Senior Staff Attorney​/Legal Director

United SIKHS seeks a strategic Senior Staff Attorney/Legal Director to provide strategic legal leadership across multiple practice areas and build sustainable partnerships that expand legal capacity, funding, and team strength. This role is suited for a seasoned attorney or organizational builder who has not only practiced law but also helped grow legal programs through partnerships, grants, and funder engagement.

The Senior Staff Attorney will play a key role in shaping legal strategy, strengthening pro bono and institutional partnerships, supporting fundraising efforts, and mentoring a growing legal team.

New York / New Jersey / California

• Legal Leadership & Strategy
  • Provide senior-level legal expertise across immigration, civil rights, constitutional law, family law, and humanitarian relief.
  • Design and implement legal strategies aligned with UNITED SIKHS’ advocacy, litigation support, and policy goals.
  • Identify opportunities for impact litigation, amicus participation, and strategic legal interventions.
  • Ensure all legal work is ethically sound, trauma‑informed, and community‑centered.
• Policy & Advocacy
  • Lead or support policy development and advocacy at local, state, federal, and international levels.
  • Draft legal analyses, policy memos, and advocacy materials for public and institutional audiences.
  • Represent UNITED SIKHS in coalitions, legislative briefings, and human rights forums.
• Pro Bono & Law Firm Partnerships
  • Build and manage relationships with national and international law firms, bar associations, and justice institutions.
  • Recruit, onboard, and supervise pro bono attorneys across multiple legal disciplines.
  • Serve as primary legal liaison between UNITED SIKHS and external counsel.
  • Develop long-term pro bono pipelines and strategic firm partnerships.
• Fundraising & Organizational Growth
  • Partner with executive leadership and development staff to raise funds that expand the legal framework and team.
  • Support grant writing and reporting by contributing legal strategy, impact metrics, and case outcomes.
  • Cultivate relationships with institutional funders, foundations, and law firm philanthropic arms.
  • Participate in donor briefings, site visits, and funder strategy conversations as a subject‑matter expert.
  • Help design sustainable funding models for legal programs and pro bono initiatives.
• Program Development & Team Building
  • Expand and strengthen legal programs, including Umeed Helpline (Hope for families).
  • Help recruit, supervise, and mentor staff attorneys, fellows, and legal volunteers.
  • Build internal legal infrastructure, workflows, and best practices as the team grows.
  • Collaborate with communications and development teams to articulate legal impact.
• Collaboration & Communication
  • Work closely with cross‑functional teams across advocacy, humanitarian aid, communications, and leadership.
  • Serve as a strong internal and external communicator, representing UNITED SIKHS with clarity and credibility.
  • Foster a collaborative, mission‑driven team culture.

• J.D. from an accredited law school; an active U.S. bar license is required (NY/NJ or California).
• 8–12+ years of relevant experience in one or more of the following:
  Civil rights or constitutional law;
  Immigration and asylum law;
  Family law and humanitarian legal services;
  Policy advocacy or legislative engagement.
• Demonstrated experience building or scaling legal programs or organizations.
• Proven ability to partner with leadership to raise funds through grants, foundations, or institutional relationships.
• Experience managing or coordinating pro bono attorneys and law firm partnerships.
• Strong leadership, supervision, and project management skills.
• Excellent written and oral communication abilities.

• Experience in impact litigation or strategic legal advocacy.
• Prior work in nonprofit, international NGO, or movement‑lawyering organizations.
• Familiarity with human rights frameworks (domestic and/or international).
• Experience working with immigrant, refugee, or religious minority communities.

• Deep commitment to civil and human rights and community‑based justice.
• Strategic thinker who balances legal rigor with advocacy and growth goals.
• Strong relationship builder with funders, partners, and legal professionals.
• Collaborative team player and mentor.
• Culturally competent, empathetic, and mission‑driven.

Based on experience.

Qualified applicants are invited to submit a resume and cover letter outlining their experience and how it aligns with the responsibilities and qualifications described above to: resume.