Description:
Job Responsibilities:Case Development
Leadership & Supervision
Policy Advocacy, Community Outreach, and Organizational Visibility
Preferred Knowledge & Skills
Education & Experience:
- Oversee all aspects of the A Non-Profit Advocacy Organization's litigation program.
- Collaborate closely with the Executive Director to identify areas of greatest impact, develop response strategies, and provide guidance to staff and assistance to clients.
- Develop litigation and advocacy strategies to identify systemic issues that affect legal services' clients.
- Co-counsel, coordinate, and advise on all levels of litigation including complex litigation.
- Identify and develop meaningful cases that fulfill A Non-Profit Advocacy Organization's mission and meet annual budgetary attorney fee objectives.
- Develop and maintain significant litigation caseload in state and federal court.
- Ensure incremental quarterly increase of new cases filed in state and federal court.
- Manage and strengthen A Non-Profit Advocacy Organization's case vetting protocols.
- Supervise senior and staff attorneys, paralegals, and volunteer attorneys.
- Work closely and maintain relationships with pro bono co-counsel.
- Manage administrative and management tasks, including grant compliance, personnel supervision and quality assurance evaluations, staff retention, private bar relations, and strategic planning.
- Mentor attorneys at all levels, teach litigation strategies, and help develop their litigation skills.
- Monitor attorney work. Oversee litigation, including all aspects of legal research, discovery, depositions, motions practice, brief writing, trial work, appellate work, and amicus briefing.
- Review pleadings, briefs, letters, presentations, and other attorney work product.
- Ensure that attorneys are properly tracking both their billable and non-billable hours in MyCase.
- Conduct weekly supervision meetings with attorneys to assess work, and to provide direction and feedback.
- Prepare quarterly reports for A Non-Profit Advocacy Organization's Executive Director and Board of Directors.
- Ensure that attorneys are well trained in substantive areas of the law and legal practice using A Non-Profit Advocacy Organization and external resources.
- Ensure that all internal and external activities are aligned with A Non-Profit Advocacy Organization's policies, procedures, and protocols.
- Conduct annual reviews for all litigation staff.
- Represent the A Non-Profit Advocacy Organization in stakeholder meetings, public conferences, and in other outreach efforts that are strategically and concretely aligned with the development of complex litigation and policy advocacy.
- Coordinate advocacy efforts to lead and support staff to optimize high quality advocacy across the organization.
- Collaborate with staff, pro bono co-counsel and others on issues such as amicus briefs and legislative advocacy.
- Responsible for development, implementation and achieving programs' annual plan and budget.
- Identify, create, and manage potential clinical externships at law schools and fellowships.
- Produce legal scholarship on disability rights and special education legal issues.
- Participate in traditional media appearances (TV and radio); social media activities; and other communication efforts, including drafting press releases and newsletters.
- Develop and achieve objectives of A Non-Profit Advocacy Organization's litigation strategic plan.
- Develop and meet grant funding objectives and deliverables.
- Other duties as assigned.
Preferred Knowledge & Skills
- Demonstrated Commitment to Advancing the Rights of People with People with Disabilities.
- Expertise in disability and civil rights law, class actions, and public policy.
- Demonstrated commitment to public interest law and advocacy.
- Ability to initiate and advance major litigation efforts for systemic reform.
- Ability to expand impact of A Non-Profit Advocacy Organization's work among underserved communities.
- Ability to maintain and further develop relationships with legal and critical stakeholders.
- Ability to make effective oral presentations and engage a broad staff and client constituency effectively and consistently.
- Strong legal editing, writing, analytical skills, flexibility, and good humor.
- Excellent legal, organizational, and time-management skills and ability to work in a fast-paced environment.
- Excellent judgment, calm demeanor even under pressure, strong work ethic, resourceful, and able to maintain confidentiality.
- Decisive, with ability to exercise independent judgment.
- Proven ability to develop and maintain positive team environment and support staff morale and resilience.
- Ability to work collaboratively in a team environment.
- Ability to plan, organize, prioritize, and work independently.
- Ability to meet deadlines and perform multiple tasks while maintaining attention to detail.
- Ability to make financial projections.
- Ability to work weekends and evenings.
- Willingness to travel locally and nationally.
Education & Experience:
- J.D. or L.L.M. degree from an accredited law school and active membership in the California State Bar, or ability to obtain admission.
- Minimum 10 years of significant litigation experience including class actions and federal court practice, with a proven track record of success.
- Experience practicing in both State and Federal Court as lead counsel.
- Experience and expertise to conceptualize new and appropriate litigation and advocacy strategies and translate them into achievable plans.
- Demonstrated ability to "see the big picture" and provide strategic advice and input while also tactically executing policies and procedures.
- 10+ years of experience, preferably in disability rights or civil rights practice.
- 7+ years of supervisory and leadership experience.
- 5+ years project / program management experience.