; also will supervise some of the cases of two other attorneys and a legal fellow.
Participate in the “attorney on-call” rotation, which entails four attorneys alternating to provide guidance to paralegals about serving clients and cultivating litigation opportunities; Litigation Director will work closely with Senior Staff Attorney for Legal Services to ensure alignment of paralegal services with litigation goals.
Collaborate with other legal services providers, plaintiffs’ attorneys, and advocacy groups by participating in task forces and coalitions, making presentations, and attending conferences.
Manage the updating and implementation of litigation policies and procedures.
Provide training to health and social service providers, lawyers, and others working in the criminal legal and health fields and serving as a public thought leader on the issues central to LAC’s litigation.
Engage in the broader advocacy work related to LAC’s litigation and legal services by working with the policy and communications teams to help shape LAC’s policy agenda, conduct limited policy advocacy, and serve as a media spokesperson.
Participate in LAC’s management team, which works to advance key organizational priorities and provide input to LAC’s executive team.
Strategize with the Vice President of Legal Advocacy, the development department, and other managers on funding for litigation and legal services, including through attorneys’ fee awards, cy pres awards, and institutional sources.
Required Qualifications:
10+ years of experience conducting all aspects of civil trial and appellate litigation, including case development and filing, discovery, evidentiary proceedings, appeals, and settlements, with a strong background in civil rights, public interest law, and impact litigation
Possess strong legal skills and ability to analyze system-level problems and develop creative solutions using legal, policy, educational, and media strategies
Demonstrated ability to inspire, lead and support the growth and development of a team of attorneys
Must have a proven track record of developing and implementing a vision and strategy for litigation
Excellent written and oral communication and advocacy skills
Exceptional interpersonal skills and ability to work cooperatively within LAC and network effectively with and engage external stakeholders, including government officials, service providers, lawyers, advocates, community partners, and directly impacted individuals
Proven ability to creatively problem-solve while maintaining a sense of humor
Prior work with underrepresented communities, ideally people living with HIV, substance use disorders, or criminal legal system involvement
Knowledge of laws and issues related to employment, disability rights, race discrimination, insurance discrimination, or the criminal legal system
Demonstrated commitment to racial justice and equity
Passion for dismantling barriers to re-entry, ending mass incarceration, promoting a public health approach to addiction, securing and enforcing privacy rights, and promoting racial and economic justice
JD and admission to New York State Bar
Preferred Qualifications:
Experience speaking publicly and to the media
Experience working in a high-volume direct legal services practice
Experience engaging directly impacted communities as partners in a litigation and legal services program
Spanish language fluency
Please email a cover letter, résumé, and writing sample (no calls) to [email protected] and write “Litigation Director” in the subject line. Please submit your resume and cover letter as one PDF document. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until the position is filled. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Only candidates selected for interviews will be contacted.