Director of Litigation ( Hybrid )
Company: Legal Aid Justice Center
Location: Charlottesville
Posted on: April 22, 2024
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Job Description:
About the Legal Aid Justice Center The Legal Aid Justice Center
is a nationally recognized nonprofit organization that partners
with communities and clients to achieve justice by dismantling the
systems that create and perpetuate poverty. Justice means racial
justice, economic justice, and social justice. From its offices in
Charlottesville, Richmond, Petersburg, and Falls Church, LAJC is a
fierce advocate for low-income clients and communities in Virginia.
Just in the past year, we permanently repealed Virginia's driver's
license suspension for court debt scheme, secured an injunction
slashing the number of immigrants detained by ICE at the largest
detention center in the Mid-Atlantic and passed a law giving
Virginia oversight authority, won the nation's first
COVID-specific, statewide, and enforceable workplace safety
standards, passed legislation enabling communities to set up
civilian oversight for law enforcement, and decriminalized
school-based disorderly conduct, which was a leading contributor to
the school-to-prison pipeline, especially for Black students.
Founded in 1967, LAJC provides services under four key program
areas: Civil Rights & Racial Justice, Economic Justice, Youth
Justice, and Immigrant Advocacy. LAJC boldly tackles issues of
systemic injustice and aims to raise public and policymaker
awareness of some of the most pressing challenges facing low-income
Virginia residents. About the Position Legal Aid Justice Center
seeks a Director of Litigation. This position will work closely
with LAJC advocacy teams and community partners to advance our
ambitious agenda to achieve economic, social, and racial justice
throughout the Commonwealth. Job Duties LAJC's programs use various
tools to dismantle the systems that contribute to poverty in
Virginia, including individual representation, organizing,
litigation advocacy, major litigation, and community education and
technical assistance. In collaboration with Program Directors, the
Director of Organizing, Director of Policy, and Director of
Communications, this position will help advocacy teams develop and
implement multi-faceted campaigns by advising them on a range of
litigation outcomes and strategies, fostering collaboration across
programs, ensuring that litigation goals are community-driven to
the extent possible, and integrating litigation work with LAJC's
other strategies. The Director of Litigation will also have primary
responsibility for developing LAJC's litigation advocacy
infrastructure, including promoting litigation advocacy skills
development, assisting staff in developing and pursuing affirmative
systemic litigation, and developing systems that facilitate
information-sharing. In collaboration with the leadership team, you
will also have primary responsibility for ensuring that staff
receive any necessary trainings, mentorship, and technical
assistance on legislative and administrative advocacy. Finally, the
Director of Litigation will serve as a key member of LAJC's
leadership team, which advises the Executive Director as she
decides organizational priorities for all programmatic work and
provides stewardship of organizational resources. Required
Qualifications We're seeking candidates who excel at working
effectively in teams and communicating across lines of identity and
difference. Strong commitment to social, economic, and racial
justice A track record of developing and leading systemic
litigation at state or federal levels Mission-aligned experience
(work or lived) partnering with and advocating in low wealth
communities and communities of color. Strengths in organization,
time management, oral and written communications, and demonstrating
initiative --- Willingness to work a flexible schedule that may
include evening and weekend events, as well as travel (primarily
within Virginia) Membership in the Virginia State Bar, or
eligibility and willingness to become a member of the VSB promptly
- either by passing the bar exam, or meeting requirements to
"waive" into bar membership without taking the bar exam. (Note that
new Virginia Supreme Court Rule 1A:9 allows most lawyers who have
practiced continuously in another jurisdiction for two years to
become members of the VSB if they practice for Virginia legal aid
organizations (like LAJC) under a "Legal Aid Counsel Certificate.")
LAJC provides bar study leave. Preferred Qualifications Significant
(10+ years) litigation experience at state or federal levels
Management experience Familiarity with organizing campaigns and/or
community lawyering Prior advocacy experience (work or lived) using
an explicit race equity lens Location: This role will be based in
our Richmond, Charlottesville, Falls Church, or Petersburg offices.
Occasional travel between offices will be required. Although a
regular presence in the office is required, LAJC offers a remote
work policy to support employees in co-creating schedules and
arrangements that allow us all to do our best work. Application
Deadline: We accept applications on a rolling basis and encourage
candidate to apply as soon as possible. Salary : Salary range is
$95,000 to $120,000 based on years of relevant experience and
LAJC's formal salary scale, upward 12% cost-of-living adjustment
($106,400 to 134,400) is available for positions based in Falls
Church. To allow for salary growth within the position over time,
the anticipated hiring range for this position is between $95,000 -
$107,500 ($106,400 - $120,400 12% adjustment for Falls Church).
Placement on the range will be based on factors such as years of
relevant experience, budget, and internal equity. Benefits : Our
mission is compelling, and our team members are passionate about
their work, and so we recognize the need to provide generous
benefits and encourage rest and a healthy work environment. For
example, we provide: Generous paid time off every year, including 3
to 6 weeks of vacation, 12 days of health leave, 6 weeks parental
leave, and 14 holidays (not including bonus holidays/rest days
allocated as needed) 100% employer paid health, dental, and vision
insurance, plus excellent family insurance with annual max of
$2,400 premium contribution to LAJC-sponsored health plan. 403(b)
retirement plan with 4% employer contribution (no required match)
Strong commitment to professional development Relocation package
Application Instructions: Complete the online application which may
require a cover letter, resume, relevant writing sample, and
contact information for three references. Please note, we will not
contact references without advance consent from candidates.
Vaccination Requirement: The Legal Aid Justice Center requires all
employees to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or have an
approved medical or religious exemption as a qualification of
employment. Proof of vaccination or accommodation request must be
provided within one day of employment. The Legal Aid Justice Center
is an equal opportunity employer, committed to inclusive hiring and
dedicated to diversity in our work and staff. We strongly encourage
candidates of all identities, experiences, and communities to
apply. The Legal Aid Justice Center is committed to strengthening
the voices of our low-income clients, working in collaboration with
community partners, and rooting out the inequities that keep people
in poverty. We strive to take on the issues that have broad impact
on our client communities and to be responsive to client input.
Recognizing the particular impact of racism on our clients and
staff, we devote special attention to dismantling racial injustice.
All applicants must be dedicated to working in and sustaining an
environment that enables staff and clients to feel empowered,
valued, respected, and safe. In reviewing applications, we look for
evidence that applicants have experience and/or thoughtfulness in
working with traditionally marginalized populations. Employment
Type: Full Time Years Experience: 10 - 15 years Salary: $95,000 -
$120,000 Annual Bonus/Commission: No
Keywords: Legal Aid Justice Center, Charlottesville , Director of Litigation ( Hybrid ), Legal , Charlottesville, Virginia
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