Senior staff attorney

The Senior Staff Attorney manages caseloads with significant complexity and is a highly experienced civil rights attorney, with deep impact and/or complex litigation experience at the trial and appellate levels. The Senior Staff Attorney leads civil rights cases in federal and state courts and before administrative bodies, representing clients throughout the legal process from fact investigation to filing, motion practice, discovery, oral argument, trial, and appeal.

The Senior Staff Attorney will develop strategic civil litigation to advance Pregnancy Justice’s goal of ending the criminalization of pregnancy, informed by the organization’s work representing pregnant people in criminal and family defense cases. The Senior Staff Attorney will work closely with local attorneys to assist in holistic legal advocacy and litigation with a demonstrated commitment to public education, partnerships, and engaging with grassroots organizations and community members to inform the legal work. The Senior Staff Attorney is a creative, passionate, and bold legal thinker.

The Senior Staff Attorney, working collaboratively within Pregnancy Justice’s legal team and with co-counsel, pro bono firms, experts, and state-based advocates, performs a variety of functions both independently and in a team environment, including developing and litigating new and existing cases nationwide, providing legal analysis and advice regarding cases as well as policy proposals, supporting local counsel, serving as appellate counsel, and using cases, where appropriate, as a mechanism to shift public opinion, shift narratives, and hold systems accountable.

The Senior Staff Attorney reports to the Legal Director.

Essential Job Functions

• Representing clients in civil and parent defense/family policing cases, affirmative litigation, and other litigation as appropriate, including motion practice, discovery, and trial;

• Independent management of complex civil and civil rights cases, including conducting thorough investigations, analyzing evidence, developing legal arguments, and preparing for trial; conducting precise legal research and drafting legal memoranda, motion papers, and briefs;

• Developing new cases in a strategic fashion;

• Developing relationships with state-based advocates and organizations who can engage in ongoing advocacy and provide expertise to help win cases;

• Contributing to Pregnancy Justice’s reports, publications, proposals, and practice manuals;

• Assisting in the development of Pregnancy Justice’s legal resources, including model briefs and online resources;

• Representing Pregnancy Justice at events, conferences, and speaking engagements;

• Drafting articles, reports, and other materials published by Pregnancy Justice;

• Identification of and outreach to experts and amici; drafting and organizing amicus briefs, open letters, and statements used in litigation;

• Communicating and working effectively with external audiences such as the news media, government officials, and coalition partners (must be able to function as an effective spokesperson for clients and for Pregnancy Justice);

• Collaborating in team problem-solving, policy analysis, litigation strategy, litigation management, client representation, and trial work;

• Engaging with a team that supports collaboration, identifies and promotes the organization’s values, and advances its mission;

• Traveling as needed to meet with clients or appear for legal proceedings;

• Supervise staff attorneys, legal Fellows, and legal interns with a focus on constructive feedback, skills building, openness, collaboration, and communication while providing guidance on case strategy and legal analysis; and
• Additional responsibilities as assigned.

Qualifications

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Exceptional legal research and writing skills and an ability to do creative legal research, writing, and advocacy; comfort working within the organization’s collaborative approach to writing;

• Exceptional communication skills in legal contexts, including with clients in legal proceedings, meetings, negotiations, or administrative proceedings; in a wide variety of public education contexts; and in the media;

• An ability to read, understand, and synthesize medical and social science research material;

• Willingness to do the work needed to build effective teams and relationships across diverse issues and communities and willingness to do the work needed to be in relationship with individuals across diverse experience and backgrounds with humility and awareness;

• Ability to manage time efficiently, maintain a flexible schedule, and travel as needed for training, conferences, and presentations;

• Demonstrated and verifiable reputation of integrity with no history of disciplinary offenses as an attorney or in any other capacity; and
• Advanced-level proficiency in using the MS Office Suite, with familiarity or trainability in other software applications, social media platforms, databases, and research tools.

Common Requirements for All Positions

• Demonstrated commitment to and passion for Pregnancy Justice’s mission, goals, and priorities, as well as its organizational culture and values;

• Approaches work with rigor, diligence, and the desire to do one’s best (not perfectionism), as well as owning, mitigating, and learning from one’s mistakes;

• Ability to manage time effectively to meet deadlines;

• Ability to work independently, take initiative, look forward, and be proactive;

• Ability to work in a collaborative team environment;.

