Staff/Senior Staff Attorney or Supervising Attorney – Civil Rights Impact Litigation

The Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF), founded in 1974, is a New York-based national organization that protects and promotes the civil rights of Asian Americans. By combining litigation, advocacy, education, and organizing, AALDEF works with Asian American communities across the country to secure human rights for all.

Job Description:

AALDEF is hiring a civil rights impact litigator. This role will report to the Legal Director and work with program attorneys and staff across the organization to identify, develop, and lead strategic litigation and advocacy to protect and advance the civil rights of Asian American communities across AALDEF’s program areas (Anti-Asian Violence, Educational Equity, Immigrant Rights, Economic Justice, Housing & Environmental Justice, and Voting Rights). This position will have an emphasis on litigation that advances cross-programmatic goals, rapid response work to address emerging threats to civil rights, and cross-racial strategies working in collaboration with local and national partners.

Depending on the successful candidate’s experience and interests, the position will be a Staff Attorney, Senior Staff Attorney, or Supervising Attorney.

Key Responsibilities:

• Engage in litigation through legal research; factual development; working with clients, community partners, and witnesses; drafting pleadings, briefs, and memos; conducting discovery and motion practice; and handling oral arguments.
• Identify and develop new litigation and other advocacy projects by conducting factual, legal, and strategic analysis, and developing creative theories and relevant materials.
• Analyze legislation for potential litigation.
• Ensure that case handling complies with ethical standards and organizational policies.
• Work collaboratively with other AALDEF programs to identify potential areas for litigation in a way that integrates narrative change and builds community power.
• Educate staff and community partners on the role of litigation in community lawyering.
• Work with and advise community partners and stakeholders.
• Speak on behalf of AALDEF, including at conferences and trainings, with community partners and funders, and to the media.
• Travel as required for litigation, advocacy, conferences, and case development.
• Provide mentorship—and for supervising attorney candidates, supervision—to fellows, attorneys, community advocates, and interns.
• For supervising attorney candidates, additional responsibilities include:
• Supervise staff collaborating on litigation, providing guidance, support, and teaching to attorneys who are new to impact litigation.
• Foster a healthy, sustainable, innovative, and results-oriented work environment.
• Engage in special projects and other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Demonstrated commitment to social and racial justice, including familiarity with Asian American communities and issues.
• At least 3 years of complex civil litigation experience, including experience in federal court.
• Expertise in civil rights or anti-discrimination law or federal class action litigation preferred.
• Commitment to movement or community lawyering.
• Demonstrated project management and organizational skills, including the ability to work independently, maintain attention to detail, and consistently meet deadlines in a dynamic and fast-paced environment
• Strong legal research, writing, and litigation skills.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills for working with diverse communities.
• Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree and license to practice law in New York or another state.
• Willingness to work evenings and weekends as needed.
• Ability to speak an Asian language helpful, but not required.
• For supervising attorney candidates, additional qualifications include:
  • Demonstrated success supervising other attorneys, fellows, and/or interns.
  • Desire to teach staff how to do impact litigation.

This position is hybrid and includes a mix of in-person and remote work.