Senior Staff Attorney

Who we are

The Animal Legal Defense Fund’s mission is to protect the lives and advance the interests of animals through the legal system. The Animal Legal Defense Fund accomplishes this mission by filing high-impact lawsuits to protect animals from harm, providing free legal assistance and training to prosecutors to assure that animal abusers are held accountable for their crimes, supporting tough animal protection legislation and fighting legislation harmful to animals, and providing resources and opportunities to law students and professionals to advance the emerging field of animal law.

What you’ll be doing

The Animal Legal Defense Fund’s Litigation Program accomplishes the Animal Legal Defense Fund’s mission by filing strategic high-impact lawsuits against government agencies, individuals, and industries that exploit animals, including factory farms, puppy mills, and roadside zoos that seek to expand the protections for animals under the law.

Senior Staff Attorneys in Animal Legal Defense Fund’s Litigation Program are responsible for the day-to-day management of their assigned cases and projects, including ensuring the completion of all necessary research, filings, and other aspects of litigation. Senior Staff Attorneys are also responsible for assisting the Litigation Program in developing new cases. Senior Staff Attorneys have more experience and more supervisory responsibilities than Staff Attorneys, and also have direct supervisory responsibilities for Litigation Fellows.

You will report to Managing Attorney (Litigation Program).

You will be responsible for

• Act as lead counsel, and be responsible for all research, filings, and other aspects of litigation, for all assigned cases and projects.
• Research and develop novel legal theories and strategies, as well as fact patterns, for new cases.
• Manage Law Clerks and Litigation Fellows, Staff Attorneys as assigned.
• Directly manage and supervise all aspects of Litigation Fellows and Law Clerks, including responsibility for performance management and quarterly evaluations, compliance with HR policies, and mentorship
• Manage drafting, editing, and submission of amicus curiae briefs on behalf of the Animal Legal Defense Fund.
• Work with Communications and other departments to answer questions on civil legal issues and procedures, and to propose, draft, proof, and/or edit content on cases and legal developments.
• Coordinate, as needed, with other programs, including with Criminal Justice Program on cases that have, or could have, both civil and criminal components, Legislative Affairs Program, Animal Law Program, and Pro Bono Programs.
• Manage pro bono and local counsel on cases with external counsel.
• Prepare and deliver presentations for professional conferences, fundraising events, etc. when needed.
• Provide in-house expertise for staff on questions concerning Litigation Program cases, animal law civil cases in general and civil procedures and legal strategy.
• Perform other duties as assigned to advance the Litigation Program and the Animal Legal Defense Fund’s strategic objectives and mission.

Additional Information about the role

• Full-time.
• Remote.
• Must travel as needed to fulfill litigation obligations, or for professional conferences, meetings, or other events as required (typically no more than 2-4 trips per year).
• Work is performed in a home office environment and requires the ability to operate standard office equipment, software, and keyboards.

Additional information

This is a U.S. based position. In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire.

The Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF) is an equal opportunity employer and committed to providing an employment environment which is welcoming of persons from diverse backgrounds and free from unlawful discrimination and harassment, and in which all legal rights of our employees are recognized and protected. ALDF conducts all internal and external operations, programs, and employment-related decision making (including hiring decisions) without regard to actual or perceived race, ancestry, color, religion, national origin, citizenship, immigration status, sex or gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions), gender identity or expression, political affiliation, disability or medical condition (including physical, intellectual, or psychiatric), sexual orientation, marital status, military or veteran status, genetic information, age, or other protected category, and in compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local anti-discrimination and anti-harassment laws.

Consistent with the organization’s mission, our offices and events are free of animal products and byproducts.

Requirements

What skills & experience you’ll bring to us

• Understand and be committed to the vision, mission, and core values of the Animal Legal Defense Fund.
• Senior Staff Attorneys should have at least six years of experience successfully developing and litigating (as measured by both direct and indirect benefits) significant cases or projects, ideally as part of an organization engaged in strategic impact animal protection litigation or similar strategic impact litigation.
• Must have a Juris Doctor degree, excelled in law school, and be admitted to practice law in their state of residence.
• Must have excellent organizational and prioritization skills and be able to meet deadlines.
• Must have excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Must have excellent interpersonal skills and be able to communicate effectively, including with members, supporters, co-workers, and other counsel.
• Must have a positive attitude and be able to work cooperatively with others and function well in a team-oriented work environment.
• Must travel as needed to fulfill litigation obligations, or for professional conferences, meetings, or other events as required.

We Offer Competitive Compensation with Excellent Benefits, Including:

• Starting annual salary of $111,386 for most geographic locations.
• For candidates located within 25 miles of Washington, D.C., Cotati, CA, and Los Angeles, starting pay is $117,248
• For candidates located within 25 miles of New York City and San Francisco, starting pay is $123,110.

To ensure salary equity, we do not negotiate salary outside of the published starting rate. Rate is determined by role using set geographical factors.

• Comprehensive health care, dental, life and vision benefits (100% employer paid); Flexible Spending Account (FSA) and Dependent Care Account (DCA) are also available.
• 192 hours of PTO.
• 19 paid holidays.
• 1-month paid sabbatical after 5 years of continuous employment.
• 16 weeks paid parental leave.
• 401k plan with a maximum 5% employer contribution match after one year of employment.
• Alternative work schedules (at manager’s discretion).

Maintaining a healthy work/life balance is a core value for the Animal Legal Defense Fund.