Senior Staff or Staff Attorney, Democracy: Education & Youth, ALIT

Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) is seeking a Senior Staff or Staff Attorney dedicated to advancing education and youth justice in the South. The Democracy: Education and Youth Advocacy and Litigation Impact Team (ALIT) leverages litigation, strategic legal advocacy, and community lawyering to achieve SPLC’s Impact Goals, focusing on public education as a cornerstone for a multi-racial, inclusive democracy.

About the Role

The role focuses on strengthening and defending public education by advancing the human right of all young people to access community-based public schools that are fully funded, inclusive, high-quality, and free from segregation, discrimination, punishment, and criminalization. Key efforts include challenging laws, policies, and practices that perpetuate discrimination against Black and Brown students, students with disabilities, and LGBTQ+ students, as well as those that promote surveillance, punishment, criminalization, or institutionalization of youth. The work also aims to protect public education from defunding and privatization through vouchers and resource siphoning.

Who You Are

• Experienced: Demonstrated experience developing and litigating novel and complex civil rights impact litigation in federal and state courts at the trial and/or appellate level.
• Advocate: Experience working with community organizations, grassroots campaigns, and impacted communities, particularly in the Deep South.
• Committed: Demonstrated interest and commitment to community-oriented and movement-supportive lawyering.
• Analytical: Ability to synthesize complex issues and communicate them effectively orally and in writing to diverse audiences.
• Researcher: Demonstrated excellence in legal research, writing, and editing on complex, novel questions and factual investigations.
• Creative: Ability to create vision and take calculated risks in crafting and executing litigation strategies.
• Collaborative: Demonstrated ability to work with other ALITs, external organizations, and stakeholders to advance team and case objectives.
• Communicative: Exceptional communication skills, including persuasive writing and speaking before courts and other tribunals.
• Mission-Aligned: Demonstrates understanding of and commitment to SPLC’s mission, vision, and values.

Responsibilities

• Develop new cases in consultation with SPLC staff and community partners (Senior Staff Attorneys will also train and mentor legal staff).
• Develop and maintain collaborations and partnerships with community organizations.
• Investigate, gather information, and interview clients and witnesses.
• Collaborate with team members across ALITs and other SPLC departments to advance impact goals and campaigns.
• Research and write legal memos and briefs on complex legal and factual questions.
• Represent SPLC in various forums, including courts, community groups, legislators, and state agencies.
• Respond to requests for legal assistance.
• Perform other duties as required within the scope of the role.
• Uphold SPLC’s Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) principles by engaging diverse collaborators and partners.

Requirements

• Membership in good standing of at least one state bar in the United States, preferably Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, or Florida.
• J.D. degree from an ABA-accredited law school.

Qualifications

• Staff Attorney I-II: At least one (1) year of federal court civil litigation or comparable experience post law school.
• Senior Staff Attorney I-IV: At least six (6) years of federal court civil litigation or comparable experience post law school.

Pay

This is an exempt role with a minimum starting salary of $78,832.00 annually, based on legal experience post law school:

• Staff Attorney I (1-3 years out of law school): $78,832.00
• Staff Attorney II (4-5 years out of law school): $89,905.00
• Senior Staff Attorney I (6-7 years out of law school): $102,637.00
• Senior Staff Attorney II (8-9 years out of law school): $117,286.00
• Senior Staff Attorney III (10-11 years out of law school): $134,129.00
• Senior Staff Attorney IV (12+ years out of law school): $153,500.00

Benefits

View the benefits available to SPLC staff.

Schedule

This role offers the following work designations:

• Local Remote: Work remotely but attend work-related activities at SPLC offices or in states where SPLC operates.
• Telework: Work at an SPLC office at least three days per week, with two days remote from an alternative location.

The position reports to the Senior Supervising Attorney, Democracy: Education & Youth ALIT.