Director of Litigation

In everything we do, we believe in creating freedom. We believe in feeling—living—bliss, no matter what you look like, where you’re from, what you believe, or whom you love. The way we create freedom is by innovating litigation, policy, and tech to shift consciousness on a mass scale while designing empowerment. We are the future of civil and human rights.

Founded in April 2020, weeks before the murder of George Floyd, JULIAN will change the culture of civil and human rights in America and the world more broadly. JULIAN will also foster equality within the industry of civil rights so that women have as much, if not more, voice than men. To that end, JULIAN’s hires must be innovative, creative, visionaries, believers, positive-thinkers, and free minds—those who can see beyond what’s in front of them.

Our mission is to attack discrimination in all forms through legal advocacy and activism in order to exact justice, foster equality, and innovate and advance the doctrines of civil and human rights law so that they will evolve in stride with social change and fulfill their purpose of protecting and empowering the vulnerable. Our intention is to revive the spirit, effectiveness, strategy, and impact of the civil rights movement to end lynchings, unjustified police killings, and all other hate crimes and rights violations.

About the role

As to all legal matters, the Director of Litigation is responsible for ensuring that JULIAN fulfills its vision and standard of excellence by being creative, innovative, and effective. This role requires helping JULIAN’s President recruit incredible attorneys to join this team. It also includes working closely with other attorneys on the team and with the President.

The Director of Litigation is also charged with developing internal procedures and standards for document discovery, teaching deposition and trial skills, promoting effective teamwork among the legal team, and preparing and reviewing court filings. The Director of Litigation must also be capable of undertaking specific and important litigation tasks, which may include brief writing and editing, taking depositions, selecting and preparing expert witnesses, arguing motions, and participating in hearings and trials.

For all legal matters, the director is responsible for developing trial strategies, training attorneys, and keeping the legal team and JULIAN’s president current on innovations of the law, new and creative approaches, and best practices. As to both civil and criminal matters, JULIAN requires that its attorneys and investigators adhere to the highest professional and ethical standards, and the Director of Litigation must work to ensure compliance with that requirement.

Importantly, the Director of Litigation will report directly to the President who maintains veto power over the director’s decisions and will be involved in developing legal strategy. Last, the Director of Litigation must be able to collaborate with and work well with JULIAN’s other divisions, including The Brigade (JULIAN’s organizing arm), policy, and tech.

Responsibilities

• Ensure JULIAN fulfills its vision and standard of excellence in all legal matters through creativity, innovation, and effectiveness.
• Recruit attorneys to join the team in collaboration with JULIAN’s President.
• Develop internal procedures and standards for document discovery.
• Teach deposition and trial skills to the legal team.
• Promote effective teamwork among the legal team.
• Prepare and review court filings.
• Undertake specific litigation tasks, including brief writing and editing, taking depositions, selecting and preparing expert witnesses, arguing motions, and participating in hearings and trials.
• Develop trial strategies and train attorneys.
• Keep the legal team and President updated on legal innovations, new approaches, and best practices.
• Ensure compliance with the highest professional and ethical standards for attorneys and investigators.
• Collaborate with JULIAN’s other divisions, including The Brigade, policy, and tech.

Requirements

• Be a citizen of the United States.
• Possess a J.D. or equivalent degree and be an active member of the bar in good standing (any U.S. jurisdiction).
• Significant, wide-ranging investigation, litigation, and enforcement experience and expertise, including:
  • A significant background in civil rights/constitutional law.
  • Knowledge and expertise in International human rights law.
• Excellent communication skills.
• A minimum of seven years of civil litigation experience (candidates with ten or more years of experience are preferred).
• While not required, some experience in criminal law matters is preferred.
• First or second chair responsibility in a minimum of three trials or substantial evidentiary hearings.
• Experience managing large litigation teams.
• Significant experience taking and defending fact and expert witness depositions.
• Ability to work effectively and collaboratively as part of a senior management team responsible for the Division's overall civil and criminal enforcement efforts.
• Strong legal editing, writing, and analytical skills.
• Significant experience working with expert witnesses.
• Organizational and management skills to assist in developing and implementing procedures and guidelines for effective oversight of Division investigations and cases.
• Significant experience with coaching, training, and mentoring of legal staff.

Pay

Salary will range from $180,000 to $200,000 per annum, commensurate with current salary and experience.

Schedule

Domestic and international travel may be required.