Senior Staff Attorney, Litigation (Two-Year Term)

ASIAN AMERICANS ADVANCING JUSTICE-AAJC

Job Location:

Washington, AR - USA

Yearly Salary: $ 110000 - 120000

Posted on: 19 days ago

Vacancies: 1 Vacancy

Job Summary

Benefits:

401(k)
Competitive salary
Dental insurance
Flexible schedule
Health insurance
Home office stipend
Paid time off
Parental leave
Training & development
Vision insurance
Wellness resources

Senior Staff Attorney Litigation (Two-Year Term)

*** COVID vaccination required. Exemptions considered on a case-by-case basis. ***

Organizational Profile: Asian Americans Advancing Justice AAJC (AAJC) is a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1991. Our mission is to advance the civil and human rights of Asian Americans and to build and promote a fair and equitable society for all. For more than 30 years we have served as the leading Asian American voice on civil rights issues in our nations capital fighting for the rights of our communities through policy advocacy litigation research public education and community engagement.

Based in Washington DC Advancing Justice AAJC is a member of the Asian Americans Advancing Justice (Advancing Justice) affiliation. With our affiliates in Atlanta Chicago and Southern California we work together as equal and independent partners operate under one name and strive to speak with one unified and powerful voice to promote justice empower our communities bring local and national constituents together and strengthen our multiracial democracy.

Title: Senior Staff Attorney Litigation (Attorney)
Reports to: Senior Director and Assistant Director of Litigation

Term: Immediately; Two-Year Term

Status: Full-time Exempt Employee 40 hours/week

Salary: $110000-$120000

This position is included in a union-represented collective bargaining unit and specific terms and conditions of employment are subject to collective bargaining.

Position Summary: The Senior Staff Attorney (Attorney) a member of the Litigation team is an experienced litigator responsible for identifying developing and litigating impact cases advancing the civil and human rights of Asian Americans primarily in federal courts. AAJCs docket includes but is not limited to civil rights cases focusing on immigration/immigrant rights (including family reunification) voting rights and educational equity (Higher Education and K-12). The Attorney must manage cases and pursue litigation with limited supervision. The Attorney will collaborate closely with the litigation policy and community engagement teams to advance AAJCs policy goals through litigation. The Attorney will endeavor to empower vulnerable communities through a multi-pronged approach of impact litigation amicus briefs policy advocacy strategic communications and movement building while addressing the needs of the Asian American community and civil rights coalitions. The Attorney will also work with their counterparts at the other Advancing Justice affiliates to ensure alignment with our litigation strategies and to maximize the effectiveness of our collective endeavors.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Responsibilities

Identify develop and lead litigation in federal and state courts. Prepare pleadings motions and briefs; conduct discovery; present oral arguments; and handle appeals.
Strategically creatively and boldly use client-driven community-grounded impact litigation to support AAJCs policy priorities.
Collaborate with staff across the organization including the Communications Community Engagement Research Development and relevant policy teams.
Assist with and support AAJCs administrative and legislative advocacy by providing legal analysis and technical assistance to colleagues in close collaboration with the organizations policy leads. Provide support to other staff on issues of subject-matter expertise.
Develop community education tools including but not limited to webinars trainings and Know Your Rights (KYR) materials.
Serve as a legal/policy expert in coalitions with external partners.
Supervise law student interns and legal fellows and manage external consultants as needed.
Facilitate coordination with pro bono counsel coalitional partners and AAJCs affiliate partners.
Work with and help lead junior attorneys on case-specific assignments.
Contribute to the development and implementation of strategic communications plans related to litigation issues including providing content support responding to press inquiries and making public speaking appearances as necessary and appropriate.
Engage in the development and implementation of Community Partners Network strategies tactics and activities on litigation issues as necessary and appropriate.
Other duties as assigned.

Fundraising

Help create and implement a development-supported growth strategy for litigation to include identifying donor prospects through work with peer organizations and other professional contacts and developing programmatic elements that may be of particular interest to donors/prospects.
Work with the Senior Director and Assistant Director to craft project budgets and contribute to the development of grant proposals relating to litigation.
Provide content/information for donor communications and materials (donor newsletters action alerts special reports from the executive director social media postings etc.).

General AAJC Roles

Live and exhibit the Values of AAJC by contributing to an environment that promotes trust teamwork and transparency among staff board National Advisory Council affiliates and community partners.
Contribute to establish and follow policies and procedures including maintenance of confidentiality to ensure that the principles of AAJC are implemented.
Participate in and lead decision-making processes understand outcomes and be accountable for decisions made in or affecting their program area.
Understand the values and principles of AAJC and apply them fully in work responsibilities.
Participate in other activities and serve on ad hoc committees as requested.
Attend and contribute to AAJC and Board of Directors meetings as requested.
Be available to travel and work occasional evenings and weekends.

EDUCATIONAL AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Education and Experience

J.D. degree from accredited law school and a member in good standing with a state bar association with ability to waive into DC bar.
At least six years of litigation experience in federal courts with experience in immigration/immigrant rights voting rights and/or educational equity strongly preferred.
Demonstrated experience in the investigation development and litigation of impact cases advancing civil rights (including taking and defending depositions drafting and responding to discovery requests preparation of expert reports and trial experience).
Significant experience working with coalitions including a track record of forging alliances and moving people to take collective action.
Experience working with diverse groups from various sectors including individuals with limited English proficiency community-based organizations national policy organizations and government.
Experience navigating the litigation process with limited resources and capacity.

Skills Knowledge and Abilities

Ability to meet internal and external deadlines in a fast-paced rapidly-changing environment.
Ability to adapt to changing priorities and balance competing assignments.
Ability to operationalize vision think strategically creatively solve problems exercise good judgment and lead change.
Ability to work effectively in case teams including with co-counsel from other civil rights organizations and pro bono counsel.
Excellent writing research and communication skills with an ability to perform complex legal analysis to find creative novel strategies.
Experience and knowledge of Asian American and/or civil and human rights issues preferred.
Asian language fluency is a plus.

Application Process

Send separate attachments for cover letter resume and a short writing sample to Hiring Manager at or 1620 L Street NW Suite 1050 Washington DC 20036. Applications with all three items attached will be considered. Offers will be extended based upon satisfactory reference checks.

Asian Americans Advancing Justice AAJC is an equal opportunity employer.

Flexible work from home options available.

Compensation: $110000.00 - $120000.00 per year

Asian Americans have been part of the American story since its earliest days. From those who traveled to the U.S. as a result of changing immigration policies to refugees who came to American shores in search of safety to recent immigrants who continue to join our nation in search of the famed American Dream the one indisputable truth about our community is its breadth diversity and resilience.

And yet we have seen our community ignored in national conversations about the very policies that define our experience: immigration voting rights and so much more.

Required Experience:

Staff IC

Benefits:401(k)Competitive salaryDental insuranceFlexible scheduleHealth insuranceHome office stipendPaid time offParental leaveTraining & developmentVision insuranceWellness resourcesSenior Staff Attorney Litigation (Two-Year Term)*** COVID vaccination required. Exemptions considered on a case-by-c...