• Ability to interact with all levels of staff in a positive, productive, and respectful manner;

• Proactively help identify and resolve conflicts or problems constructively to reach the best solutions for the organization;

• Proficiency in office software and tools, including Google Workspace, MS Office Suite, and Zoom, among others;

• Full fluency in English is required. Fluency in Spanish or another language is a plus;

• Flexibility to work outside of regular office hours when necessary; and
• Ability to work in our NYC office for at least 2-3 days per week.

Other Critical Competencies

• Integrity: Acts with honesty, transparency, equity, and in accordance with the highest ethical standards. Follows through on all commitments.

• Strategic Thinking: Within the context of the individual’s role, applies big-picture thinking to achieve long-term outcomes, while also focusing on the details of short- to mid-term implementation.

• Sound Judgement: Within the context of the individual’s role, uses common sense and factual data to make decisions in a timely manner.

• Problem Solving: Helps to identify and resolve conflicts or problems constructively to reach the best solutions for the organization and in furtherance of our priorities. Proposes solutions to effectively address underlying issues. Accurately differentiates between important and unimportant issues.

• Collaboration: Works effectively with various and diverse individuals and groups, with a willingness to actively listen and invite different views and opinions to build alignment in support of a common goal. Works to ensure a thoughtful, effective, and strategic approach that values and incorporates all relevant voices, perspectives, and areas of expertise.

• Commitment to Learning: Applies a growth mentality to one’s own and (and for managers) their team member(s) development. Models inquisitiveness and an openness to learn and improve. Demonstrates willingness and capacity to receive and provide positive and constructive feedback to all levels of staff with emotional intelligence. Takes ownership of individual growth in order to achieve full potential.
• Nimbleness: Within the context of the individual’s role, demonstrates comfort with ambiguity, needing to be flexible and adaptable, consistently reassessing priorities to make sound decisions and take strategic risks in furtherance of our mission and priorities.

Salary Range

Pregnancy Justice sets salary ranges based on experience and in accordance with the organizational pay scale. This position seeks a candidate with 7-9 years of experience, representing a salary range of $144,799-$153,313. Additional details are specified below:

• 7 Years Experience: $144,799

• 8 Years Experience: $148,993

• 9 Years Experience: $153,313

Benefits

Benefits include but are not limited to medical, dental, and vision insurance, group term life and AD&D insurance; flexible spending accounts; commuter benefits; 403(b) retirement plan with 5% employer contribution; annual paid time off (20 vacation days; 10 sick days; 5 personal days; 1 floating holiday, federal holidays, and end of year office closure Dec. 24 -Jan. 1); 4 months of paid family leave; and professional development funding.

Working Conditions & Physical Requirements

The work is primarily performed in an office setting and/or remotely, with offsite meetings and events. Occasional travel will be required. Suitable candidates must be able to read, write, and interpret documents and perform highly detailed work. This is largely a sedentary position that requires the employee to sit, stand, walk, and bend, and may occasionally require moving files and other equipment.

As operational needs allow and with supervisory approval, staff are able to sign off early on Friday afternoons, typically at 1:00 pm for 9:00 am start, or 2:00 pm for a 10:00 am start so long as deadlines and operational needs are met. Pregnancy Justice endeavors to avoid internal meetings on Fridays to allow for quiet focused work time.

Pregnancy Justice is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for pregnant people and individuals with disabilities, including in the application process. If you need reasonable accommodations to participate in the application or interview process, please send an email with the subject line “Reasonable Accommodation Request” to [email protected] .

Commitment to Inclusive Hiring Practices

Research indicates that members of marginalized communities tend to underestimate their qualifications and only apply when they meet all of the criteria in a job posting. If you are excited about this opportunity but are unsure if your past experience aligns with the job description, we encourage you to apply. We would appreciate the opportunity to consider your application and how your talents and experience can bring value to this role.

Pregnancy Justice is an equal opportunity employer and we do not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of race, color, religion or belief, gender, pregnancy, national origin, height and weight, citizenship, marital or domestic partnership status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, military or veteran status, physical characteristics such as height and weight, or any characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. Pregnancy Justice recognizes and values the benefits of a diverse workforce.

Please note: Due to the large number of applications we receive, we are not able to respond to every individual, and we appreciate your understanding. Please refrain from follow-up emails, phone calls, or social media messages.