Supreme Court & Appellate Counsel

Position Summary

The Roderick & Solange MacArthur Justice Center is hiring for the position of Supreme Court & Appellate Counsel to join its Washington, D.C. Office. The person selected for this position will develop and manage a docket of high impact appellate cases and litigate appellate cases from development to resolution, in federal and/or state appellate courts, in furtherance of the organization’s mission, including police and prosecutor accountability, jail and prison conditions, and other aspects of criminal legal system reform. 

The Supreme Court and Appellate Counsel oversees internal and external strategy and partnerships on issues that the organization has identified as current priorities, and works closely with the Supreme Court & Appellate Program (SCAP) Director on case management, litigation team direction, and resource allocation. The SCAP Counsel will also mentor junior attorneys, interns/students, clinical students, and/or litigation support team members.

About the MacArthur Justice Center

The Roderick & Solange MacArthur Justice Center (MJC) is a national, nonprofit

civil rights law firm. We advocate for people harmed by America’s criminal

legal system to vindicate their rights, hold people with power accountable, and

transform the system. Our advocacy includes cutting-edge litigation across the

country, addressing end-to-end issues in the criminal legal system: from police

and prosecutorial misconduct to mass incarceration, to the conditions of jails and

prisons, to wrongful convictions.

We have offices in Chicago, Illinois; St. Louis, Missouri; New Orleans, Louisiana;

Oxford, Mississippi; and Washington, D.C.  For more information about MJC, visit www.macarthurjustice.org.

The criminal legal system disproportionally harms

people of color, people from low-income communities, the formerly incarcerated,

people with disabilities, and LGBTQ+ individuals.  We strongly encourage those who identify

within these and other communities underrepresented in the legal profession to

apply. 

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

Litigation

·       Manage appellate litigation, including overall litigation strategy and allocating responsibilities between team members (including internal and external co-counsel, and paralegals);

·       Oversee work performed by attorneys in the context of appeals, including training and preparing them for all aspects of appeals.

·       Assess potential legal risks and risk mitigation strategies in the identification and screening of potential appeals;

·       Ensure client-centered approach to litigation, including effective client outreach and communication to ensure clients are informed about the status of their case;

·       Write or review and approve brief drafts including federal and state courts, and all

stages of U.S. Supreme Court litigation;

·       Second-and first-chairing oral argument;

·       Provide case-related direction and oversight for more junior team members, such as more

junior attorneys, legal fellows, interns, or clinical students.

Communications & External Collaboration

·      Demonstrates leadership in supporting Communications in external work related to one or more

of the organization’s priority issues, in addition to supporting and working in collaboration with Communications in relation to casework;

·       Demonstrates thought leadership  in convenings, such as relevant conferences or

with community groups;

·       Demonstrates leadership in building and sustaining relationships with partner organizations that are connected to the MacArthur Justice Center’s work.

Internal Strategic Engagement and Support

·      Undertakes a leadership role in strategic discussion and convening as to one or more of

the organization’s priority issues, either at the organizational or group level;

·      Works closely with the SCAP Director on needs related to case management, litigation team supervision and resource allocation, and mentoring of more junior attorneys, interns/students, or

litigation support team members;

·      Supports internal initiatives and needs, including supporting organizational or group

functions related to development, technology, and the administration of intern or clinical programs connected to the organization’s work.

Other Expectations

·       Attend yearly MJC organizational-wide meetings and regular planning meetings of the Supreme Court and Appellate Program;

·       Participate in organizational and group-specific trainings; and

·       Travel as required for meetings and court appearances.

Qualifications:

Education

Bachelor’s

Degree and J.D. degree required.

Skills and Experience

·       Four (4) years of appellate experience—whether clerkships or litigation—required;

·       Seven (7) years of litigation experience preferred (including clerkship);

·       Oral argument experience required;

·      Exceptional skills in legal research, writing and editing;

·       Substantial skill and experience in all aspects of appellate strategy;

·       Exceptional interpersonal communication skills, including with supervising attorney and/or office director, collaborating team-members, external co-counsel, and opposing counsel as appropriate;

·       Experience leading teams;

·       Self-motivated, diligent, and able to ensure strict deadlines are met;

·       Comfortable working with people in detention centers and with people otherwise caught up in

the criminal legal system;

·       Experience with coalition building, and a demonstrated ability to use the law creatively and strategically to seek justice for clients;

·       Substantial experience with constitutional law, and 42 U.S.C. § 1983 litigation;

·      Ability to create a working environment that is inclusive, equitable and welcoming, and a willingness to honor the diverse experiences and perspectives of MJC staff and clients.

License and Certifications:

Admission to the D.C. bar, or willingness to obtain admission within one year of hiring.

Technology:

Proficiency with Microsoft products, including Word, Excel, and Outlook, as well as Westlaw, required.

Travel:

Occasional travel for oral arguments, conferences, and MJC-wide meetings.

Location:

DC Office Hybrid, Remote/Onsite

Compensation:  The starting salary for candidates with 7 years of experience is $114,000 annually.  Salary is based on legal experience.  Additional years of relevant experience will be accounted for according to the organization’s internal salary scale.  MJC offers generous benefits including employer-sponsored health, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance, EAP, FSA plans, 401K, and a generous paid-time-off policy.

TO APPLY PLEASE SUBMIT THE FOLLOWING:

·      A cover letter describing your interest and experience,

·      Resume,

·      Sample appellate brief for which you had principal drafting responsibility

Applicants are strongly encouraged to apply as soon as possible. Applications will be reviewed, and interviews will be scheduled on a rolling basis through May 23, 2024 or until the position is filled.