Senior Staff Attorney, Litigation

Benefits

• 401(k)
• Competitive salary
• Dental insurance
• Flexible schedule
• Health insurance
• Home office stipend
• Paid time off
• Parental leave
• Training & development
• Vision insurance
• Wellness resources

Organizational Profile: Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC ("AAJC") is a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1991. Our mission is to advance the civil and human rights of Asian Americans and to build and promote a fair and equitable society for all. For more than 30 years, we have served as the leading Asian American voice on civil rights issues in our nation’s capital – fighting for the rights of our communities through policy advocacy, litigation, research, public education, and community engagement.

Based in Washington, DC, Advancing Justice | AAJC is a member of the Asian Americans Advancing Justice (Advancing Justice) affiliation. With our affiliates in Atlanta, Chicago, and Southern California, we work together as equal and independent partners, operate under one name, and strive to speak with one unified and powerful voice to promote justice, empower our communities, bring local and national constituents together, and strengthen our multiracial democracy.

Title: Senior Staff Attorney, Litigation ("Attorney")

Reports to: Senior Director and Assistant Director of Litigation

Term: Immediately;
Two-Year Term

Status: Full-time, Exempt Employee, 40 hours/week

Salary: $110,000-$120,000

This position is included in a union-represented collective bargaining unit, and specific terms and conditions of employment are subject to collective bargaining.

Position Summary: The Senior Staff Attorney ("Attorney"), a member of the Litigation team, is an experienced litigator responsible for identifying, developing, and litigating impact cases advancing the civil and human rights of Asian Americans primarily in federal courts. AAJC’s docket includes, but is not limited to, civil rights cases focusing on immigration/immigrant rights (including family reunification), voting rights, and educational equity (Higher Education and K-12).

The Attorney must manage cases and pursue litigation with limited supervision. The Attorney will collaborate closely with the litigation, policy, and community engagement teams to advance AAJC’s policy goals through litigation. The Attorney will endeavor to empower vulnerable communities through a multi-pronged approach of impact litigation, amicus briefs, policy advocacy, strategic communications, and movement building, while addressing the needs of the Asian American community and civil rights coalitions.

The Attorney will also work with their counterparts at the other Advancing Justice affiliates to ensure alignment with our litigation strategies and to maximize the effectiveness of our collective endeavors.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Identify, develop, and lead litigation in federal and state courts. Prepare pleadings, motions, and briefs; conduct discovery; present oral arguments; and handle appeals.
• Strategically, creatively, and boldly use client-driven, community-grounded impact litigation to support AAJC’s policy priorities.
• Collaborate with staff across the organization, including the Communications, Community Engagement, Research, Development, and relevant policy teams.
• Assist with and support AAJC’s administrative and legislative advocacy by providing legal analysis and technical assistance to colleagues, in close collaboration with the organization’s policy leads. Provide support to other staff on issues of subject-matter expertise.
• Develop community education tools, including but not limited to, webinars, trainings, and Know Your Rights (KYR) materials.
• Serve as a legal/policy expert in coalitions with external partners.
• Supervise law student interns and legal fellows, and manage external consultants, as needed.
• Facilitate coordination with pro bono counsel, coalitional partners, and AAJC’s affiliate partners.
• Work with and help lead junior attorneys on case-specific assignments.
• Contribute to the development and implementation of strategic communications plans related to litigation issues, including providing content…