Assistant or Senior Counsel, Litigation

Responsibilities

• Litigating the full range of racial justice issues, including: educational opportunity, diversity, adequacy, access and retention; employment and housing discrimination; voting rights; and criminal justice;
• Leading and supervising teams to develop and litigate complex, civil rights impact cases in federal and state courts and before administrative bodies;
• Drafting petitions for certiorari, merits briefs and amicus briefs in the United States Supreme Court, other federal courts, and state courts that bear significantly on the civil rights of Black people;
• Investigating, developing, consulting, and advising on potential claims, preparing complaints, participating in motion practice, discovery, hearings and oral arguments, trials, and appeals;
• Collaborating with LDF’s policy team in developing and implementing strategies to advance LDF’s policy agenda related to the substantive subject matter areas;
• Serving as a public thought leader on issues confronting Black communities;
• Representing LDF in the media, at conferences, and in other public venues;
• Developing and maintaining relationships with community partners, coalition members, and legal allies;
• Assisting in creating and implementing multi-pronged strategic plans using litigation, organizing, public education, legislation and policy advocacy;
• Preparing policy reports, memoranda, briefing papers, public education materials, and talking points for internal and external use;
• Assisting LDF colleagues in developing skills in impact litigation and the other interdisciplinary advocacy strategies necessary to effect change;
• Fostering relationships with other advocates, lawyers, and civil rights organizations;
• Travel as necessary, when conditions permit;
• Other responsibilities as assigned.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor degree;
• Minimum of 7 years of litigation experience for Assistant Counsel (although we welcome applications from highly qualified candidates with fewer years of experience) and minimum of 10 years litigation experience for Senior Counsel;
• Admission to the New York, Washington, D.C. or Georgia Bar or eligibility to waive in, based on the office location;
• Commitment to the racial justice mission of LDF;
• Outstanding legal research, writing, and oral advocacy skills;
• Broad, relevant litigation experience at the trial and/or appellate levels; candidates with experience litigating criminal legal system cases (including death penalty challenges), economic justice cases (including under Title VII and the Fair Housing Act), and/or class actions are especially encouraged to apply;
• Federal and/or state advocacy experience related to reform for communities of color;
• Experience leading significant civil and/or criminal litigation;
• Effective public speaking experience;
• The ability to work both collaboratively and independently;
• Supervisory and case management experience with an interest in and commitment to the professional development, training and support of attorneys, legal interns and administrative staff;
• Capacity to analyze and articulate legal concepts and other complex issues to a variety of audiences;
• A vision for attacking persistent barriers to full access and equality for people of color, and Black people in particular.