Senior Staff Attorney, Litigation Team

Overview

Full-time, exempt Senior Staff Attorney role within the litigation team, supporting cases on behalf of transgender and gender-nonconforming people. This position can be remote or based out of Oakland or Brooklyn.

Responsibilities

• Investigate and develop potential new cases, including:
  • Corresponding with and meeting potential clients
  • Conducting research
  • Finding and reviewing records
  • Drafting demand letters
• Develop litigation strategy, manage relationships with co-counsel, conduct legal research, and draft or edit briefs.
• Handle all stages of litigation, including motion practice, discovery, trial, appeals, settlement negotiations, and settlement monitoring.
• As needed, join and support existing teams working on previously-filed litigation.
• When necessary, support the legal services project by reviewing inquiries, researching local and state laws, policies, and procedures, and crafting responses with personalized legal information.
• Provide direct advocacy for criminalized people, including calling or sending advocacy letters to public defenders or prison officials, and identifying other creative solutions.
• Develop and draft written resources, including know-your-rights material and sample legal documents.
• Participate in education efforts for community members and attorneys, including speaking at conferences, trainings, and webinars.
• Participate in organization-wide activities and shared responsibilities that support team alignment and culture.
• Support the work of the legal team and the organization generally.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Membership in the bar of one or more states.
• At least six years of experience practicing law in one or more of the following areas:
  • Civil rights litigation
  • Criminal defense
  • Immigration
  • Legal aid
• At least two years of litigation experience.
• Experience working with pro-bono attorneys (preferred).
• Experience with legal or policy advocacy relating to incarceration, criminalization, or law enforcement.
• Familiarity with transgender and gender nonconforming communities.
• Experience working with communities of color and transgender communities.
• Deep understanding of intersecting oppressions, including anti-Blackness, white supremacy, transphobia, ableism, misogyny, colonialism, and capitalism.
• Strong writing, editing, and legal research skills, and experience with public speaking.
• Ability to work collaboratively within the organization and with other groups.
• Strong personal organization and time management skills.
• Creativity and good judgment.
• Enthusiasm for the work and its potential.
• Willingness to travel and to work long hours when necessary.

Compensation & Benefits

Salary

• $118,400.00 (full-time)
• Salary is not negotiable.

Benefits

• Medical/dental/vision
  • 100% of premiums for employees
  • 80% for dependents
• Employer-funded Health Reimbursement Account (currently $3,500 per year)
• Employer-funded Lifestyle Spending Account (currently $1,500 per year)
• Optional employee-funded Flexible Spending Account
• Employee Assistance Fund that can grant financial assistance for certain qualifying disasters and personal hardships
• Short-term and long-term disability insurance
• 3 weeks’ sick leave
• 19 days’ vacation (24 after 3 years’ employment) and 12 holidays
• Organizational “slowdown” in winter and summer, historically including 2 weeks paid time off in the summer and 2 weeks paid time off at the end of the year (separate from employee vacation time)
• 2-month paid sabbatical program available after 5 years of employment
• Retirement plan with partial organizational matching
• Indemnity insurance for critical illness, hospital confinement, and accidents
• Professional development & coaching
• Office setup, phone and internet reimbursement (if working from home)
• Additional mental health, budgeting, travel, and pet benefits

Location

Remote or work out of Oakland or Brooklyn.

Reporting

Reports to the Legal Director or the Legal Director’s designee.

Additional Information

• Full-time role may include travel and occasional work at nights and on weekends.