LEGAL DIRECTOR

Who we are:

Situated at the forefront of the national stage in the racial justice movement, Advancement Project is a cutting-edge, no-holds-barred national organization dedicated to building local power in communities of color. Centered on a movement lawyering approach, defined as community-centered racial justice lawyering, Advancement Project supports power building in grassroots organizations working to eliminate oppressive structures in our laws and institutions and shift narratives towards transformative change. From ending the school-to-prison pipeline to the fight to expand the right to vote, from calling for a complete overhaul of how we view the police and carceral state, to fighting for immigrant justice, Advancement Project impacts real change from the ground up. Building on more than 25 years, we continue to evolve our strategic thinking and creativity to imagine a more just world in which people of color can thrive, be safe, and free. – and we are excited to bring on new talent to forward our vision.

Advancement Project’s track record of success includes:

• • Pioneering the school-to-prison pipeline movement, winning significant victories in several school districts across the country to reform disciplinary policies and practices and remove police from schools entirely, including building and nurturing a grassroots movement of parents and youth. This work led to federal guidance on racial discrimination in school discipline.
  • Launching the National Police Free Schools Campaign with the Alliance for Education Justice, supporting local youth-led campaigns to end policing in their schools and calling for national demands for change for safety in public schools.
  • Serving as legal counsel in the 2000 presidential election case in Florida, successfully challenged North Carolina’s monster voter suppression law, and was the founding member of the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition that won the ballot initiative to strike down the state’s ban on voting for those with felony convictions. Supported legislative efforts to pass the Virginia Voting Rights Act, the first voting rights anti-discrimination law in the South.
  • Supporting Close the Workhouse Campaign in St. Louis, led by Action St, Louis, secured the city’s agreement to close a jail and reinvest money into the community.
  • Working with survivors of Hurricane Katrina from New Orleans to ensure their voices were being heard in the reconstruction process.
  • Partnering with Ben & Jerry's to launch a new ice cream flavor, Justice Remix’d, a tribute to our organization and the first time the company put an organization’s name on its containers.

Position Overview:

Advancement Project is seeking an experienced Legal Director to oversee the organization’s litigation and internal compliance. The Legal Director will work with programs to develop and execute strategic litigation and other legal options that advance their work and support the development of staff attorneys.

This position reports to the Deputy Executive Director. 

This position requires the ideal candidate to work 2 days in the DC office.

What you’ll do:

• • Lead the development and implementation of Advancement Project’s litigation work in coordination with its program, advocacy, and communications teams.
  • Cultivate, develop, and maintain relationships with co-counsels, law firms, movement partners, and others key to Advancement Project’s work.
  • Develop and lead legal training for staff.
  • Actively model positive organizational culture, adherence to policies and protocols, respect for process, and Advancement Project’s mission, vision, and values.
  • Ensure communication of relevant activities, developments, changes, etc, to all staff and Board.
  • Foster and sustain collaboration, communication, and knowledge sharing within and across departmental and functional lines;
  • Work in collaboration with program directors and staff to solve problems, resolve conflicts, and develop more effective ways of working together.
  • Prepare reports on the status of Advancement Project’s legal and litigation work for the Board and senior leadership team as requested.
  • Perform other responsibilities or lead projects as assigned by the Deputy Executive Director.

Litigation and Legal

• • Manage litigation and attorneys assigned to cases.
  • Manage Paralegal and Research Coordinator.
  • Develop, lead, and maintain an ambitious impact litigation docket that is responsive to programmatic priorities.
  • Manage and perform all aspects of litigation, including investigation, outreach, drafting complaints, pre-trial motion practice, discovery, trials, appellate advocacy, and proactive client communication.
  • Build efficient litigation teams and strong co-counseling relationships with allied legal organizations, law firms, and law schools/legal clinics.
  • Build, manage, and maintain relationships with affected communities, coalitions, frontline organizers, and other key stakeholders to develop trust and cooperation around shared goals.
  • Anticipate and help respond to emerging legislative and policy threats with clear analysis that centers on the most vulnerable.
  • Support the development of attorneys, fellows, paralegals, and interns through all phases of litigation; regularly provide formal and informal feedback on legal staff performance; help identify external resources and opportunities to further professional development.
  • Support the development of publishable written reports on important legal advocacy
  • Develop and design programs, events, and projects related to Advancement Project’s legal work, such as CLEs;
  • Manage the case approval process, including reviewing proposed new matters for mission alignment and impact and ensuring adequate staffing and resources for matters in collaboration with program directors before approval by the Executive Director and Board.
  • Ensure legal staff comply with all rules of state and federal bars. As needed, serve as the organization's principal contact for issues of professional responsibility and legal practice and oversee outside counsel relationships.

Other Areas:

• • Amplify our organizational messages by engaging in public education forums, legal advocacy convenings, media appearances, and drafting opinion pieces.
  • Collaborate with the Executive Director, program, and development team on fundraising strategy.

Qualifications:

• • A minimum of 10 years of trial and appellate litigation experience is preferred, with at least some of that experience in complex litigation
  • Understanding of movement lawyering and experience litigating in movement-centered contexts
  • At least three years of experience managing others in litigation, including lawyers, legal fellows, legal interns, and paralegals
  • Maintain good standing in DC and other state bars as appropriate, including fulfilling requirements for continuing legal education (CLE)
  • Experience with and knowledge of fundamental rule of law principles, accountability mechanisms and structures, and a solid understanding of legislative processes and settings
  • Significant experience and demonstrated a high level of competence in managing staff and teams
  • Commitment to open communication, teamwork and collaboration, accountability, and professionalism
  • Commitment to vigorous promotion of equity, diversity, and inclusion, and demonstrated cultural competence for issues including but not limited to race, gender, sexuality, disability, religion, and class
  • Excellent leadership, planning and prioritization, communication, interpersonal, time management, and organizational skills
  • Ability to be productive in a fast-paced environment with tight deadlines while maintaining a positive and professional attitude
  • Ability to anticipate problems and use judgment appropriately to plan solutions and manage obstacles as they arise
  • A belief in the mission of Advancement Project demonstrated commitment to racial justice issues, and comfort working in a progressive legal environment.

This position pays between $ 137,000.00 and $ 166,000.00 depending on experience.

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