Civil Litigation Director

About the role

MLFA is seeking a Civil Litigation Director to lead its federal civil litigation practice. The Director will shape practice-area strategy, supervise attorneys and legal staff, oversee a complex nationwide docket, and serve as lead counsel on select high-impact matters involving constitutional rights, civil liberties, religious freedom, national security, and government accountability. Reporting to the Legal Director, this person will translate division-wide priorities into clear case-selection, staffing, supervision, and litigation decisions for the civil practice.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute the civil litigation practice's strategy, annual priorities, and impact goals in partnership with the Legal Director and organizational leadership.
• Set clear standards for matter selection, case theory, litigation posture, resource allocation, partnerships, settlement, and appellate strategy.
• Maintain practice-wide visibility into the civil docket, ensuring every matter has clear ownership, active supervision, an appropriate strategy, and well-managed deadlines.
• Lead regular docket and portfolio reviews to assess legal risk, workload, staffing, case progress, and opportunities for broader impact.
• Monitor emerging legal, regulatory, and policy developments affecting Muslim individuals and organizations and identify where MLFA should lead, intervene, partner, or build capacity.
• Serve as lead counsel or senior co-counsel on a focused portfolio of complex federal civil matters from intake and investigation through trial, appeal, settlement, or other resolution.
• Develop litigation strategies involving constitutional claims, civil liberties, religious discrimination, surveillance, watchlisting, government overreach, and challenges to agency or official action.