Managing Attorney

About Americans United

Americans United for Separation of Church and State is a nonpartisan educational and advocacy organization dedicated to advancing the constitutional principle of church-state separation as the only way to ensure freedom of religion including the right to believe or not believe for all of us. Founded in 1947 Americans United is a diverse and dynamic organization composed of people from allwalks of life: lawyers and lobbyists students and activists religiousleadersand impassioned includes people of faith and people whodontprofess anyparticular faith. It is a community that welcomes people of all genders races ethnicities religions or beliefs sexual orientations ages socioeconomic backgrounds and abilities. Because we work on a wide variety of issues with many different communities we value what diversity and diverse perspectives bring to our work.

Position Summary

TheManaging Attorneywill bea forward-thinking passionate leader for change who is excited to lead and collaborate with a dynamic team and organization working together to fight for freedom without favorand equality without exception.

This role willfocusnot only onlitigation butalso willassistin managing the largest program at Americans United.AUsLegalDepartmentlitigates church-state issues in federal and state courts across the country with a substantial practice before the federal courts of appeals and the U.S. Supreme Court.Most of our cases involve novelcutting-edgeFirstAmendmentand other constitutional recent years for example we have litigated lawsuits andsubmittedamicus briefs challenging or opposing:

• Coercive religious practices inthe publicschools.

• Religion-based refusals by businesses foster-care agencies and government officials to provide services to LGBTQpeople and religious minorities.

• Religion-based efforts to deprivepeopleof access to abortion and contraceptives.

• Race-based and sex-based employment discrimination by religious employers.

A significant portionof time will be spent serving as lead counsel in trial and appellate litigation of church-state cases around the country.Your work will include defending the rights of women LGBTQ people and racial and religious minorities against religion-based discrimination and oppression. And you will fight to keep religion out of governmentincluding through challenges to religious activities in public schools public financing of religious institutions and government-sponsored religion in the public square.

This role will alsoassistin managing AUs legal fellowship program.AU currently has threeconstitutional litigation fellowship positions. Our fellowsparticipatein all aspects of litigation and receivetheintensivetraining in trial and appellate litigation needed to become the next generation of impact lawyers. Aportionof your time will be spent recruitinghiringand onboarding these fellows. This role will also further developAUs legal fellowship program by strengthening existing relationships with national law firm who lend associates as fellowsfor limited terms and exploring otheropportunities AUhas tohost legal fellows from organizations like Equal Justice Works.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

Develop Litigate and Lead Lawsuits

• Serve as lead counsel in church-state cases throughout the country.

• Serve as principal counsel for Americans United in church-state cases co-counseled withpro bono
  teams from law firms orwithother public-interest organizations.

• Draft and edit pleadings and briefs take depositions deliver oral arguments conduct trialsandevidentiary hearings andprosecuteappeals.

• Develop new cases by investigating the applicable facts and law formulating case strategies andidentifyingplaintiffs with standing.

• Draft and edit amicuscuriaebriefs; evaluate amicus opportunities todeterminewhether to file briefs.

• Makepublic-speakingand media appearances.

• Helpdeterminestrategic visionanddirectionfor Americans Unitedslitigation program.

• Collaborate across departments and partner organizations toinitiate lead and/or support integrated advocacy campaigns that support AUs legal cases public policywork and campaigns and other initiatives.

Supervise Legal Fellows and Develop Fellowship Program

• Leadhiringteam for legal fellowsandmanageonboarding of legal fellows; conduct regular check-ins and annual performance evaluations
  

• Together with other attorneys in the Legal Departmentprovide direct supervision mentoring and professional development support to legal fellows and their work.

• Set clear performance expectations and supportfellowsin meeting them.

• Further develop and shape impact of theAmericans United legalfellowship program.

• Align fellowships with strategic plan and organizational goals.
  

Skills and Experience

*Research shows candidates from marginalized groups are less likely to apply for positions when theydontmeet 100% of listed requirements; please consider applying even if youdontmatch 100% of these criteria.

Americans Unitedseeksan attorney whoideally:

• Has at leasttenyears of litigation experience(Judicial-clerkshipexperience counts toward those years.
  

• Has substantial experienceserving as lead counsel in litigation.

• Has exceptionalanalytical and writingskills.

• Is a persuasive oraladvocate
  

• Is a self-starter who takesinitiativeandgets excited aboutidentifyingand developingnew casesand opportunities to assume representation on appeal.

• Is able to travel as theircases require
  

• Hasexperience and interest in training and developing legal fellows new attorneys or legal advocates.

• Has supervisory or managerial experience.

• Has theinterpersonal skills to work well with our staff and co-counsel and to serve as a trusted adviser to clients and partner organizations.

• Iscommitted to advancingthe publicinterest and the separation of religion and government.

• Demonstrated commitment to diversity equity inclusion and accessibilityandto fostering an inclusive and respectful work environment.

Americans United welcomesapplicantsof all genders races ethnicities religionsandbeliefs sexual orientationsgender identitiesages socio-economic backgrounds and abilities. Because we work on a wide variety of issues and with many different communities we value what diversity and diverse perspectives bring to our work.

Working Conditions & Physical Requirements

This is a hybrid position that primarily involves working from a home officeand/or professional office environment. The role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers phones and video conferencing tools. It requires the ability to remain in a stationary position for extended periods communicate effectively and occasionally move about within the workspace.

Compensation and Benefits

The salary range for this position is $153688.50 - $181135.50.Thisstated range includes a 5% locality pay adjustment for the Washington DC metropolitan area. The successful candidates placement within that range will be consistent withAUs compensation framework which is based on role placement and years of related experience.

Americans United offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes employer-paid premiums for health care dental vision life insurance short-term disability long-term disability 401(k) with match and commuter subsidy.

Equal Opportunity Employer

AU is an equal opportunity employer. We consider applicants without regard to race color religion gender identity or expression national origin age disability marital or veteran status sexual orientation or any other legally protected status. If you need an accommodation for a disability to apply to this position please let us know by emailing.

Application Information

We will only be accepting applications from candidates who currently live in or would be willing to relocate to the Washington DC metro area.

Required Experience:

IC