Director of Legal Services

Our Mission

The Sylvia Rivera Law Project (SRLP) works to guarantee that all people are free to self-determine their gender identity and expression, regardless of income or race, and without facing harassment, discrimination, or violence. SRLP is a collective organization founded on the understanding that gender self-determination is inextricably intertwined with racial, social and economic justice. Therefore, we seek to increase the political voice and visibility of low-income people of color who are transgender, intersex, or gender non-conforming. SRLP works to improve access to respectful and affirming social, health, and legal services for our communities. We believe that in order to create meaningful political participation and leadership, we must have access to basic means of survival and safety from violence.

Director of Legal Services

The Sylvia Rivera Law Project is hiring a Director of Legal Services to support our Direct Services Team (DST) in providing zealous advocacy for our clients and communities, which include low-income TGNCI people of color, including immigrants and those who are or have been incarcerated. The Director of Legal Services will be one of two attorney positions in the collective. The Director of Legal Services will, along with the Director of Litigation, practice movement lawyering as they ensure members’ survival needs are met through connection to direct services representation, while also using impact litigation to remove barriers and change policy and institutions. The position is full-time offering some remote work along with COVID safety-informed practices.

The Director of Legal Services, along with the Directors of Litigation and Client Services, will be responsible for the administration and oversight of SRLP’s legal program. The Director of Legal Services will also participate in advocacy, training, and public education, while maintaining a small caseload. The Director of Legal Services will report to all members of DST, Staff, and Collective and collaborate across departments. The Director of Legal Services will honor the collective structure and work to disrupt and deconstruct the inherent power dynamics between attorneys and non-attorneys in legal nonprofits.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities:

Litigation & Legal Advocacy

• Work with the Collective to develop a vision for SRLP’s legal work rooted in movement lawyering and centering the SRLP community.
• Lead and manage direct legal services program serving TGNCI clients in resolving civil legal matters.
• Work with the DST to develop intake systems and clinics and create and manage a robust advice and referral system.
• Develop and coordinate a robust pro bono network for support in direct services matters.
• Manage legal administration needs, including updating case management systems, intern and student work order compliance, and other duties.
• Work with FFT and Development to apply for grants and assist in grant management.
• Participate in external coalitions, task forces, and engage with agencies to advocate to change policies impacting our community members.
• Provide know-your-rights trainings to community members and legal trainings to other advocates, including the development of materials for distribution and posting on our website.

Public Education & Know Your Rights Training

• Lead Know Your Rights workshops and public education initiatives designed to inform TGNCI individuals about their legal rights and protections.
• Develop educational materials and legal resources tailored to TGNCI communities, with a focus on healthcare, safety, and housing rights
• Train service providers, advocates, and legal professionals on best practices for supporting TGNCI people around issues of safety, dignity, and healthcare access.

Supervision and Leadership

• Supervise law student interns, fellows, volunteers and consultants on the DST, ensuring high-quality case management and strategic advocacy.
• Collaborate with SRLP’s Movement Building Team to align litigation with the organization’s broader mission and goals to remove barriers to TGNCI liberation.
• Provide mentorship and training to other staff involved in SRLP’s litigation efforts.
• Manage relationships with legal organizations, law firms, and external partners to maximize impact and resources for litigation and advocacy efforts

Areas of Shared Responsibility and Staff Coordination

• Participate in the Collective Development Team’s work, including:
  • Organizing board meetings and annual collective retreats.
  • Improving and maintaining our infrastructure and capacity for work to continue in a sustainable and non-hierarchical way.
  • Increase the participation, decision-making, and leadership of low-income trans people and trans people of color in organizational governance.
• Contribute to short- and long-term organizational planning and strategy.
• Participate in Collective-wide responsibilities including attending monthly meetings, annual retreats, co-supervision, and team meetings.
• Coordinate staff and collective training to increase skills and address growth areas.
• Coordinate development and communication of emergency and safety planning protocols.
• Coordinate office cleaning (shared responsibility among all staff).

Skills and Qualifications:

• Juris Doctor and admission or eligibility for admission to the New York State Bar.
• A minimum of 5 years of litigation experience, with a focus on civil litigation, prisoner’s rights, anti-discrimination law, or other direct services litigation
• A demonstrated commitment to gender self-determination, transformative justice, abolition, movement litigation, racial, economic, and disability justice
• Extensive experience working with low-income TGNCI communities of color
• Experience and commitment working with organizers and within movements
• Excellent legal research and writing skills
• Ability to create public education materials centered in SRLP’s values and mission
• Strong written and verbal communications skills and experience in working in collaborative environments
• Strong interest in implementing creative litigation strategies
• Excellent time management skills and the ability to manage complex cases and competing deadlines. Must be able to communicate boundaries effectively and clearly
• The ability to communicate effectively and compassionately with individuals from diverse backgrounds—including transgender and gender non-conforming people, people living with HIV/AIDS, people with mental illness, and people who have experienced significant trauma
• Strong supervision skills.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Fluency in Spanish or another language;
• Bar admission in the Southern and/or Eastern District of New York;
• Experience litigating in federal courts;
• Experience in criminal defense;
• Experience with legal strategic planning;
• Experience working in non-hierarchical settings;
• Knowledge and practice in collective decision-making processes.

Hours and Compensation:

This position is a full-time, salaried position with medical, dental and optical benefits as well as three weeks paid vacation and professional development opportunities. SRLP works in a hybrid working environment. 40 hours/week, some evenings and weekends as necessary. $125,000/year. Consistent with our values as a collective, all staff receive salaries based on the same hourly rate.

How to Apply:

To apply, please send a cover letter, resume, and three references. Applications should be sent to the Hiring Committee at hiring@srlp.org.

Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until the position is filled. No phone calls please. We will only contact applicants we intend to interview. SRLP is an equal opportunity employer. Transgender folks and people of color are strongly encouraged to apply.