Senior Director - Legal Advocacy

National Center for Youth Law 

The National Center for Youth Law (NCYL) advances justice through research, community collaboration, impact litigation, and policy advocacy that fundamentally transforms our nation's approach to education, health, immigration, foster care, and youth justice. Our mission is to amplify youth power, dismantle racism and other structural inequities, and build just policies, practices, and culture in support of young people. 

Legal Advocacy Team 

NCYL’s Legal Advocacy team brings impact litigation across all of the subject-matter areas in which NCYL works, including education, immigration, health, mental health, child welfare, juvenile justice, and public benefits. The team brings systemic cases against the federal government, state governments, and local agencies, often in collaboration with other public interest law firms and with support from pro bono partners. A description of our current cases can be found here: https://youthlaw.org/strategies/litigation-strategies/?_sft_situation=active

Position 

NCYL seeks a Senior Director to lead existing cases and develop new impact litigation. This position offers the unique opportunity to contribute to and develop litigation at the intersection of immigration and other priority areas for the organization including education, child welfare, mental health and juvenile justice. 

The Senior Director will report to NCYL’s Deputy Director and will litigate cases with other members of the legal advocacy team. NCYL seeks an attorney with extensive experience developing and leading complex impact litigation in the federal courts.  While an ideal candidate would have extensive experience litigating cases on behalf of immigrant children, candidates with significant experience litigating other issue areas impacting children will be considered.  

Essential Functions 

• Leading cases, including collaborating with other NCYL litigators and with co-counsel, and legal research and analysis.  
• Case development, which includes collaborating with state and local advocacy organizations and service providers, on-site interviews and investigations, and analysis of potential legal claims. 
• Litigation, including drafting complaints, motions, memoranda, and briefs; overseeing and managing discovery, including federal discovery practice; and post-litigation enforcement of judgments/settlements. 
• Developing new impact litigation on behalf of vulnerable children including immigrant children and youth. 
• Working with other immigrant children’s advocates across the country on litigation. 
• Collaborating with non-litigating NCYL staff to ensure our litigation is informed by and advancing the goals of our campaigns. 
• Mentoring and supervising attorneys and law clerks as needed 

Required Qualifications 

• J.D. Degree 
• Admitted to practice law 

Other Qualifications 

• Experience generating and leading impact litigation 
• Commitment to fostering, cultivating, and preserving a culture of equity, diversity, and inclusion 
• Expertise in civil rights litigation and in issues involving public systems effecting children and youth 
• Strong leadership skills and ability to manage complex projects, delegate effectively and to take responsibility for decisions 
• Excellent analytic and writing skills 
• Demonstrate clear and persuasive oral and written communication skills, including the ability to develop rapport and influence others 
• Ability to understand and show respect and empathy for others 
• Fluency in oral and written Spanish preferred 
• Ability and willingness to travel accounting for the restrictions on travel necessitated by the current pandemic 
• A sense of humor 

Salary, Benefits and Location 

This is a full-time, exempt, position.  Salary is competitive at $166,848.00 annually. NCYL provides robust benefits package including health, dental, vision, life, generous vacation and sick benefits, flexible spending account, commuter benefits, employer contribution to a retirement plan and short-term and long-term disability insurance. 

Preference for candidates willing to work from Oakland, DC offices or close to the US Mexico border.  Ability to work remotely during the pandemic. 

How to Apply 

Submit a cover letter and resume to apply. No phone calls or emails please. 

Apply at: https://recruiting.paylocity.com/recruiting/jobs/Apply/428054/National-Center-For-Youth-Law/Senior-Director-Attorney---Legal-Advocacy 

Applicants with personal experience within a public system, such as foster care and applicants of Color are strongly encouraged to apply.     

NCYL is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, age, ethnic background, sex, disability, size, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, color, marital status, personal appearance, family responsibilities, matriculation, or genetic information.  Applicants who will increase the diversity of NCYL are strongly encouraged to apply.