Deputy Director for Litigation and Advocacy

A Better Childhood (ABC) is seeking a passionate and skilled litigator for a new leadership position – someone who will inspire and support ABC’s talented legal staff. Together with ABC’s founder Marcia Lowry, the Deputy Director for Litigation and Advocacy will design legal and implement strategies in class-action cases on behalf of children in failing state foster care systems. This is a great position for an experienced litigator seeking to use their strategy, litigation and team leadership experience on behalf of children and their families.

ABOUT ABC

ABC was created in 2014 to fight for children experiencing foster care in the United States. ABC uses class action litigation to bring to light the ways in which state foster care systems are failing children, and to force those systems to provide the protection and stability that they deserve and that our laws require. Our litigation model pairs our staff’s expertise with that of local and national law firms providing pro bono co-counsel support.

ABC has transformed the lives of tens of thousands of children, families and communities in 13 states, delivering remarkable national impact despite its small size. Its ten-person legal staff investigates failing systems and initiates litigation on behalf of foster children, winning court orders that deliver system-wide reform. ABC’s ongoing monitoring ensures that court-ordered solutions then take root, and that frontline workers and system leaders get the resources and tools they need to protect children whose lives depend on their care.

ABC has been expanding in recent years; we are posting this new position and the new position of Deputy Director of Operations so that we can sustain and capitalize on our recent success.

WHAT THIS JOB INVOLVES

The Deputy Director for Litigation and Advocacy will:

• Design, lead and support the work of learning about state foster care systems, building local connections (including potential pro bono co-counsel), and as appropriate conducting litigation and follow-up monitoring
• Design and implement legal strategies in class action cases
• Support case leadership by the legal staff
• Work with the Executive Director and legal staff to explore possible new legal strategies and strengthen current strategies
• With the Executive Director, supervise and support the legal staff
• Support the hiring and training of new legal staff
• Collaborate with operations staff in the development of funding opportunities

Positions at ABC are hybrid - staff are generally all in our New York City office Tuesdays through Thursdays, with remote work optional Monday/Friday.

This position reports to the Executive Director.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

(Listed below are the preferred qualifications for the ideal candidate. If you are interested in the position, please do not hesitate to apply; we know that sometimes the person who impresses us the most does not neatly match a qualification list.)

• 15+ years’ experience in litigation; significant experience in class litigation; current admission to a state and federal bar
• Experience developing and supervising lawyers and legal teams
• Knowledge of the foster care system
• Commitment to public interest work, and passion for ABC’s mission
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively
• Ability to work effectively both remotely and in-person
• Ability to thrive in a busy, multi-tasking and time-pressured environment
• Ability to travel for work
• Good sense of humor

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

• Salary: $ 160,000 - $ 190,000 / year
• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• Employer contribution to retirement plan
• Holidays and generous paid time off