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Job Description
JOB DESCRIPTION
| Job Title: | Senior Litigation Counsel | Reporting Office: | Washington, DC, New York, or Remote |
| Department: | Litigation | Job Classification: | Fulltime; Exempt |
| Supervisor: | Director, Legal Strategy Refugee Programs; Special Counsel | Union Classification: | Union |
| Accountable To: | Senior Director, Refugee Advocacy | Last Updated: | 2/20/2025 |
Purpose of the Job
The Senior Litigation Counsel will work to advance Human Rights First's objectives by helping develop, manage, and coordinate the organization's litigation efforts, with a primary focus on those relating to asylum, proactively leading communication and collaboration with internal and external partners and stakeholders.
Major Duties and Responsibilities
- Develop, conduct, and co-counsel Human Rights First's strategic impact litigation docket and initiatives, including:
- Analyze legal developments and identify strategic opportunities for Human Rights First to advance current- and future-impact litigation in support of the organization's objectives.
- Coordinate with co-counsel, including pro bono attorneys with whom we engage in class action or other impact litigation.
- Coordinate with legal practitioners and community groups to identify plaintiffs and legal issues ripe for litigation and monitor compliance with court orders in our impact litigation cases.
- Draft litigation documents, including memos and pleadings, in support of Human Rights First's litigation.
- Conduct legal, factual, and policy research in support of Human Rights First's litigation
- Help keep the organization's staff leadership, and board of directors' Litigation Committee apprised of litigation developments.
- Liaise with the communications, research, advocacy, and representation teams to ensure that strategies are coordinated to maximize impact.
- Appear at status conferences and hearings in U.S. federal courts, and in meetings with co-counsel and external stakeholders.
- Represent Human Rights First at public events, panels, bar association and legal events, briefings with external organizations, coalitions, policy or other audiences, with the media, and in coordination with external litigation and other partners. Work proactively with communications teams, campaign allies and others, to advance communications and messaging relating to litigation and amicus strategies.
- Lead, develop, draft, and help coordinate Human Rights First's involvement in amicus briefs and proactively identify and engage with key organizations and individuals to expand this capacity, working with the litigation team and staff members across the organization.
- Engage in limited representation to advance organization’s specific litigation goals, including of individuals in US custody or subject to externalization policies (e.g. Remain in Mexico cases).
- Support Human Rights First's fundraising efforts related to our litigation work, including:
- Monitor progress on grants, and draft legal portions of grant proposals and reports.
- Liaise with funders and help to identify potential funders.
- Support the litigation team and organization with other duties as needed.
- Supervise interns, fellows, or volunteers assisting with Human Rights First's litigation work.
- Support the Advocacy team with special projects as needed.
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility Competencies (DEIA)
Human Rights First acknowledges the existence of systemic and structural biases and believes it is necessary to be strategic and intentional in pursuing diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility in all aspects of governance, operations, and programming. As an employee, you are expected to:
- Support adoption of best practices to create a more diverse, equitable, inclusive, and accessible work experience for colleagues and external partners.
- Strive to consider the people, places, and cultures that might be missing from your work and look for opportunities to increase inclusivity in all the work you do.
- Support the mission of Human Rights First in all interactions with colleagues and stakeholders.
- Dedicate efforts to enrich DEIA consciousness throughout our office-wide interactions.
- Foster a culture of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility by promoting adherence to the standards delineated in the Culture of Respect and Teamwork statement in the Employee Handbook.
Required Knowledge, Skill, and Experience
- A U.S. law degree (J.D), and at least seven years' relevant legal experience.
- Minimum of five years of substantive litigation experience.
- Admission to the D.C. bar.
- Strong legal research and writing skills, including ability to monitor and analyze relevant legal developments.
- Solid written and oral advocacy skills and a demonstrated ability to translate highly technical material for a variety of audiences.
- Strong interviewing skills; ability to communicate patiently, respectfully and empathically with individuals from a variety of backgrounds.
- Demonstrated capacity to take initiative, pay attention to detail, finish assignments under pressure, and work collegially with others.
- Ability to work successfully across organizational lines and with a diverse team of colleagues.
- Ability to handle litigation among other tasks in a fast-paced and demanding environment.
Human Rights First is committed to equal employment opportunity and recruiting talent from across all diverse groups. We do not discriminate against any person because of the individual’s race, color, creed, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, affection preference, gender identity, marital status, national origin, citizenship status, disability, status as a war veteran, status as a victim of domestic violence, or on any other basis prohibited by law. Minorities are strongly encouraged to apply.
