Staff Attorney

STAFF ATTORNEY JOB DESCRIPTION

Job Title: Staff Attorney

Job Type: Full-Time; Regular; Exempt

Reports To: Senior Staff Attorney

Location: Hybrid; 2 days per week required in-person in our NYC offices, with additional days as needed to fulfill job duties

Salary Range: Pregnancy Justice sets salary ranges based on experience and in accordance with the organizational pay scale. This position seeks a candidate with 3-5 years of experience, representing a salary range of $110,007-$129,789. Additional details are specified below:

• 3 Years Experience: $110,007

• 4 Years Experience: $119,897

• 5 Years Experience: $129,789

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; 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.

Job Summary :

The Staff Attorney will carry a docket of complex, often nationally significant cases and work at the trial and/or appellate levels in federal and state courts and before administrative bodies, engaging in everything from fact investigation to motion practice, discovery, oral advocacy, trial, post-conviction cases, and appeals. Their work will 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 Staff Attorney is a passionate, motivated, and bold thinker and an excellent writer who is comfortable with emergent legal strategies.

The Staff Attorney works collaboratively and interdepartmentally within Pregnancy Justice, and alongside local counsel, pro bono firms, experts, and state-based advocates to develop and litigate cases nationwide, provide legal research, analysis, and advice and to use cases, where appropriate, as a mechanism to shift public opinion and narratives about pregnant women and pregnancy-capable people, all while holding systems accountable. The Staff Attorney reports to the Senior Staff Attorney.

Essential Job Functions:

The minimum performance expectations include, but are not limited to:

• Representing clients directly in criminal and/or civil cases, strategic litigation, and other litigation as appropriate, including motion practice, discovery, appellate advocacy, and trial;
• Supporting the management of complex criminal and civil rights cases from intake through resolution: conducting investigations, building the factual record, analyzing evidence, developing legal arguments, and independently drafting legal memoranda, motion papers, and briefs with clarity, precision, and persuasion;

• Identification of and outreach to experts and amici; drafting amicus briefs;

• Developing relationships with state-based advocates and organizations who head state-based advocacy to support those efforts and provide relevant Pregnancy Justice expertise to help win cases;

• Contributing to and drafting Pregnancy Justice’s reports, articles, op-eds, and other materials published by Pregnancy Justice;
• 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);

• Representing Pregnancy Justice at events, conferences, and speaking engagements;
• Traveling as needed to meet with clients, appear for legal proceedings, attend and present at events or conferences, and to conduct trainings of lawyers and other stakeholders.

Qualifications

• Exceptional critical thinking, legal research and writing skills, and an ability to independently conduct accurate legal analysis; comfort working within the organization’s collaborative approach to writing;
• An ability to learn and synthesize medical and social science research material;
• Exceptional communication skills, including with clients in legal proceedings, meetings, negotiations, or administrative proceedings; in a wide variety of public education contexts; and in the media.
• Ability to manage time efficiently, maintain a flexible schedule, record case time accurately for purposes of attorney fees, and travel as needed for training, conferences, and presentations;

• 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;
• Demonstrated and verifiable reputation of integrity with no history of disciplinary offenses as an attorney or in any other capacity;

• Advanced-level proficiency in using the MS Office Suite, with familiarity or trainability in other software applications, social media platforms, databases, and research tools, including Westlaw, among many others.

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 a desire for excellence — not perfectionism — grounded in the discipline that comes from caring about outcomes. Able to self-recognize or receive feedback about one’s mistakes, own them, learn from them, integrate their lessons, and move forward.
• Ability to work independently, take initiative, look forward, and be proactive.
• Ability to work outside of regular office hours when necessary.

• Ability to manage time effectively to meet deadlines.

• Ability to interact with all staff in a positive, productive, and respectful manner.

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

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 staff attorney role, uses common sense and factual data to make decisions in a timely manner. Accurately differentiates between important and unimportant issues.

• 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.
• Communication: Communicates thoughtfully, clearly, and directly within and across teams.
• Collaboration : Works effectively with various and diverse individuals and groups (both internally and externally), 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 to legal work that values and incorporates all relevant voices, perspectives, areas, and depth of expertise.

• Commitment to Learning : Applies a growth mentality to one’s own 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.

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 with accuracy. 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. Staff are not eligible for comp time for time worked beyond a half-day on a Friday. Pregnancy Justice endeavors to avoid internal meetings on Fridays to allow for quiet focused work time.

Court deadlines and operational demands of the organization will sometimes require employees to work longer hours, including nights and weekends. When this occurs, the employee’s direct supervisor may authorize occasional alterations to their start and/or end times.

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].

Unionized Workplace

This position is part of a collective bargaining unit represented by the Association of Legal Advocates and Attorneys – UAW Local 2325. Employment terms, including salary scale and benefits, will be governed by the collective bargaining agreement. We are committed to maintaining a respectful, transparent, and collaborative labor-management relationship.

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.