Staff Attorney/Senior Staff Attorney, Power & Democracy

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 20 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.

The Advancement Project’s track record of success includes:

• Pioneering the movement to end the school-to-prison pipeline and winning significant victories in several school districts nationwide 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 a key 2000 presidential election case in Florida, successfully challenging North Carolina’s 2013 voter suppression law, and being a 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 state voting rights statute of its kind in the South.
• Supporting the Close the Workhouse Campaign in St. Louis, led by Action St, Louis, and securing an agreement with the city to close a jail and reinvest money into the community.
• Working with survivors of Hurricane Katrina from New Orleans to ensure their voices were heard in the process of reconstructing the city.

Position Overview:

The Staff Attorney/Senior Staff Attorney will be expected to implement important strategic initiatives to advance the objectives and goals of the Power and Democracy Program.  Responsibilities will encompass litigation, policy, voter protection, and public advocacy on behalf of Advancement Project and our grassroots partners in local communities.

What You’ll Do:

• Work in support of the overall strategic success of the Power and Democracy Team.
• Work on all facets of Advancement Project litigation matters, including by developing a legal strategy.
• Cultivate strategic relationships with external partners and allies.
• Implement strategic initiatives and goals for the Power and Democracy Program.
• Conduct investigations, complete complex legal research, and prepare legal documents such as memoranda and briefs.
• Participate and/or speak at advocacy events and other outreach activities.
• Represent the organization at coalition tables.
• Develop legal and legislative materials, as well as presentation and advocacy materials.
• Participate in strategic planning and provide recommendations regarding how to respond to political and legislative opportunities and legal developments.
• Support partners in legal and policy matters.
• Work with colleagues in various program areas to develop strategies and otherwise advance the organization’s positions.
• Guide team members and interns on work product, as assigned.
• Assist with legal and policy work cross-program, as needed.
• Other related duties, as assigned.
• In addition to the responsibilities identified above, Senior Staff Attorneys will, where appropriate, lead strategic initiatives and goals for the Power and Democracy Program and lead large litigation teams.

Required Skill:

• Demonstrate excellent legal research, analysis strategic thinking, and writing skills.

• Demonstrate excellent oral and written advocacy skills, including the ability to present oral argument to judges and to communicate effectively with a variety of audiences, including grassroots partners, diverse community members, board members, senior leadership, and executives.

• Demonstrate knowledge of federal and state election laws and rules governing civil and appellate litigation.

• Maintain working knowledge of policy developments, community lawyering, and advocacy practices, as well as internal policies and procedures.

• Ability to maintain mentoring relationships with other attorneys on staff.

• Compose persuasive and factually accurate reports, legal documents, letters, and correspondence appropriate for the intended audience.

• Read, analyze, and interpret complex legal documents, including laws, regulations, statutes, contracts, and court opinions.

• Recognize and define problems, collect data and other factual information, and draw valid conclusions when analyzing complicated factual and legal scenarios.

What You Need to be Considered:

• Juris Doctorate (J.D.) from an accredited college or university;
• Civil rights and litigation experience;
• 6 years of relevant experience in a similar position and/or performing similar tasks for a Senior Staff Attorney position;
• 4-5 years of relevant experience in a similar position and/or performing similar tasks for a Staff Attorney position;
• Voting rights or related civil rights experience is preferred;
• Demonstrated commitment to racial justice;
• Excellent written, verbal, analytical, interpersonal, and organizational skills;
• Interest in working with grassroots organizations and coalition-building;
• License to practice law in Washington D.C. or the ability to waive into the D.C. bar;
• Ability to occasionally work evenings and weekends, and travel within the U.S. as needed.

Please submit a writing sample with your cover letter

For Senior Staff Attorney, this position pays between $107,000 and $129,000 depending on experience and between $ 88,700 and $106,000 for staff attorneys.

Keywords

Legal ResearchCivil RightsLitigationRacial JusticeAdvocacyPolicyGrassrootsLegislationAdvocacyLegal Documents