DIRECTOR, ECONOMIC JUSTICE PROGRAM

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.

AALDEF’s Economic Justice Program uses litigation, advocacy, and community education to protect the rights of workers. Despite their pivotal role in the U.S. economy, immigrant workers confront daily challenges in the labor force: language barriers, exploitative working conditions, immigration status vulnerabilities, and restricted access to public services and benefits. Across the country, workers in restaurant, garment, domestic work, health care, nail salons, and construction industries—many from communities of color—endure sweatshop conditions.

AALDEF has won millions in back wages and overtime pay for low-wage immigrant workers and secured federal rules that have expanded the ability of workers to hold their employers accountable. AALDEF works with community groups to educate low-wage Asian immigrant workers about their legal rights. Through innovative legal strategies, AALDEF facilitates organizing and enables workers to secure their rightful wages and improve conditions across economic sectors.

The Director of the Economic Justice Program will work with the Legal Director and other program attorneys and staff.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Set priorities for the program’s litigation, advocacy, and community legal education work.
2. Develop, lead, and oversee program strategies to:
   1. Identify, document, prevent, and resolve violations of labor laws in industries with low-wage Asian immigrant workers;
   2. Provide technical assistance and train community advocates and organizations on relevant labor and economic justice laws;
   3. Collaborate with other civil rights, labor, and legal groups to improve standards and conditions in industries with low-wage workers;
   4. Challenge violations of labor laws on behalf of low-wage workers through impact litigation; and
   5. Implement legislative and administrative plans to improve conditions of industries with low-wage workers.
3. Help lead organization-wide visioning.
4. Litigate strategic cases as lead or co-counsel.
5. Provide supervision and mentorship to attorneys, community advocates, and interns.
6. Ensure that case handling complies with ethical standards and organizational policies.
7. Identify and create resources, as needed, to support the implementation of best practices in AALDEF’s litigation and programmatic work.
8. Foster a healthy, sustainable, innovative, and results-oriented work environment.
9. Work collaboratively with other programs.
10. Promote AALDEF and engage in public relations, training, and fundraising activities.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Demonstrated commitment to social, racial, and economic justice.
• Understanding of the challenges facing immigrants and low-wage workers.
• Significant litigation experience (minimum 7 years of civil litigation experience).
• Supervisory experience and the desire to supervise attorneys and non-legal staff (minimum 3 years of supervisory experience).
• Ability and desire to mentor junior attorneys in litigation and advocacy.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently, and collaboratively with internal and external partners, whether in our office or remotely.
• Commitment to movement or community lawyering.
• Familiarity with Asian American communities and issues.
• Outstanding writing, communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills.
• Licensed to practice law in New York or another state.
• Ability to speak an Asian language helpful, but not required.
• Willingness to work evenings and weekends as needed.
• This position is hybrid and includes a mix of in person and remote work.