Senior Staff or Staff Attorney, Democracy: Education & Youth, ALIT

The Democracy: Education and Youth Advocacy and Litigation Impact Team (ALIT) uses litigation, strategic legal advocacy, and community lawyering to help SPLC achieve its Impact Goals. Our work is focused on strengthening and defending public education as a community cornerstone for a multi-racial, inclusive democracy.  We seek Education and Youth Justice by advancing the human right of all young people to have access to community-based public schools that are fully funded, inclusive, high quality, and are free from segregation, discrimination, punishment, and criminalization.  Some examples of our work include challenging federal, state, and local laws, policies, and practices that perpetuate discrimination against Black and Brown students, students with disabilities, and LGBTQ+ students in our schools and communities. We also challenge laws, policies, and practices that promote surveillance, punishment, criminalization, incarceration, and institutionalization of young people. We work to protect a public education system that promotes students’ freedom to learn honest history and receive an inclusive curriculum and is not dismantled and defunded through the systematic siphoning of resources and private school vouchers.

Experienced. Demonstrated experience developing and litigating novel and complex civil rights impact litigation in federal and state courts at the trial and/or appellate level.  

Advocate. Experience working with community organizations, grassroots campaigns, and impacted communities, particularly in the Deep South.

Committed. Demonstrated interest and commitment to community-oriented and movement-supportive lawyering.

Analytical. Ability to synthesize complex issues and communicate them effectively orally and in writing to diverse audiences.  

Researcher. Demonstrated excellence in legal research, writing, and editing, on complex, novel questions and complex factual investigations.

Creative. Ability to create vision and take calculated risks in crafting and executing strategies to move litigation forward.

Collaborative. Demonstrated ability to work with other  ALITs, external organizations, and stakeholders to execute specific strategies to advance the work and cases of the Democracy: Education & Youth ALIT.

Communicative. Exceptional communication skills and ability to communicate persuasively to a variety of audiences through writing and speaking, including before courts and other tribunals.

Mission, Vision & Culture Alignment. Demonstrates an understanding of and a commitment to SPLC’s mission, vision and values.

Develop new cases in consultation with SPLC staff and community partners.

Senior Staff Attorneys will train, and mentor legal staff as needed.

Develop and maintain collaborations and partnerships with community organizations.

Investigate, gather information, and interview clients and witnesses.

Collaborate with team members of other ALITs in the Legal Department as well as all other members of other SPLC Departments to advance the impact goals and campaigns of SPLC.

Research and Write legal memos and briefs on complex legal and factual questions.

Represent SPLC in various forums, including before courts, community groups, legislators, and state agencies.

Respond to requests for legal assistance.

Perform other duties as required or assigned which are reasonably within the scope of the duties in this job classification.

Uphold our JEDI principles by seeking diverse collaborators and partners that can deliver genuine, authentic and impactful work while ensuring their contributions are directed towards the shared mission, vision and values of the Center and Legal Department’s goals.

We are committed to equitable hiring practices; therefore, you must meet the minimum qualifications to be considered for the role.

• Staff Attorney I-II: At least one (1) year of federal court civil litigation or comparable experience post law school;
• Senior Staff I-IV: At least six (6) years of federal court civil litigation or comparable experience post law school;
• Membership in good standing of at least one state bar in the United States, preferably Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Florida, or Washington, D.C.; and
• J.D. degree from an ABA-accredited law school.

This is an exempt role, and the minimum starting salary is $73,832.00 annually.  Salary is based on legal experience post law school.  

• Staff Attorney I (1-3 years out of law school): $73,832.00.
• Staff Attorney II (4-5 years out of law school): $84,904.00.
• Senior Staff Attorney I (6 & 7 years out of law school):  $97,637.00. 
• Senior Staff Attorney II (8 & 9 years out of law school):  $112,286.00.
• Senior Staff Attorney III (10 & 11 years out of law school):  $129,129.00. 
• Senior Staff IV (12+ years out of law school): $148,500.00.

Click here to view the benefits available to SPLC staff.

This role the following work designations options:

• Local Remote: Will work remotely but is expected to attend work-related activities that occur at the SPLC offices or in the states in which the SPLC operates.
• Telework: Will work at an SPLC office at least three days per week and may work two days per week from an alternative work location.
• This position will report to the Senior Supervising Attorney, Democracy: Education & Youth ALIT.

This job is performed under general office conditions and is not subject to any strenuous physical demands or dangerous conditions.

This position is represented by the Washington-Baltimore News Guild.

The statements herein are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by the employee in this position. These statements are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of a person in this position.

Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) is proud to be an equal opportunity employer, and as an organization committed to diversity and the perspective of all voices, we consider applicants equally without regard to age, caregiver status, color, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender expression, gender identity, marital status, national origin, on the basis of genetic information, political affiliation, pregnancy, or veteran status.