Litigation Director

About the role

The Litigation Director is a leadership role within a mission-driven organization focused on advancing meaningful change through the legal system. This role oversees a complex litigation portfolio, guiding strategic case development, legal operations, and a talented team of attorneys.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership and operational oversight for all litigation activities, ensuring legal initiatives align with organizational priorities, mission objectives, and available resources.
• Develop and execute litigation goals and strategies, including identifying opportunities for impactful legal action, emerging areas of law, and innovative litigation approaches.
• Lead, mentor, and manage the litigation team by providing guidance, performance feedback, professional development support, and effective supervision.
• Review and evaluate legal work products to ensure high standards of quality, professionalism, ethics, and strategic alignment.
• Oversee complex litigation matters, including major case strategy decisions, legal research, pleadings, discovery processes, motions, negotiations, settlements, and trial preparation.
• Ensure compliance with organizational policies, professional ethical standards, and applicable legal requirements.
• Develop and manage annual litigation budgets while monitoring financial performance and case-related expenditures.
• Collaborate with internal departments and external partners on matters involving overlapping legal, regulatory, advocacy, and strategic priorities.
• Provide regular reporting on litigation activities, financial performance, and program outcomes to senior leadership.
• Represent the litigation function at conferences, fundraising events, donor meetings, and media opportunities when needed.
• Contribute as a member of the leadership team by helping shape short- and long-term organizational strategies and fostering a collaborative workplace culture.

Requirements

• An experienced litigation leader with a strong background in complex legal matters, strategic advocacy, and team management.
• A Juris Doctor (JD) degree from an American Bar Association-accredited law school.
• Admission to practice law and substantial experience managing complex civil litigation.
• Proven experience developing and successfully executing strategic impact litigation in state and federal courts.
• Significant experience handling complex cases, including drafting complaints, managing discovery, conducting depositions, working with experts, preparing dispositive motions, negotiating settlements, and representing clients at trial.
• 5+ years of formal people leadership experience, including hiring, mentoring, coaching, and developing high-performing legal teams.
• Experience managing litigation budgets at both program and individual case levels.
• A strong understanding of legal ethics and experience ensuring compliance within a legal organization.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate across teams and work effectively with professionals from different legal and operational disciplines.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain complex legal issues to executives, board members, donors, colleagues, media, and external stakeholders.
• Strong strategic thinking, problem-solving abilities, sound judgment, and the ability to manage ambiguity.
• Excellent relationship-building, listening, and conflict-resolution skills.
• A commitment to advancing mission-driven legal work and using litigation as a tool for meaningful long-term impact.
• Proficiency with standard office software applications, including document management and productivity tools.
• Ability to travel periodically for meetings, retreats, conferences, training sessions, and stakeholder engagements.

Benefits

• Competitive starting annual salary of $168,453 for most geographic locations.
• Starting salary of $177,319 for candidates located within 25 miles of Washington D.C., Cotati, CA, or Los Angeles.
• Starting salary of $186,184 for candidates located within 25 miles of New York City or San Francisco.
• Comprehensive employer-paid health, dental, vision, and life insurance benefits.
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA) and Dependent Care Account (DCA) options.
• Generous paid time off, including: 192 hours of PTO annually, 19 paid holidays, one-month paid sabbatical after five years of continuous employment, and 16 weeks of paid parental leave.
• 401(k) retirement plan with a 5% employer contribution after one year.
• Flexible work schedules based on manager approval.
• Remote work allowance of $750.
• Annual professional development reimbursement of up to $1,000.
• Remote work flexibility and strong focus on work-life balance.
• Opportunity to contribute to meaningful, mission-driven legal initiatives.